The Nursery team

Mrs Karen Duke - Team Leader

Miss Hannah Penford - Nursery Teacher

Mrs Sophie Scott - Teaching Assistant

Mrs Jenny Sedgwick - Teaching Assistant

Mrs Eve Edmondson - Teaching Assistant

Hannah Penford

After graduating from University in 2014 with a First-Class Honours degree in Early Years Education, I was drawn to come and live back in my hometown by the sea! I joined the Shiphay team in January 2017 and, since then, have been lucky enough to continue my Early Years career as the Manager of the Orchard Nursery, qualifying as a teacher in 2021. Prior to my time at Shiphay, I took some time out of work to travel around Indonesia and Australia where I became a certified scuba diver and explored many different cultures. When not in school, I spend a lot of my time outdoors and enjoy paddle boarding around the Torbay coastline. 

I really value working in Early Years and understand the importance of using play as a tool for learning. I strive to spark each child's love of learning by providing playful, meaningful and exciting experiences while considering each child's strengths and interests. Our nursery provides a nurturing and creative learning environment where individuality is celebrated. We encourage children to become happy, confident learners and I love that the children can experience lots of outdoor learning and have daily opportunities to be creative and explore.   Providing children with these opportunities to be inquisitive and explore the world around them alongside their peers is a wonderful and rewarding element of my role. I am really looking forward to supporting the youngest members of our school at the very start of their learning journey.

Sophie Scott 

The majority of my working career has been focused on caring for children, supporting their development and assisting their learning; I find it a very rewarding role. I took some time away from work to raise my two young children and now that they are both settled in school themselves, I have taken the opportunity to rejoin the school environment myself. 

I joined the Shiphay Learning Academy team in January 2020 and I am thoroughly enjoying working within the Lower School Team.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, going for bike rides, camping and eating out.

 Eve Edmondson 

I have worked at Shiphay since 2011 after gaining my level 3 qualification in Childcare and Education. I have thoroughly enjoyed working in Early Years for all of these years, supporting the children at the very beginning of their learning journey to develop their creative and imaginative skills. I find it such a rewarding role. 

Last year I became a mum to my little girl and, in my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and being outdoors. Through my love of travel I have been lucky enough to visit some beautiful places around the world. 

                                 Jenny Sedgwick

I joined Shiphay Learning Academy in November 2021, working as a Teaching Assistant in both Lower and Middle School.  When I was at school I always wanted to be a teacher; when I left school, I worked as a teaching assistant for a short time.  I then decided to have children; I have two boys who both attend Shiphay and another son who will hopefully join the Nursery next year. Now that I have had my family, I decided it was time for me to do what I loved and that was being a teaching assistant. In the little spare time I get, I enjoy crafting and making things.  I love to help the children to show off their creativity through their learning.  Since joining Shiphay, I have gained a passion for phonics and the positive impact it has on our children.