Our Hygge Trainers

Dawn Randle 

Dawn Randle is a devoted mother, an avid creative, a nature and wildlife enthusiast and has worked within Childcare & Education for over a decade.

Based in Oban on the beautiful West Coast of Scotland, Dawn has a passion for child development with a particular interest in the birth to three age group.

Dawn specialises in Hygge, Scheme & Schemas, Loose Parts Play, Process Art and Nature Based Play.

You can contact Dawn through her BLOG: www.snugandwonderco.blogspot.com or EMAIL: [email protected]

Nichola Gartside-Bentley has been a primary school teacher for the past nine years and has taught in the EYFS for the last six years.

Nichola currently teaches in the Nursery at Berkswich CE Primary School, an outstanding school which is located in Stafford. She has a passion for child-led, open-ended play and outdoor learning, enjoying setting up beautiful purposeful provocations in her classroom for the children to explore. Nichola successfully gained Hygge Accreditation in October, 2023.

Nichola is an experienced leader and completed the NPQSL in December 2023. She leads PE across the school and is also involved in staff and children’s wellbeing, hosting wellbeing events for staff and leading Children’s Mental Health Week. She is passionate about creating a work environment that promotes emotional wellbeing, togetherness and supportive teamwork. 

Nichola enjoys spending time with her family, keeping active by going to the gym and practices gratitude daily by writing a gratitude journal. Nichola has a three-year-old daughter, Grace, with whom she loves spending quality time by walking their dog, playing open-ended games and going on outdoor adventures! Nichola is very fortunate to live close to Cannock Chase where they can go for beautiful walks and explore the natural environment - Grace loves looking out for the deer! This brings such joy to Nichola, along with a sense of calm.

Nichola would love to support more practitioners and settings in the Hygge in the early years approach, creating positive well-being for children, staff and parents alike. She can share her knowledge of the recent outstanding Ofsted inspection in January 2024 and provide ideas that can further support settings in creating outstanding early years provision.

To follow her Hygge inspired learning, please follow ‘Berkswich Nursery’ on Instagram. If you would like to contact Nichola, please email her at [email protected].

My name is Wendy Elliot and I live in a beautiful village in Berkshire.  My own journey began over 23 years ago when I had my own children whilst I was working in a busy Human Resources department.   This period of my life made it easy for me to appreciate the stresses of everyday life, work and coping with children.

My main topic in HR was Health and Safety, and doing this made me realise that I could adapt the skills I had to creating a safe and welcoming environment for my own children and could extend this to other mums and dads in the village where we live. 

I studied and gained my NVQ level 3 and became Ofsted Registered.  You can find my website at www.wendyschildcareservices.co.uk  

or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Wendyschildcareservices

or on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wendyschildcareservices

From the outset as a childcare professional, I quickly realised that children responded best to subjects relating the wonders of the natural world.  Being lucky enough to live in a rural environment surrounded by woods and parks, I already knew how much I loved to explore nature and the countryside and the feeling of calmness and wellbeing I got from all it has to offer.  I guess it wasn’t surprising that the children were also at their happiest when I shared this experience with them. 

In my time as a Childminder, I have enjoyed caring for children of all ages from 5 months upwards, each with varying needs and development requirements. I introduce fun natural activities which co-ordinate with the Early Years Foundation Stage giving them the best chance to start school not only with confidence and independence but also with a sense of the world around them.

Outside of Childminding I love to travel.  My family and I have travelled to many countries checking out the different cultures and the beautiful scenery.  I also travel twice a year with friends where we try and include a little Hygge at the end of our day enjoying lovely food and warming hot drink at the end of our beautiful walks.

My name is Fiona Duncan-Kerr and I am a full time Childminder working from my home in the Scottish Borders. I have been providing early learning and
childcare in a family environment for 15 years and before that I worked in out of school care for 7 years. I put a lot of effort into making the environment
enabling so that children feel comfortable and can navigate independently while fulfilling their individual needs and interests. My aim is to help children grow and develop into healthy, happy and confident individuals with resilience
and who are keen to explore, learn about and help preserve the natural environment around them. I fell in love with the concept of hygge during the irst COVID-19 lockdown and since then have completed many of the Hygge in
the Early Years short courses and the full accreditation. I have become a Hygge in the Early Years Trainer because I love to share my passion and hygge lifestyle
while promoting a nature-based approach to life with family, friends andwithin my work with the children.

Contact: [email protected]

Clare

Hi my name is Clare, living in the picturesque county of Dorset, I’m fortunate to be surrounded by the serene beauty of the beach and the lush landscapes of the New Forest. As a wife, Mother and Nonna, family is at the heart of my world. Alongside my love for Scandinavian traditions, I also cherish the Italian philosophy of “dolce far niente” – the sweetness of doing nothing- a concept akin to hygge that emphasizes savouring life’s simple pleasures.

I have over 20 years experience in early childhood education,( level 3) and I co-own Exton Road Pre-school,  where I also serve as the qualified Special Educational Needs Coordinator ( Senco) . In 2012, I was deeply honoured to receive the SENCO of the year award, a recognition given by the local authority and nominated by a parent. 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been captivated by the Scandinavian approach to childcare and how to make early years settings more appealing and serene. This fascination took on a new dimension after a Nordic Christmas spent with my husband’s Auntie in London, a Danish native who introduced me to the concept of hygge. However, it wasn’t until many years later, after dedicating over 20 years to working in early childhood education, that I grasped the essence of hygge.

During  this time, I’ve faced many challenges, including navigating the menopause! I was left feeling stressed, unhappy and even contemplating leaving the profession I had always loved. Seeking clarity and a new perspective, I began training as a holistic menopause coach. This journey underscored the critical importance of wellbeing, leading me back to the principles of hygge. Hygge, a Danish term that embodies cosiness, contentment, and wellbeing, became a guiding light for me. It’s about capturing moments and living life fully yet simply – values that resonated deeply with me. This realisation was further solidified when I discovered the wanderlust programme, which seamlessly aligned with my vision for our Pre-school.

Incorporating hygge into early childhood education transforms these environments into warm, nurturing ,calm learning spaces filled with curiosity, where all children and educators can thrive. It fosters a sense of community, encourages mindfulness, encompassing wellbeing at the heart of everything we do which helps to create a balanced, joyful atmosphere. Through this approach, my mission is to cultivate settings, to be calm and a place of wonder, where every moment is cherished, and life is lived to its fullest, simply and beautifully.

You can contact me via email: [email protected]