Meet the team

Fiddlers Lane Children's Centre has an energetic team of enthusiastic children's centre workers, an educational lead and a food worker, as well as an engaged management team and administrative staff. 

Below is a brief profile of the staff members.

Management

Name: Julie Carson

Role: Headteacher of Fiddlers Lane Community Primary School and Children's Centre

Background: I qualified as a primary school teacher in 1995 and started to work for Salford straight away. I became an assistant headteacher in 2000, before moving to Fiddlers Lane as the deputy headteacher in 2002. In 2006 I became the headteacher of the school with overall responsibility for the children's centre since the centre opened.

I have worked alongside many different agencies to ensure the children's centre fulfills its role within the community. I also sit on the Salford Safeguarding Children Board as the primary headteacher representative.

Favourite part of the job: Seeing the positive impact that the partnership working between the children's centre and the school has on some families. Also, being able to develop specialised areas, such as our sensory room.

Other information: We welcome all families with children under five into the children's centre - it's your centre so please use it!

Name: David Fielding

Role: Children's centre manager

Background: I qualified in Early Years in 2001, and I worked within a nursery setting for around twelve months. My work then took a shift to working more with families as a family support worker and working with children with disabilities, whilst also working in mainstream after school and holiday play schemes.

In January 2004, I gained my first management experience managing an open access play and youth project in North Manchester. I continued to manage the youth project for a further twelve months.

In July 2004, I moved role to manage the Anson Cabin Project, a small voluntary sector organisation working on the Anson estate area of Longsight. I was with the Anson Cabin Project for 18 months before moving on to manage Moss Side adventure playground.

In January 2007, I returned to Early Years as I took up post as children's centre manager at Fiddlers Lane Sure Start Children’s Centre, followed shortly by the position of manager at Cadishead Sure Start Children's Centre. This was a new children's centre and an exiting opportunity as it gave me the chance to develop two new centres which were blank canvases when I started. That’s me to date; I am the children's centre manager for both Fiddlers Lane Sure Start Children's Centre and Cadishead Sure Start Children’s Centre.

What I do at the centre: As the centre manager I am responsible for ensuring the centre provides the services that Sure Start expect and more importantly what the community request. This includes responsibility for staff, budget, buildings and so on.

Favourite part of the job: Seeing how the centre has helped and supported families, and seeing the happy faces of the children in the centre.

Other information: I am always looking for feedback from centre users on all aspects of the centres' work. If you would ever like to comment on our services or wish to speak to me about any aspect of the centre's work please feel free to email me or call the centre and ask to speak with me.

Children's centre workers

Name: Lisa Thomas

Role: Children's centre worker

Background: I have worked with children in a variety of settings for almost 15 years. I was a volunteer with a playscheme which was when I realised I wanted to make working with children and families my career. I managed a crèche in Trafford for five years before working with Family Support and then came to work in the children’s centre last year.

What I do at the centre: I am a children's centre worker at Irlam children's centre. I organise the community sessions, which include sure swim, kids rock and movers and shakers. I also organise the adult courses like the ECDL course, and am currently co-leader on the Parenting Survival course. I promote the centre and all its activities throughout the community ensuring as many people as possible know about us and what we offer. I plan and develop activities based on views expressed by centre users and community members. I network with other professionals to ensure they are aware of what we offer to support young children and their families.

Favourite part of the job: The variety; no two days are the same.

Name: Ange Jones

Role: Children’s centre worker

Background: I qualified as a nursery nurse in 1998, and worked in a private day nursery until 2009, where I was the nursery manager for over four years. I was also nursery SENCO for five years. Currently, I am working towards my foundation degree in Early Years Childhood Studies. I am a proud mum of three children aged six years, three years and 22 months.

What I do at the centre: Facilitate stay and play sessions, run first steps group, planning, working with families, completing CAF forms, multi agency working, MiniMend.

Favourite part of the job: Working with and getting to know local families.

This page was last updated on 12 August 2011