All of our staff are either NNEB (National Nursery Examination Board) or equivalent, or participating in the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Early Years and Childcare.
We have a very high qualified staff ratio which far exceeds that of OFSTED requirements. All of our staff are trained in First Aid.
Paula – Nursery Owner
Paula is the owner of Monkey Puzzle Muswell Hill, which she opened in January 2018. Paula is also the owner of Monkey Puzzle East Finchley, which she opened in September 2011. Paula has 3 children of her own and has worked in childcare for over 10 years.
Ryan Phillips – Nursery Manager
Ryan is our Nursery Manager. Ryan is our Designated safeguarding officer and oversees behaviour management, health & safety and equal opportunities across the nursery. Ryan has worked in many childcare settings with over 15 years childcare experience behind him. Most recently he worked as a deputy manager for 8 years before moving over from our East Finchley site in August 2018 to take on the role of Manager.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- BA in Learning and Teaching
- Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies
- Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
- Designated safeguarding officer
- Safeguarding Children (Advanced) Level 2
- Mental Health First Aider
- Awareness of Prevent Duty
- Prevent for Leaders and Managers
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing # Level 2 award in Food Safety for Catering
- Paediatric First Aid
- Emergency First Aid at Work
- Fire Warden
Liana Marenghi-Assistant Manager/
SENCO/ Eco-School Co-ordinator
Liana is our Assistant Manager. Liana is current working towards completing her Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Service. Liana oversees special educational needs, behaviour management and health & safety across the nursery. Liana has recently taken a lead with Eco-School and her pervious role was a Playscheme, school and setting’s Co-ordinator and she worked as deputy room leader for 4 years.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Level 3 Diploma for the Children and Young Peoples Workforce
- Level 3 Diploma in Management
- Haringey Approved Early Years SENCo Training
- Early Years SENCO Training
- Emergency First Aid at Work
- Prevent for leaders and managers
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (Children)
- Level 2 award in Food Safety for Catering
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing
- Channel General Awareness
Ranjani Bhanderi – Deputy Manager/Baby Room Leader (Level 5)
Ranjani is our Deputy Manager/Baby Room Leader. Ranjani oversees equal opportunities across the nursery. Ranjani has worked in childcare for 14 years working in a room leader role for 6 years. Ranjani is currently training to complete her certificate in British Sign Language. Ranjani brings lots of new experiences for the children that includes bringing in traditional clothes and music from her home country when celebrating festivals such as Diwali
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Foundation Degree (Arts) in Early Years
- Level 3 NVQ in Children’s Care, Learning and Development
- Nursery Management Level 3
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (Children)
- Safeguarding Children (Advanced) Level 2
- Emergency First Aid at work Level 3
- Paediatric First Aid
- Prevent for leaders and managers
- Channel General Awareness
- Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Catering
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
Natalie Bryant – Pre-School Room Leader (Level 3)
Natalie has recently moved to London as Pre-School Room Leader. Natalie has a real passion for childcare with many years’ experience.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Level 3 Children and Young People’s Workforce
- Level 3 Diploma in Management
- Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering level 2
- Safeguarding Children (Advance) Level 2
- Paediatric First Aid
- Channel General Awareness
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
Laura Blanco – Nursery Teacher (Level 4)
Toddler Room
Laura moved to London from Gran Canaria in 2018 and has been using her past experiences in Early Years here to support her role in the nursery. Laura enjoys providing new exciting opportunities to help the children meet milestones for their age and stage of development. Laura is a big asset to the Toddler room team as she is bilingual and supports the children to learn Spanish by supporting our external providers Bilingual Beats.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Level 4 Early Years Education
- Safeguarding Children
- Paediatric First Aid
- Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering (Level 2)
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
- Channel General Awareness
- Prevent
Abena Antwi – Nursery Teach (Level 6)
Baby Room
Abena is currently working in our baby room after recently graduating from University. Abena has previous experience working in a range of nurseries as well as school settings supporting children with additional needs. Abena has a passion for working with children and is very caring, supportive and enthusiastic.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- BA in Early Years and Psychology
- Fire awareness
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
- Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering (Level 2)
- Prevent
- Safeguarding Children (Advanced) Level 2
Hadijah Nakayiza –Toddler Room Leader (Level 6)
Hadijah is our Toddler Room Leader and has been working in early years in a senior role with children under 5 years of age with over 13 years’ experience behind her. Hadijah is forever wanting to learn and develop her knowledge since the birth of her a son and is working towards a room leading level 3 qualification. Hadijah has a passion in early years and started to train to become a primary school teacher in her home country of Uganda. Hadijah had to come to the UK to complete her studies but still has a passion and interest of supporting early years back home to give children the best possible outcomes and start in life.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- BA in Education (Early Childhood Studies)
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (children)
- Safeguarding Children (Advance) Level 2
- Paediatric First Aid
- Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering (Level 2)
