Our Team

At First Day Nursery we invest in our staff team and foster professional development. Our qualified, skilled and experienced staff team support our children at each stage of their journey.

We know how vital it is to leave your child with someone you can trust. Our staff team build nurturing relationships with each child and work in partnership with their family. We provide a home-from-home experience to all families in our care.

It is a priority that our staff team are fully qualified in Paediatric First Aid and nearly all of our staff hold a minimum of a Level 3 Diploma in Childcare. This not only meets, but far exceeds, Ofsted expectations for how a nursery is managed. We have members of our team that are nursery nurses who are currently studying for their level 3 childcare educator diploma.

Previously we worked in Partnership with Hackney Council to deliver this award-winning apprenticeship programme: Hackney Apprenticeships. We are proud to be part of the Hackney Business Network and Apprenticeship employer network and are honoured to have been nominated runner up as best apprenticeship employer in 2020. Hackney Apprenticeship Network

Alongside our capable room leaders we have one full-time teacher (QTS) to oversee the educational curriculum. In this way, we ensure that our older children leave our nursery fully ‘school ready’, as well as fulfilling our innovative staff and child wellbeing programmes and intergenerational project.

Our staff are competent, focussed and dedicated professionals who take their career seriously and are proud to work here. In turn, we really look after them, nurture them, train them, pay them properly and ensure that their rights to full lunch hours and holiday pay are respected. We pride ourselves on providing all staff with equal opportunities, leading to a successful team and a well organised nursery. Staff have a healthy relationship with each other, providing quality childcare to children and maintaining a positive environment for all.

In short, happy staff equals happy children and a well-functioning nursery. We have a ‘people over profit’ approach and it works well for us all. We have very low staff turnover, long term key person relationships, great peer support, a healthy and positive atmosphere and total dedication – all factors that are very important for children and families to experience.

Qualification & Training Information
Staff qualifications are cross checked against the DFE approved qualifications and the QAA subject benchmark statement for Early Childhood Studies. Additional CPD training is either quality checked through the Early Years Alliance, CPD Certified or provided by our Local Borough (Hackney Learning trust)

Safer Recruitment.
First Day Nursery is committed to Safer Recruitment practices. The safety and wellbeing of our children and staff is our priority and we operate a robust code of conduct. All successful candidates will be subject to comprehensive references and an enhanced DBS among other pre-employment checks before commencing employment.

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Shiraz, Director

FDN Hackney - Shiraz
  • MBA
  • L3 Childcare Diploma
  • Designated Safeguarding Lead
  • Paediatric First Aider

'My name is Shiraz, I am the director of First Day Nursery Ilford and Hackney

I enjoy playing football and cricket and am currently the assistant coach at Frenford FC for their Under 12 team.

A passion of mine has always been making a difference to children. I feel strongly that nursery is the first place after home, where children can quickly develop, with the right environment, team, resources and ethos.

I am inspired by the holistic approach; it draws on a wide range of methodologies including Early Years educational frameworks, evidence-based research, neuroscience, forest school philosophy and the writings of Maria Montessori.'

Marian, Lead Manager, Designated Safeguarding Lead & Nursery SENCO

FDN Hackney - Maria
  • BA Hons Education (Early Childhood Studies)
  • Level 3 Childcare and Education (NVQ)
  • Special Educational Needs and Disability Coordinator (SENDCO)
  • National Vocation Qualification in Childcare and Education
  • City and Guild Level 4 Preparing to Teach in Lifelong Learning Sector
  • Paediatric & Adult First Aid
  • Adult First Aid
  • Child Protection Level 3
  • Safer Recruitment
  • Makaton
  • SEN
  • FGM Awareness
  • The Prevent Duty in an Early Years Environment

'My role is to oversee the running of the nursery and preschool embedding all the elements of the EYFS. I also coordinate support for children with Special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to bring the necessary services together to participate in putting a support package to enable children to have the best outcomes possible as they deserve; in lines with the SEND Code of Practice 2017.

I have been working within the Early Years field for the past 33 years. I love dancing, singing, walking and talking all which I like to use to motivate children in exploring the possibility of something different.'

Fahima, Operations Manager

FDN Hackney - Fahima
  • BA Hons Childcare Studies (2016)
  • Paediatric First Aid
  • Child Protection Advanced Level 3
  • Food Hygiene Level 2
  • Effective Safeguarding Practice (Revised 2019) Level 2
  • Fire Warden / Marshall Level 2
  • Allergen Awareness Learner
  • FGM Awareness
  • The Prevent Duty in an Early Years Environment

'Previous Toddler room leader. I am now Operations Manager and love working here as everyone at First Day Nursery Hackney is very friendly, welcoming and extremely supportive.

