Meet the Team
Kate Watkins-Freeman
Director
The experienced one -
With a Master’s degree in Early Years Education, Kate brings knowledge, passion and strong leadership to Ribbons. As co-creator of Ribbons, our ALN Coordinator and a member of the Welsh Government’s Curriculum for Wales Policy Group, she is passionate about helping every child thrive. Named Bro Radio’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2024, Kate is equally invested in her team, creating opportunities for everyone to keep learning and growing. A mum of two herself, she understands early childhood from both sides of the door.
Jo Watkins-Freeman
Director
The storyteller -
Jo has a fantastic way with words and loves chatting, singing and sharing stories with the children. She encourages them to express their ideas, join conversations and develop their confidence communicating with the people around them. As a primary school teacher, junior raquets coach and music specialist, Jo was cut out to work in Early Years. She is a loving mother of two and co-creator of Ribbons Preschool.
Victoria Pocock
Manager
The dependable one -
Vikki is one of those people Ribbons simply wouldn’t be Ribbons without. As our Manager, she has an incredible ability to keep all the moving parts working together, bringing consistency, organisation and care to everything that happens here. Equally at home in the office or right in the middle of the action, Vikki is a familiar and important part of every child’s experience at Ribbons. A mum of two teenage boys herself, she brings warmth, understanding and plenty of life experience! Steady, thoughtful and endlessly hardworking, Vikki is someone our children, families and team can always depend upon.
Chloe-Lou Thomas
Preschool Practitioner
The energetic one -
You'll rarely find Chloe-Lou sitting still! Full of energy and enthusiasm, she loves getting the children moving, exploring and involved. Whether it's a game in the garden, a dance session or an adventure in the setting, Chloe-Lou brings infectious enthusiasm to everything she does. Not only this, Chloe-Lou is a fluent Welsh speaker and talented musician. Furthermore, her work and dedication was recognised in 2025 when she was nominated and awarded NDNA's Apprentice of the Year. This is a prestigious award that was judged nationally. We couldn't be more proud of her.
Sarah Sheppard
Well-Being Coordinator
The Confidence builder -
With over 30 years of experience in childcare, Sarah brings an incredible depth of knowledge and understanding to Ribbons. A wonderfully perceptive communicator, she knows just when to encourage, reassure or gently challenge our children to believe in themselves. As one of our Coordinators, that care extends to the whole Ribbons team; Sarah is a supportive and trusted colleague who always has time for those around her. A mum of two, she is energetic, athletic and a great believer in looking after both body and mind, bringing warmth, wisdom and positivity to everything she does.
Elizabeth Crawley
Outdoor Coordinator
The Outdoorsy one -
Liz is happiest when learning gets a little muddy! She loves giving children opportunities to explore the outdoors, investigate the natural world and learn through real experiences. Her enthusiasm helps turn even the simplest trip outside into an adventure. Thanks to Liz, we have developed some wonderful connections within our local community, including our much-loved link with DP's Community Garden. Furthermore, Liz transformed our own outdoor environment, creating a phenomenal garden and pond area that the children explore, enjoy and learn from every single day. Mum of three, there ain't nothing she can't do!
Harriet Hanson-Brown
Preschool Practitioner
The Nurturing one -
Hattie has a wonderfully warm and nurturing nature and a real talent for making children feel safe, settled and completely at home at Ribbons. She builds beautiful relationships with our children and brings the same gentle, reassuring manner to the wellbeing sessions she leads. Behind that softness is an incredibly capable and committed member of our team, taking responsibility for keeping our environment safe and secure. A busy mum of one, Hattie is dependable, hardworking and quietly strong to her core – someone our children and team know they can always rely on.
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Donna Spear
Lunchtime Supervisor
The Can Do Queen -
A calm, caring and incredibly capable member of our team, Donna brings a reassuring presence to even the busiest parts of the day. There really isn’t much she can’t turn her hand to – she is practical, versatile and always willing to have a go at something new! Her patient and unflappable nature makes her wonderful with the children, helping to make lunchtimes feel relaxed, happy and well organised. She is one of those people you can always rely on, whatever the day might bring. Donna is a mum and grandmother of three. She now blesses us with her infallible work ethicm having worked in insurance for years!
