Meet the team
Vron Walters
Owner, Teacher,
Forest school, SENCO, DSL
I work in both Launceston
and Trethorne. I am a
qualified Teacher, Forest
School Lead, SENCO and
DSL. I love to spend time
with the children where
possible and really enjoy
being outdoors.
I have a fascination with
bugs and wildlife in general
and like to explore these
with the children.
I normally end up messy by
the end of the day. In my
spare time I have a busy
home life with a large
family. We like being at home.
Click the buttons to reveal the staff at each respective setting
Click on each staff to find out more.
Anna Dymond
Deputy Manager @SmileyHappyPeople
Manager of Launceston Site
Admin Outdoor play, Senior Educator
Donna Meakin
Senior Educator
SENCO Launceston + Trethorne
Anita (NEET) Billing. H&S
Senior Educator/ Baby Room
Hi I am Anna, I am the Deputy Manager of Smiley Happy People and I am mostly based at the Launceston setting. I have a level 3 qualification in Childcare. I am outdoor play trained and I oversee staff and child wellbeing,
I am a Senior educator at the Launceston setting.
I am calm, well prepared and always organised. I have a great sense of humour and love to take on challenges. In my spare time I am involved with Scouts and love to spend time with my family.
I work in the Launceston
setting currently acting as a Senior Educator as well as the SENCO across both settings. I am level 3 trained and I worked as an independent
childminder when my children were young.
I have many years experience including forest school training, SENCO I have worked closely with children with additional needs. I really enjoy being outdoors. I like to get down and play with the toddlers guiding and extending their learning.
My own family have grown up so I am enjoying my time with my husband and pets in the countryside.
Hi I’m Nita, I am currently leading the Baby room at Launceston. I have recently gone back to college and I have done a Level 3 in Child care.
When I am not working you will find me home with my family, I have a husband two children and a dog which is called Jess
I enjoy reading when I can find a good book and being outside pottering around the garden tending to my flowers. As family we enjoy going on holiday in our caravan.
Claire Parnell
Senior Educator, DSL
Mia Andrews
Educator
Toddler Room
Kate Weatherill
Educator
Level 3 Staff wellbeing
Hi my name is Claire! I am a senior educator.
I have a Level 3 qualification in Childcare and Education and enjoys working with all ages particularly with babies.
I have worked for Smiley for many years now.
In my spare time I love to spend time with my family and friends and I have 2 children of my own.
I am currently on maternity leave and will be back very soon.
Hello my name is Mia I am level 3 qualified in childcare and have worked over
both settings.
I currently work at the Launceston setting. I really enjoy exploring
the outdoors and wildlife with the children.
Forest school is one of my favourite
things to do with the children.
In my spare time I like to be with my little boy,
husband and our dogs walking on the moors seeing all of the wildlife around us .
Hi, I’m Kate. I have a level 3 qualification in early years education.
Currently I am in my 2nd year of studying a foundation degree in children, young people and family studies. Working at Smileys has made me love Mondays!
My favourite part of the day at Smiley Happy People is exploring the large garden with the children. I love bugs, mud (the muddier the better) Plants, wildlife and growing my own vegetables and fruit.
I enjoy creating arts and crafts, especially with natural materials, and sharing stories with children.
I help out at a local primary school and have experience in speech and language working alongside speech and language therapists in recent years. In my spare time I enjoy beach combing, rock pooling and sea fishing with my son and husband.
Or enjoying a good book in the garden with a nice cup of tea.
Gemma Penn
Trainee Educator, HU'5
Karen Sandercook
Chef & Senior Educator
Hi, I'm Gemma, I am an apprentice working towards my level 3 Qualification. I have 2 children of 12 and 4 and wanted to start a career in an area that I enjoy and am passionate about.
I love open ended, curious and imaginative play and the opportunities it gives children to develop, explore and learn.
I am excited to be part of a team at Smiley Happy People that gives children an environment to learn, grow and develop in a child led way. Spare time is family time and we try to get out to the coast as much as possible, but if at home, art, reading gaming and movies are our favourites.
Hi I am Karen and I started to work at Smiley in 2014 where I gained my Level 2 and 3 qualifications in Childcare.
Although I have worked in the rooms at both Trethorne and Launceston for many years, I am currently based at Launceston and most recently I'm the Cook at the nursery in Launceston where we follow the healthy under 5's program to provide healthy meals for all the children in the nursery.
I am married and have 5 children of my own and 3 grandchildren as well as 2 dogs which all keeps my home life very busy.
Ellie Meakin
Educator
Hello, my name is Ellie.
I have been in childcare for ten years and have loved every minute of it.
