Meet the Team
Our dedicated and experienced team are at the heart of our wonderful nursery. The team is committed to creating a happy, friendly and caring environment in which the children thrive.
Kate Walford
Head Teacher
In September 2018 I was so proud to become the Head teacher, alongside my role as the red room morning supervisor and SENCO for the 3-4 year olds. Hambledon nursery is a lovely, caring, fun and family focussed nursery. Providing children with both stimulating and nurturing experiences, which teach them lifetime skills, while making memories that they will always remember.
It is an absolute pleasure and privilege to be working in the role of head teacher, working with an amazing team of inspirational and outstanding early years practitioners. I feel very lucky to be doing a job that I love everyday.
My previous roles and experiences include working for over twenty years as a Primary school teacher, working predominantly in reception and nursery classes where my passion for early years education has endured. I have also been a childminder when my family were young and at home with me.
POPPY KNIGHT – Deputy Head / Blue Room Supervisor
Having worked as science teacher in London secondary schools for 7 years, upon moving back to Godalming, I was looking for a change in direction in my teaching career. Hambledon Nursery offered me an exciting opportunity to take a step into early years learning and the rewarding and challenging environment that working with younger children offers. Since 2011, when I joined the nursery as a blue room practitioner, I have been lucky enough to work across both rooms and have really enjoyed watching both blue room and red room children develop and grow as part of the Hambledon family. Following a break to have my third child, I returned to the red room permanently in 2019 and was lucky enough to become the blue room supervisor and SENCO for the 2-3 year olds at the beginning of 2021. I have a strong belief that allowing children to be themselves, be imaginative, explore the world around them and giving them the opportunity to learn through experience provides a strong foundation for any child as they develop and grow.
Hambledon Nursery has always been a special place for me with all three of my children being lucky enough to enjoy their early years here and having attended Hambledon nursery myself when I was a child!
GINA CASTLE- Red Room Afternoon Supervisor
I have always had a passion for working with children, particularly in early years. I am a qualified Teacher of Early Childhood Education, studying in Christchurch, New Zealand. I have worked in a Day Nursery setting, both in NZ and the UK, as a live-in Nanny and I was a childminder for 9 years and I have two children of my own.
I first heard about this fabulous place called Hambledon Nursery School, while I was on a yoga retreat (in May 2019) and was attracted by the lovely people I met and the fantastic environment Hambledon has to offer. I joined in September 2019, as an Early Years Practitioner in Red Room, initially working 2 full days a week. I enjoyed it so much, that I increased to 4 full days a week. In April 2023, I took on the role of Afternoon Supervisor in the Red Room and I love the additional responsibilities this brings.
I love watching children learn, grow and thrive and I believe in providing an environment that allows them to do this. I love it here at Hambledon, it really is the best job ever!
KATIE LINDLEY – Early Years Practitioner/ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant)
Before joining the lovely team at Hambledon Nursery School I had experience of working with children in a range of settings. In 2005 I graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in Psychology and went on to work in a school supporting children with learning, emotional and behavioural needs. Following this, I worked as an Assistant Psychologist within a Child Psychology Service before joining Children’s Services as a Senior Family Support Worker within a Child Protection team. I took a break from work to look after my three young children and during this time I ran Hambletots Playgroup for two years.
I first came across Hambledon Nursery School in 2016, when my eldest daughter joined the Blue Room. I knew straight away that it was a special place and hoped one day I would be a part of it. In September 2021 an opportunity came up to work in the Red Room and I jumped at it! I believe passionately in the importance of promoting emotional wellbeing in the early years; specifically supporting children as they develop their emotional literacy skills. In March 2023 I qualified as an Early Years Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), enabling me to offer guidance and support under the supervision of an Educational Psychologist to children and families as they navigate these precious early years.
LINDA HUMPHREY – School Business Manager
I have had a wiggly career path to early years! Having grown up in Guildford and graduating from Leeds University, I moved to London for over a decade where I forged my path as an Accessories Buyer for a major high street retailer. I absolutely loved fashion, the friends I worked with and all the travel, but that quickly changed when I had my eldest in 2013.
My family moved out of London to Surrey and initially I carried on working as buyer for a local department store, but I struggled with the juggle of home and work life like many of us mums do, so I took some time out of working and focused on raising my 3 boys. When I was ready to get back into work, I decided I needed a new career path and having always been invested in my son’s schools and nurseries (PTA and volunteering), I decided that working with children was something I would love to do.
So, I began by working at an Infant School close to my home, in the office where I was the main contact for all things Nursery, Pre-School and Early Years. It was completely different to my previous buying roles, but I found that I loved working with the children and families. There is never a dull day when working in a school environment!
I am excited to be working at Hambledon Nursery – it has always had such a good reputation within local mum circles and several of my friends have sent their children here and absolutely loved it. It is a busy, sometimes noisy, but above all, it is a happy place to be and so I feel very much at home!
What Our Parents & Carer Say About Us
We chose Hambledon Nursery due to its idyllic setting, the fantastic outdoors facilities and its wonderfully experienced staff. We feel very lucky that our son has had such a creative, caring and wholesome start to his education. We couldn’t have asked for more.
Hambledon Nursery School is a truly special place. The staff are always so warm and welcoming and go to great lengths to really get to know the children. So much so that they plan activities around the children’s individual interests.
My child always looks forward to walking through the nursery school door in the morning to see what resources and activities there are. As these change every day there is always plenty to talk about at pick up time.
Hambledon Nursery School is where my toddler looks forward to going. His key worker has taken the time to understand what makes him feel comfortable as well as entertained.
We chose Hambledon for our daughter after seeing the wonderful outdoor space, it was unmatched by any other local nursery and we just knew she would love all the adventures it brings.
Every day our daughter is bouncing with excitement to see her friends, play, read and make a complete mess with all the arts and crafts available. She is truly happy and that’s all I can ask for from a nursery.
My daughter absolutely loves nursery! I honestly cannot thank them enough for the care, nurturing and understanding that has moulded my daughter into the kind and confident child she is today. My only complaint is that she cannot stay until she is 18.
The children have freedom to choose activities, but also a structured rhythm to the day. My little one particularly enjoys story and song time. We are so happy he is settled in to a caring environment.
My daughters both thrived at Hambledon Nursery, making it the perfect stepping stone to starting school.
Hambledon Nursery is a very special place. It provides warmth, care and creative learning opportunities in equal measure. Each child’s individuality is acknowledged and celebrated by staff, providing them with a robust sense of self worth and self esteem.
Having looked around a number of local nurseries, Hambledon Nursery School was the one that felt most like home. The warmth and care, combined with the professionalism, of all the staff was very noticeable and something I am grateful for every time I drop off my child.
I love the fact my child can get lovely and messy at nursery! He has had so much fun in messy play, which we tend not to do at home, and I am amazed how engaged the staff are and how much creative freedom they give the children with the resources. Wonderful!
