Just like our children, teachers at Keren’s Nurseries are learning and developing all the time too. We run a comprehensive on-going programme of teacher training and development.

All teachers are qualified in the Occupational Therapy-based programme, Moving Matters.

Belsize Park

Tina Bloch, Manager, Belsize Park

I have been working with pre-school children for the past 23 years. I joined Keren’s in November 2011 and I have been in Belsize since the beginning, in January 2012.

I have a foundation degree in Early Years Education, and I am also a qualified Forest School leader. I have a wealth of personal experience provided by my four children.

I love the way the nurseries are constantly striving to raise standards by adding to the variety of experiences the children are exposed to, such as Forest School sessions and our healthy lifestyles programme and the support Keren and Assaf give to such initiatives.

Diana Sacalus, Deputy Manager, Belsize Park

I have worked with children for the past 15 years, 8 of which here at Keren’s Belsize Park, having a career progression from nursery teacher to deputy manager.

Having studied Maths and Physics at university and working with children of all ages, I find working in Early Years the most rewarding as is so vital in shaping a young person’s life on so many levels.

What I love most about working with this age group is seeing the excitement on children’s faces when learning something new and the confidence with which they share their knowledge of the world as they see it. I hold a Level 3 qualification in childcare and I am a qualified Forest School Leader.

I am passionate about photography, traveling, cooking, and trying new cuisines.

Hampstead Garden Suburb

Marlene Costa, Manager Hampstead

I am an Educational Psychologist and I’ve been working in Early Year for 11 years (8 years managing settings: elderly and children centres). I started working at Keren’s in July 2016, I am an Early Years Childcare Educator (Level 3).I love the atmosphere and the opportunity directors offer us to grow. Here we are free to create, put in place our ideas and learn from different perspectives. We can are encouraged to be warm with children, which makes a big difference to me in comparison to previous settings. Managers and staff are very supportive of each other and I could not find this anywhere else before. I also love the park! It is the perfect classroom for children to learn skills for life and to develop.

Yael Brown, Deputy Manager Hampstead

I was a childminder between 2010 and 2015 and qualified in level 3 childcare. I joined Keren’s in 2015. I have an additional level 5 in management and leadership in childcare workforce. I am designated safeguarding lead, and a forest school leader.

What I love most about my job is seeing the children learn every day and their faces smile. The fulfillment you get from working with children is like no other reward in a job. I love my colleagues and the atmosphere we create here each day. I love the freedom and support I get in regards to furthering myself professionally in my career.

Holland Park

Alexandra Costin, Nursery Manager, Holland Park

I moved to London almost 6 years ago, having 5 years of teaching experience in Romania and a bachelor’s degree in Early Years and Primary Education.

I obtained my QTS shortly after moving here and I began teaching in nurseries in Fulham and Chelsea. In 2018 I joined Keren’s Nursery as a Deputy Manager in the Holland Park Branch and later became the Nursery Manager in 2019.

What drew me to Keren’s Nursery was the passion everybody puts into their work, which was evident to me from my very first visit. I was excited at the opportunity of working alongside a dedicated team and I was not disappointed. What I love most about the nursery is that, while we all follow the same curriculum and ethos, each member of staff is encouraged to bring forward their own interests and ideas. This enables us to create very rich and diverse learning opportunities for children, from shadow theatres to science experiments and woodwork. It is a joy to lead a team of knowledgeable and enthusiastic professionals.

Mihaela Poleac, Deputy Manager, Holland Park

I have been working in education for almost 4 years and hold a QTS and a Psychology degree.
I joined Keren’s Nursery 2 and a half years ago, as a nursery practitioner and became a Room Leader a year later. In September 2019 I was given the opportunity to be a Deputy Manager and have been holding the position ever since. The thing I love most about working here is that we provide a lot of different real-life experiences for children; from going to the shops and buying fresh vegetables and fruits to visiting museums, farm trips, and Forest School sessions. We prepare them for life, through play and exploring the world.