I am a qualified level three practitioners do float between both nurseries and all three rooms.
In my spare time I am either with my crazy spaniel or driving my mini raising money for the children hospice.
Stephanie Lang
Trainee Educator
I'm steph, a bubbly mummy to two young boys who keep me on my toes, I am currently doing a Level 3 in childcare.
I love children and am a big child at heart. I love playing with the children and attending to all of their needs,
Im very smiley and am always happy to chat.
Rosie Pickard
Educator
Hi, I'm Rosie! I've been with Smiley for about 8 years now, starting as a student to do my Early Years Professional Status, and I also have a degree in Early Childhood Studies. I've three of my own children at home, I love my time at work, I love being allowed into so many tiny people's lives and helping them grow and have fun! I go between all the rooms, meaning I get to enjoy all the age groups.
Sofia Skilton
Trainee Educator
Hi I’m Sofia, I am an apprentice in the babyroom at the Trethorne setting which I am throughly enjoying and learning a lot.
I have always enjoyed looking after younger children over the past few years as I have two younger sisters. I look forward to building my career as a passionate practitioner.
Diane Thomas
Deputy Manager, Admin Outdoor play, Senior Educator
Hello I am Diane I am the Deputy Manager at Smiley Managing the Trethorne site. I oversee the staff wellbeing and lead Health & Safety. I am level 3 trained and currently doing my level 5 leadership course. I am learning lots in my new role and have taken on some of the admin work. In the past I have worked in Nurseries and pre schools and I have run football groups.
In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my 3 children and 3 grandchildren. My hobbies include developing and learning about my marine fish tanks and looking after my garden.
Charlotte Cocoran
Senior Educator, SENCO
Level 4
Emily Hilliard
Educator, HU5
Kirsty White
Senior Educator (Maternity Leave)
Hi my name is Charlotte. I am a senior educator.
In 2016 I completed a Level 3 qualification in Children's Play, Learning and Development.
In my free time I enjoy binging on the latest TV series I have become addicted to, and going to the cinema.
I am currently on maternity leave after giving birth to my own little boy and I shall be back very soon.
Vicky Piper
Senior Educator/ Baby Room
Behaviour Management
I work at the Trethorne
setting in the baby room. I have had experience in both nurseries and as a nanny.
Throughout my work I have made lifetime friends. I am a
very calm person. I like to spend time with my own family and friends and listening to live music.
While at smiley I have enjoyed learning about the curiosity approach and implementing it in the baby room and garden.
Hello my name is Em and I work on the pre-school room.
I have a level 3 qualification in children which I trained in back when I lived in my home town of Frome.
I have a son called Theo, who is my best friend.
Some of you may know me from little pickles which is a group where new mums can meet each other.
When I'm not working I love spending time with my family and my zoo!
Hi I’m Kirsty and I run the babyroom at our Trethorne setting.
I have been working in childcare since 2018 when I had my son Bowie, who is quite a handful shall we say!
In my free time I enjoy time with family and friends, also my hobby which is looking after and riding my horse, which Bowie also enjoys with me.
I’m a committed, passionate person and always do my best for the children in my care.
Helen Fildes
Trainee Educator
Harriet Hawkins
Trainee Educator
Hi, I am Helen. I work with the over 2’s and am studying for my Level 3 educator qualification. I have previously worked in nurseries and schools in reception class and with Key stage 1 children. I am finding it exciting learning about in the moment planning and child led learning as it is so different to how I trained previously
I have 3 grown up sons, 2 dogs and 1 husband (in that order!) and most of my time is spent with them.
I have a passion for creative activities and being out in the garden. I am enjoying going to forest school and seeing how the children learn in a different environment.
Peggy Ayers
Educator
Hello, I am Peggy. I have a level 3 in childcare and a bachelors degree in Sociology! I have years of experience with children including two of my own. I have worked with a mixture of ages and in different environments and settings, including being a nanny for a holiday company where I looked after children while they were holidaying with their families. I love travelling as this allows me to get involved in different cultures and teach children new skills. I love earning new things and having busy days with my family!
Georgia Wickett
Trainee Educator
Hello, I am Georgia. I used to come to Smiley as a Primary School child and then as a teenager to help out. It is like my second home.
I am very interested in speech and language development and took A-Levels in Psychology, Sociology, English Language and did Biology up to AS Level.
I have worked with Adults with additional needs and in a pub so am finding working with children similar at times!
I am currently studying for my Level 3 Educator qualification and specialising in Makaton and speech development.
In my spare time I like tinkering with my van, going to the gym and spending time with my boyfriend and my family.
Tania Markham
Educator
Evie Hendrix
Educator