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
- Prevent
- Fire Awareness
Cherri – Nursery Teacher in Toddler Room
Cherri is a Nursery teacher based in the Toddler Room. Cherri has worked with children in a range of different roles for the past 4 years including a cruise line ship. Cherri is very enthusiastic and is working extremely hard in the toddler room. Cherri has thoroughly enjoyed her role at Monkey Puzzle and supporting children to reach their milestones within the EYFS.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- CACHE Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce
- Safeguarding Children (Advanced)Level 2
- Paediatric First Aid
- Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering (Level 2)
- Channel General Awareness
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
Rubilyn Caabay – Nursery Teacher (Level 2)
Pre-School Room
Rubilyn has recently qualified as a level 2 early years practitioner. Rubilyn is a mummy to a little boy and is a very caring and nurturing person. Rubilyn is furthering her career at the nursery by undertaking her level 3 qualification. Rubilyn enjoys working across all the rooms and is currently supporting our Pre-School Room.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- CACHE Level 2 introduction to Early Years Education and Care
- Paediatric First Aid
- Fire Awareness
- Safeguarding Children (Advanced) Level 2
- Level 2Award in Food Safety for Catering
- Channel General Awareness
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
Courteney Ridge – Apprentice Nursery Teacher
Baby Room
Courteney is currently working towards her Level 3 in the Children’s and Young People’s Workforce and is based in our Baby room. Courteney has taken a new career path as she previously worked as a supervisor in a shopping centre. Courteney is part of a large family and has some childcare experience. Courteney is doing extremely well in her new role working with the babies.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Safeguarding Children (Advanced)
- Paediatric Frist Aid
- Staying Safe Online Assessment
- Fire Awareness
- British Values Assessment
- Radicalisation and Extremism Assessment
- Channel General Awareness
- Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Catering
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
Kerene Muhemba – Nursery Teacher (Unqualified)
Cover in Baby Room
Kerene works as cover staff in our baby room. Kerene has worked across many childcare settings giving her plenty of experience, previously working for our East Finchley and Muswell Hill site in an agency role.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Prevent
- Safeguarding Children (advanced) Level 2
- Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Catering
- Fire Warden
Lisa Ridge – Nursery Teacher (Unqualified)
Lunch Time Cover in Toddler Room
Lisa is employed as a lunch cover staff and is also our wellbeing lead since completing her Mental First Aid qualification. Lisa has good knowledge of the local area and applies this when out on an outing with the children. Lisa has two older children of her own and wants to apply her motherly instinct to a role working in early years.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Mental Health First Aider
- Paediatric Frist aid
- Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Catering
- Channel General Awareness
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing
- Safeguarding Children (advanced) Level 2
Patricia Gouveia – Nursery Teacher (Unqualified)
Cover Staff
Patricia is a cover staff who supports all rooms across the nursery. Patricia has worked across many childcare settings giving her plenty of experience, previously working for our East Finchley and Muswell Hill site in an agency role.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Level 3 Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
- Prevent
- Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering (Level 2)
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (Children)
Susan Mohamed – Nursery Teacher (Level 2)
Cover Staff
Susan is employed as a cover member of staff across the whole nursery. Susan has worked with children in her previous roles including older children of 8-10 years. Susan has raised 4 children of her own and has shown a real passion for children.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Level 2 Certificate in Developing Skills for Working with Children and Young People
- Paediatric Frist Aid
- Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering (Level 2)
- Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
- Safeguarding Children (Advance) Level 2
- Channel General Awareness
- Fire Warden
Jessica Ronan – Nursery Teacher (Level 3)
Toddler Room
Jessica works in our toddler room and has joined our team with lots of artistic and creative ideas to support the children’s learning. Jessica is good team player and shares her knowledge and skills with her peers to ensure the best experiences for our children. Jessica has 2 children in the early years age bracket and looks after the children in her care like they are her own.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Level 3 for The Children and Young People’s Workforce
- Prevent Female Genital Mutilation: Recognising and Preventing FGM
Rachida Chaima – Nursery Cook
Rachida has been a home maker for over 20 years and has 4 children of her own. In Rachida’s previous job she worked as part of cancer research as assistant manager supporting staff in a customer service role raising money for cancer research. Rachida is originally from Morocco and has a passion for cooking this comes across in her role at the nursery Rachida also is creative with cooking all the children thoroughly enjoy the food prepared for them by Rachida.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- Paediatric First Aid
- Prevent
- Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering (Level 2)
- Fire Warden
Career opportunities
Monkey Puzzle is committed to providing great career opportunities for its entire staff. We are very keen to ensure that our team of staff participate in training at all levels. Our policy is always to recruit and/or promote internally if at all possible.
Please see our Current Vacancies below:
Level 3 Nursery Practitioner
Level 2 Nursery Practitioner in training
If you think you have what it takes and would like to be a part of our exciting new team, please send your CV to manager@monkeypuzzlemuswellhill.co.uk.
