Ask our Experts
Being a parent isn’t easy. From feeding to potty training, sleep routines to separation anxiety, tantrums to comforters — the early years are full of questions. We are here to help you.
Meet our Experts
Josephine
Josephine is passionate about children’s mental health and how their environment and experiences shape them during these crucial developmental years.
She believes that emotional well-being is key and works hard to make sure every child leaves nursery each day feeling happy, safe and valued.
Rosie
You’ll often find Rosie surrounded by happy, busy toddlers, supporting their play and learning every step of the way. Rosie is one of our 5 experts for our new initiative, 'Ask our Experts'.
Rosie is passionate about supporting children’s growth and development – she loves watching them flourish and discover new skills. Whether it’s helping little ones build confidence or guiding parents through those important early years milestones.
Alison
Alison is deeply passionate about nurturing each child as an individual, helping them meet their developmental milestones at their own pace. Building strong, trusting relationships with parents is just as important to her.
Alison understands how anxious it can feel to leave your baby in someone else's care, so she always aims to offer as much reassurance and open communication as possible.
Shanice
Shanice is our Quality and Curriculum Manager at First Friends. With a degree in Early Childhood Studies and a career spent entirely in the early years sector, she has been fortunate to work in a range of roles that have shaped her deep understanding of how children learn, grow, and thrive.
As the creator of our First Friends enhancement programmes, she is passionate about developing opportunities that celebrate each child’s individuality, nurture their passions, and unlock their full potential. She believes the environments we create in these early years should be joyful, inspiring, and empowering - places where every child feels seen, valued, and supported in their own unique journey.
Leanne
Leanne was the proud winner of the NDNA Nursery Practitioner of the Year award last year – no small accolade! Beyond this well-deserved recognition, Leanne is an incredible source of knowledge when it comes to supporting children with SEND, drawing on both her professional expertise and her personal experience as a parent of two children with SEND.
Leanne’s passion lies in:
- Ensuring environments are adapted to support children with SEND.
- Making sure every child is included, no matter where they are in their learning and development journey.
- Supporting staff to build their knowledge and confidence in how to best support children with SEND.
- Advocating for support from outside agencies for both children and their families.