Meet The Team!
At SPACE Nursery, we live by our name — Safe, Play, Accessible, Community, Education — and our team brings these values to life every day.
Our dedicated practitioners are passionate about creating a safe and nurturing environment where every child feels secure and valued.
Through play-based learning, we encourage curiosity, creativity and confidence, helping children develop at their own pace.
We believe that childcare should be accessible and inclusive for all families, and our team works closely with parents and carers to ensure every child receives the support they need to thrive. Building a strong sense of community is at the heart of what we do and we pride ourselves on forming positive, trusting relationships.
At SPACE Nursery, our team isn’t just here to care for children. We’re here to inspire, support and help them shine.
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Tracy brings 18 years of childcare experience to the SPACE Nursery team and is our Deputy Manager.
Tracy began her childcare career overseas as a Children’s Holiday Representative with Thomas Cook, where she spent seven years working with children and families.
During her time overseas, Tracy worked her way up to management level before returning to the UK, where she continued her Early Years journey across a variety of schools and nursery settings.
Before joining SPACE Nursery,
Tracy particularly loves seeing how much children progress during their time at nursery... from the moment they start to the day they leave.
Watching their confidence, skills and personalities develop is one of the most rewarding parts of her role.
Tracy Stephenson
Deputy Manager
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Abbie has been working in Early Years for 7 years, building her career from an apprentice during the Covid-19 pandemic to a Team Lead!
After starting her working life at Greggs, Abbie began her Early Years journey as an apprentice. She worked throughout the pandemic, supporting a small group of children and quickly progressed in her career. Within two years, Abbie was promoted to Senior in the Toddler Room before taking on a Senior role in the Pre-School Room.
Abbie then continued her journey in another setting, where she was promoted to Senior within just six months and then progressed to Assistant Team Lead within a year.
Abbie
Baby Room Lead
Rebekah has been working in Early Years since leaving high school, building a wealth of experience across schools, nurseries and different age groups throughout her career.
Rebekah spent two years volunteering in a school, gaining experience across all year groups. She then worked with a supply agency for two years, giving her the opportunity to work in a variety of nurseries across the North East with children aged 3 months to 4 years.
Rebekah has now spent 14 years in her current workplace, mainly working with our youngest children aged 3 months to 2 years.
Rebekah Collingwood
Qualified Practitioner
Colette brings an incredible 30 years of Early Years experience to the SPACE Nursery team, having qualified from Newcastle College in 1996 with a BTEC National Diploma.
Her Early Years journey began as a Nursery Nurse within a private nursery, where she quickly progressed to Team Leader in the Pre-School Room. She went on to achieve her Level 4 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development before progressing to become Manager of the setting.
Since 2004, Colette has worked across a variety of Early Years settings throughout North Tyneside, continuing to build her knowledge and experience across the sector.
Colette is now our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo) at SPACE Nursery, having achieved her Level 3 Award in Early Years SEN Coordination.
Colette Hicks
SENDCo
Claire brings a wealth of experience to our team, with a unique journey into Early Years that began in hairdressing before discovering her passion for working with children!
Her career started by supporting her own children’s nursery and school, helping with reading and trips, which led to a role in a breakfast and after-school club. From there, Claire completed her childcare qualifications and progressed quickly, working in a playgroup and nursery where she advanced to Deputy Manager and later Manager.
Claire Pears
Qualified Practitioner
Leigha is passionate about working in Early Years because she loves seeing children develop, progress and grow. For her, it’s incredibly rewarding to know that she can make a difference in a child’s life and be part of their journey.
Before joining SPACE Nursery, Leigha was busy being a mam to her lovely young boy, bringing her own experience of family life into her passion for working with children.
She loves seeing the children have fun while learning, being part of their journey and watching them grow into happy, confident little people.
Leigha Singleton
Early Years Apprentice
At SPACE Nursery, we are always looking for passionate, caring, and dedicated individuals to join our team. If you have a love for working with children and want to be part of a supportive and welcoming environment, we would love to hear from you.
We offer a positive workplace where teamwork, creativity, and a commitment to high-quality early education are valued every day.
Whether you are experienced or just starting your career in early years, we encourage you to get in touch.
To apply or find out more, please contact us or send your CV to info@space-newcastle-childcare.com