Staff

KATRINA DOBBIE

Manager

Katrina has 10 years’ experience as an area manager for the YMCA supporting 5 Out of School Services in the North Lanarkshire region. She was responsible for the Quality assurance systems and the development of the holiday services. She was also responsible for the development of the outdoor Play Space known as the Play Zone and for mentoring the Play Rangers . Prior to this she had ten year experience directly managing an out of School Service.

Katrina was trained as a youth worker and later achieved her playwork qualifications at level 2,3 and 4. She is a qualified assessor and internal verifier and is a lecturer in Childcare at the New College Lanarkshire. She is currently a student on the PDA Childhood Practice level nine course

Katrina is responsible for supporting the assessors and tutors in relation to the development and management of the policies, systems, finance and registration

BARBARA DALE

Curriculum Manager Childhood Practice

A former reception teacher she achieved her Masters Degree in Early Education through Pen Green Nursery in Corby and London Metropolitan University. From 2006, until her retirement in July of 2010, she was Head of a Stirling Council standalone nursery. Barbara is also a member of the National Under Threes’ Advisory Group (NUTAG) at Education Scotland.

Barbara is a Senior Verifier at SQA for Social Services Children and Young People and has been involved in designing the Level 9 (degree equivalent) qualification for workers across the Early Years and Playwork sector. She continues to deliver training, at all levels, to a range of Early Years Educators across Scotland and is the director and Chair of Early Years Scotland

Barbara has three year experience of delivering the PDA Childhood Practice at level nine across three geographical areas in Scotland including Stirling Dundee and Dumfries . Barbara has developed extensive teaching and resource materials which are now available online.

SYBIL TAYLOR

Lead Tutor: Childhood Practice

A former primary and nursery teacher, with experience in a Deputy Head role.

Sybil has been an assessor and tutor for over seven years and loves the diversity of working with adults in the workplace. assessment. She has extensive experience of supporting a very large number of candidates who are aspiring managers. Sybil is currently the lead tutor for the PDA Childhood Practice level 8 , the SVQ level 4 Scottish Social Services Children and Young People and the Aspiring Managers courses. In 2015 Sybil became a tutor on the PDA 9 Childhood Practice in the Kirkaldy and Dundee region.

Outwith work Sybil played badminton in several leagues, took up jogging, squash, tennis and most recently rambling. She has shared most of her life with cats, is vegetarian and a committed animal lover and endeavours to be as eco-friendly as she can. She has been heavily involved with a children’s book organisation: “The Federation of Children’s Book Groups” and the Eco schools programme

ANNE-MARIE MACKIN

Lead Tutor: Playwork
Tutor: Childhood Practice

Anne-Marie has a background as a playgroup leader, creche worker and childminder and with children and adults with additional support needs. She has an honours degree from the Open University which has a very strong focus on education and childhood issues. She also has a Diploma in Health and Social Welfare and a Certificate in Health Promotion from the same institution as well as having gained qualifications in Winning Resources and Support and Managing Voluntary and non profit organisations. Anne-Marie has a training for trainers certificate and a certificate in Management Skills. After a gap of several years Anne-Marie undertook the SVQ level 4 in Playwork followed by the PDA Playwork unit. She is a student on the PDA Childhood Practice level nine and works as a part time manager of an Out of School Care Service in Perth.

She is part of Play First (Scotland) Ltd and is firmly committed to supporting students in making the theory come alive in their settings. Anne-Marie is very interested in mentoring and support for students and in working with their settings to provide the right package of support and guidance for each student.

LESLEY CREEVY

Lead Tutor: SVQ3 SSCYP & Playwork

Lesley has worked as an assessor since 2001. Previous to this she trained in Early years gaining an svq3 and PDA in childcare and education while running a rural playgroup.. She was very fortunate to be selected by Stirling Council to visit Reggio Emilia in Italy where she was so inspired that she took time out to complete a degree in art and design.

She is lead tutor and assessor for SSCYP (SVQ 2, 3, 4). In 2012 she became a qualified verifier and gained the playwork unit from the PDA. She has experience as a childminder, has worked in several out of school settings and worked in most of the nurseries throughout Stirling Council. She also worked at the Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery in Fife as senior practitioner. Lesley’s main interest and focus is play, creativity , outdoor play and play with elements. She is very active member and tutor of Play First Scotland , an organisation which works with a range of services and communities to “ make the theory come alive”. She has recently developed a range of innovative workshops including play with fire, tools and plants.

Carolanne Martin

Finance Assistant

Carolanne has spent the last 18 years working within finance and administration roles. Her experience included working with one of the Big 4 Worldwide Accountancy Firms, a British bank and a Chartered Surveyors. Carolanne has worked with a local charity for the last 9 years which she thoroughly enjoys alongside her work with Child Central Training.

Within Child Central Training Carolanne supports the overall management of the finance including invoicing and a large variety of administration tasks.

When Carolanne is not working she enjoys camping and the outdoors with her husband and daughter, music and a cosy night in with a good book!

ALISON STEWART

Learning and Development Manager

Alison is responsible for our student records management, the creation and maintenance of our online learning environment (MOODLE) and is also our SQA Co-ordinator. She also creates our e-Learning resources.

Alison is the headteacher at the Local Authority maintained Brougham Street Community Nursery School in Skipton, North Yorkshire where she is also a Forest School's Leader (Level 3) and has also recently completed the NASENCo award and NPQH.

Alison completed an M.Ed in Childhood Practice (Glasgow University) in 2015 and a SVQ3 in Childcare Learning and Development through Stirling Council Children's Services (Anne Emerson-Smith Play Training Ltd) in 2011. She also holds a Ph.D in Aquatic Veterinary Science from Stirling University (2005) and completed a PGCE with QTS (distinction) in secondary biology with science through the Northern Lights Teaching Schools Alliance in partnership with Leeds Trinity University.

The former manager of the award winning Red Kite Community Nursery; she moved to Skipton from Scotland in January 2015 where she lives with her husband Gordon and three rapidly growing children.

STAFF