I have worked in both primary schools and in early years settings since 2010. I have experience working with ages ranging from just a few months up to 11 years of age. I always put an emphasis on care and effective team development.

I have a very positive relationship with children and take great pleasure in providing support to the staff. I also have a passion for supporting children’s learning and watching them grow and flourish.'

Kay, Pre-school Leader

FDN Hackney - Kay
  • BA Hons Early Years Teaching
  • CACHE Level 3 NVQ in Children's Care Learning and Development
  • NCFE CACHE Level 2 Understanding Safeguarding
  • FAA Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work - RQF

Viveene, Pre-school Leader

FDN Hackney - Viveene
  • CACHE Level 3 NVQ in Children’s Care, Learning & Development
  • Foundation Degree in working with Young People and Young Peoples Services
  • ASET Diploma in Child Psychology
  • Paediatric First Aid
  • FGM Awareness

Selin, Toddler Room Leader

Selin
  • PEARSON EDEXCEL Level 3 Diploma in Children's Learning and Development (Early Years Educator)
  • Paediatric First Aid
  • Implementing GDPR
  • GDPR Trained
  • Prevent Duty
  • Food Hygiene Level 2
  • Food Hygiene and Safety
  • FGM Awareness

Timara, Baby Room Leader

FDN Hackney - Timara
  • PEARSON EDEXCEL Level 3 Diploma in Children's Learning and Development (Early Years Educator)
  • Paediatric First Aid
  • Child Protection Advanced Level 3 Learner
  • Food Hygiene & Safety Level 2
  • Effective Safeguarding Practice (Revised 2019) Level 2
  • Fire Warden / Marshall Level 2
  • Allergen Awareness
  • Implementing GDPR

'I’m currently a Nursery Room Leader at the great First Day Nursery Hackney. This is an important role to me because I enjoy helping children to develop physical and social skills, and also love to see them grow and learn at different stages.

I enjoy interacting with the children through messy and physical play. Over the past two years I’ve achieved my Level 3 qualifications and also a Designated Safeguarding Lead qualification.'

Zehra, Toddler Room Senior Educator

FDN Hackney - Zehra

'I am an early years Senior Educator. I hold a level 3 diploma in childcare. I have been working in childcare for 5 years and have enjoyed every single second of my career.

I chose to work with children as I feel it is an extremely rewarding job. I feel as though working with children brings happiness and laughter throughout the day and I like to make every single day feel special for all the children.

I wish to grow In my career and continue to study and learn new things and feel as though First Day Nursery Hackney is the perfect place to do so.'

Sarah, Toddler Room Educator & Level 7 Masters Student

Sarah
  • BA Hons Childhood and Youth Studies
  • Paediatric first Aid
  • Child protection Advanced Level 3
  • Food Hygiene and Safety Level 2
  • Effective Safeguarding Practice (Revised 2019) Level 2
  • Fire Warden / Marshall Level 2
  • Allergen Awareness
  • Food Hygiene Level 2

'I am the Toddler Room Educator and Level 7 Masters Student. I have the responsibility of maintaining the high-quality of day to day running of the room and to provide care and a stimulating learning environment for children.

I recently graduated in Childhood and Youth Studies and started my career in childcare at here in 2020. I would describe myself as a kind-hearted person, who always cares for others. My goal is to help children shape their unique personalities and achieve a valuable start in life while flourishing under my care.'

Aza, Finance Officer

FDN Hackney - Aza
  • BA Honours Business Management
  • Paediatric First Aid
  • Data Protection Officer
  • GDPR Level 2
  • Child Protection Level 3
  • Safer Recruitment
  • Allergen Awareness
  • Food Hygiene Level 2

'I have been studying the art of business since the age of 13 and am the Admin and Finance officer at First Day Nursery Hackney.

On my learning journey I have studied at several levels ranging from Level 2 Business Studies to finally completing my business degree in 2019. In November of 2019 I was given the opportunity put all my learning into practice at 'then' Maisie Poppins Nursery 'now' First Day Nursery (Hackney). It has given me a different perspective of business and has opened my eyes giving me a further insight to how businesses operate. Numbers are a passion of mine and it helps me thrive in my role.'

Shauna, Early Years Apprentice

Shauna
  • BA Honours Business Management
  • Paediatric First Aid
  • Data Protection Officer
  • GDPR Level 2
  • Child Protection Level 3
  • Safer Recruitment
  • Allergen Awareness
  • Food Hygiene Level 2
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