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 Status
Jasmin
Early Years Manager
Level 6 Childcare and Education.
Pronouns She/Her
Libby
Hedgehog Lead Educator
Level 3 Childcare and Education.
Pronouns She/Her
Arabella
Fox Group Lead Educator.
Pronouns She/Her
Edward
Fox Educator
Level 3 Childcare and Education. Studying for Professional Teacher Status Level 6
Pronouns he/him
Cieran
Fox Educator
Pronouns he/him
Christabel
Fox Apprentice
Pronouns: They/Them
Adrian
Kindergarten Educator
Ivan
Badger Lead Educator.
Pronouns he/him
Sally
Outdoors Early Years Educator
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/Her
Izabella
Hedgehog Educator..
Level 3 Childcare and Education. Pronouns She/Her
Kit
Hedgehog Educator
Level 2 Early Years Educator
Studying for Level 3
Pronouns They/Them
Claudia
Office Manager
Pronouns She / Her
Annie
Therapy dog
Bruce and Chopper
Playful, giant rescue rabbits
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.
How we work
At Young Friends, how we work is as important as what we do
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Children are kept in flow through meaningful, engaging experiences.
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Staff use sustained shared thinking and thoughtful dialogue, having real conversations with children rather than directing them towards a predetermined outcome.
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Real activities are always prioritised over artificial tasks
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Adults model calm, respectful behaviour at all times
Staff support & development
Training and Qualifications
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 or take on more responsibility, 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
We absolutely LOVE this nursery - it is by far the best we have seen! I love that it is eco friendly & teaches the children about sustainability, child led, creative, my daughter cooks most days, uses tools, plants veg, has messy play, eats healthy and so much more!
