Our team is at the heart of everything we do at Young Friends.
They are thoughtful, committed people who care deeply about the children, about each other and about the world those children are growing up in.
Getting to know our team is one of the best parts of joining our community.
Louise Lloyd-Evans
Founder
Level 6 Childcare and Education with Early Years Professional StatusPronouns She/Her
Jasmin
Early Years Manager
Level 6 Childcare and Education.
Pronouns She/Her
Libby
Hedgehog Lead Educator
Level 3 Childcare and Education.
Pronouns She/Her
Clair
Fox Educator
Level 3 Childcare and Education.
Pronouns She/Her
Mollie
Fox Educator
Level 3 Childcare and Education.
Pronouns She/Her
Ariette
Fox Educator
Pronouns They/Them
Arabella
Fox Group Lead Educator.
Pronouns She/Her
May
Fox Educator
Level 3 Childcare and Education working towards Early Years Teacher Status.
Pronouns she/her
Christabel
Fox Apprentice
Pronouns: They/Them
Manuela
Fox Educator
Level 3 Childcare and Education. Pronouns she/her
Sally
Nature Curriculum Lead
Pronouns She/Her
Angela
Lunchtime Whole Kindergarten Educator
Qualified Paediatric First Aider
Pronouns: She/Her
Jodie
Chef
Level 3 Food Hygiene /
Food Preparation & Cooking
Pronouns She/Her
Roisin
Hedgehog Educator
Level 2 Childcare and Education.
Studying for Level 3.
Pronouns She/They
Izabella
Hedgehog Educator..
Level 3 Childcare and Education. Pronouns She/They
Kit
Fox Educator
Level 2 Early Years Educator
Studying for Level 3
Pronouns They/Them
Leah
Fox Deputy Lead Educator
Level 3 Childcare and Education
Pronouns She/Her
Immy
Office Manager
Pronouns They/Them
Davide
Kitchen Garden Guru
Pronouns He/Him
Bruce and Chopper
Playful, giant rescue rabbits
Annie and Rio
Kindergarten Doggies
Regular visitors to the kindergarten and friends to the children.
Our team culture
We work as a team, not as individuals.
The people who work at Young Friends are carefully chosen. Not just for their qualifications or experience, but for who they are: their values, their patience, their genuine love of working with children.
Many of them have been with us for years, and that continuity matters enormously to the children and families in our community.
Our culture is built on:
respect
Kindness
professionalism
shared responsibility
Staff support each other, communicate openly and model the kind of relationships we want children to experience every day.
We take real care of the people who work here. You can read here how we look after our team.
How we work
At Young Friends, how we work is as important as what we do
-
Children are kept in flow through meaningful, engaging experiences.
-
Staff use sustained shared thinking and thoughtful dialogue, having real conversations with children rather than directing them towards a predetermined outcome.
-
Real activities are always prioritised over artificial tasks
-
Adults model calm, respectful behaviour at all times
Staff support & development
Training
We support staff to gain qualifications and develop their knowledge throughout their time with us.
Supportive Leadership
Staff are guided, coached and supported in their roles. Nobody is left to figure things out alone.
Wellbeing
We take staff wellbeing seriously, because we know that happy, supported adults make for happy, settled children.
Growth and Recognition
We recognise commitment and quality. Where there is an opportunity to develop, we encourage it.
Working with children
Working at Young Friends means:
being present
being thoughtful
being consistent
Staff support children with care, patience and understanding, building strong relationships that help them feel safe and ready to learn.
Join our team
Careers at Young Friends Kindergarten in Hove
We are always interested in hearing from people who share our values. If you are passionate about early years education, committed to sustainability and genuinely love working with young children, we would love to hear from you.
We look for people who are:
committed to high-quality, child-led practice
aligned with our sustainable, plant-based ethos
respectful, reflective and genuinely invested in children’s wellbeing
Applying to work with us
To ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process, all applicants are required to complete an application form. This supports:
safer recruitment practices • equal opportunities for all applicants •
a transparent and structured process
How to apply: Please request an application form or apply via the link below.
Families are encouraged to speak openly with us at any time
Parent Testimonials