Poppy Boarde
Preschool Practitioner
The calm one -
Poppy brings a wonderful sense of calm to Ribbons, but she is certainly not one to be underestimated! Exceptionally perceptive and vigilant to a T, she notices what others might miss and has an instinctive understanding of when a child needs a little extra support, an essential trait when leading our daily well-being sessions. Poppy’s patient, gentle and reassuring nature makes her a trusted grown-up for our children. Incredibly capable and completely unflappable, she can turn her hand to just about anything and approaches every challenge with quiet confidence and determination.
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Laurie Bright
House Keeping
The Sparkling Diamond -
Laurie is one of the unsung heroes of Ribbons and an incredibly valued member of our team. Unfailingly hardworking and reliable, she is here every single day making sure our environment is clean, safe and ready for our children to enjoy. But Laurie is so much more than the person who keeps Ribbons sparkling! She is absolutely wonderful with the children, who know her well and love having her around. Dependable, caring and always willing to help, we genuinely don’t know what we’d do without her! As a mother, and grand mother Laurie is a natural carer, who we all love to be around.
Catherine Rees
Preschool Practitioner
The all-rounder -
Cath is a much-loved member of our Ribbons family and brings so much to the setting. Caring, enthusiastic and always willing to get stuck in, she forms wonderful relationships with the children and is just as happy joining an imaginative game as she is offering a cuddle when one is needed. Cath is local to Dinas Powys, a mum of three and has wealth of experience having worked in child care for many years.
Katerina Davies
Preschool Practitioner
The observant one -
Kat has a wonderful ability to notice the little things. She really gets to know our children – their personalities, interests and individual ways of learning – making sure they feel understood, valued and encouraged. A busy mum of two boys, Kat is energetic, incredibly fit and always on the go! Her baking is second to none & her passion for supporting children extends beyond Ribbons too; she leads local children’s clubs and regularly volunteers to read with children at a local school. Kat is also committed to her own professional development and is currently working towards a further qualification in childcare.
Emily Phillips
Preschool Assistant
Rising star -
Emily first came to Ribbons as a Duke of Edinburgh volunteer and impressed us so much that we simply had to keep her! Now a valued member of our team, she is exceptionally reliable, committed and always willing to get involved. A talented musician, Emily brings creativity and a love of music to Ribbons, alongside a lovely natural way with our children. It has been wonderful watching her grow from a young volunteer into the confident, capable member of the team she is today.
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Imogen Roberts
Preschool Assistant
Rising Star -
Imogen is one of our Bright Sparks, bringing energy, enthusiasm and a brilliant willingness to get stuck into whatever is happening at Ribbons! Currently studying for her A-levels alongside working with us after school, she is sporty, active and always ready to join in with the children. Imogen has a natural ability to make herself useful, quickly seeing where she is needed and getting involved. Her positive attitude and youthful energy make her a wonderful addition to our team and a familiar, fun face for our after-school children.
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Seren Loveless
Preschool Assistant
Rising Star -
Studying for her A-levels alongside working at Ribbons after school, Seren brings youthful energy, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to our team. She has a lovely natural way with the children and is always willing to get involved, learn and lend a hand wherever she is needed. Balancing her studies with her role here takes commitment and maturity, and we love watching her confidence and experience continue to grow. A wonderful young member of our team with an exciting future ahead of her!
Martha Bailey
Preschool Assistant
Rising Star -
A local girl with strong ties to the community, Martha works with us alongside studying for her A-levels. Friendly, enthusiastic and eager to learn, she has quickly become a lovely addition to the Ribbons team. She brings a youthful energy that the children naturally respond to and is always willing to get involved, help out and learn from the more experienced members of the team. We love being able to support young people at the beginning of their working lives, and we’re excited to see Martha continue to grow in confidence and experience with us.