I have worked in the childcare industry for over 10 years, growing Energy Kidz to be the largest wraparound childcare organisation in the UK with over 120 settings. Reach4Skills was actually born from a need that Energy Kidz had to upskill their delivery staff. I soon realised there was a gap in the market due to a shortage of high quality and reliable training providers.

Reach4Skills quickly became a leader within the nursery and childcare training space and has gone from strength to strength since. I am extremely proud of the fantastic team, who continue to deliver to the highest standard, driving positive outcomes for our learners and employers. It’s fantastic to see their work making such a difference to so many people.

I may not remember every grammar rule or algebra equation from my English and Maths teachers, but I can remember the difference they made on my education and the positive impact they continue to have on me throughout my life. That was the reason I wanted to work in education!

After 8 years working in the travel and tourism industry abroad and studying HR, I found my enthusiasm in leading and developing people.

I qualified as a trainer in 2013 and started my training career working in a school that specialised in educating students with social, emotional, and mental health needs.

I joined Andrew at Reach4Skills in 2017 after several years delivering business qualifications in further education. We grew our first business together to become an approved, government funded, apprenticeship and adult skills provider and pride ourselves on the importance of delivering a training experience that is tailored to the individual needs of the learner. We’ve recently created the High Ridge Training Group, a group consisting of specialist training providers who combine and share good practice.

During this time, I’m proud to say I led Reach4Skills Training through our first and full Ofsted inspection receiving ‘Good’ in all areas and more recently Cedars Training Academy in their first monitoring visit. I have always insisted on having the highest expectations of myself, my team, and our learners and without them those achievements would not be possible.

I love my work and when I’m not working, I can be found walking a lot more, after successfully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in January 2022. I also enjoy spending time with my husband and friends and visiting my favourite holiday destination, the Greek Islands.

Since joining the Reach4Skills team in 2017 as an assessor, I have since progressed into the roles of IQA, then Training Delivery Manager supporting our team of tutors and most recently Head of Training.

My career background and experiences are predominantly within Early Years and senior management, where training and development for the best possible outcomes has always been my leading passion.

On a personal level, I live for my family and enjoy quality time being outdoors and seeking out new adventures and experiences. We share a love for travel and holidays, from camping in the UK to relaxing on a beach in the Caribbean.

I’ve been working in the education sector since 2015 and have experience teaching maths and English from entry levels up to GCSE. I understand the challenges young people face when learning maths and English and find joy in helping them achieve in the two subjects. I have experience leading maths and English teams and strive to develop maths and English into accessible and enjoyable qualifications for all.

Away from work, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the gym and keeping up with old pals while gaming online. I’m also a big foodie and am always up for trying new foods!

Prior to joining Reach4Skills I have worked for various training providers as a Tutor/Assessor for the past 13 years. Prior to that I worked in Day Nurseries developing from an Apprentice onto the Leadership team. 

My love and passion for Early Years is deep rooted, alongside my passion for supporting individuals to develop and grow in their chosen employment route. I feel very lucky that I can blend these two passions together, supporting Early Years by helping to develop competent staff to work within the roles. 

When I’m not working I enjoy spending time with my family, friends and 2 children. 

I’m Alessandra, your childcare expert. I worked for many years as room leader and I’ve plenty of experience in childcare. I’m currently holding a degree in Psychology, a Level 3 in Early Years Educator and other qualifications related to my job role, which include being a Tutor Assessor, Functional Skills Tutor and IQA.

Before joining Reach4Skills, I qualified as an Early Years Practitioner and have worked in the Early Years Sector for 7 years, working my way through the roles of Assistant Practitioner to Deputy Manager. My passion for training and improving practice is what sparked my assessor career and I have worked with Reach4Skills since 2021. I aim to support individuals in a positive way after working through an apprenticeship in my own career, delivering high quality training and tutoring.

Outside of work I enjoy skiing, live music, horse riding, and spending quality time with my family.

I have worked in childcare for many years, starting as a childminder when my daughters were small, and then moving into a preschool a few years later. During this time, I studied at the Open University to get my degree in early years and then went on to gain early years teacher status. I feel very privileged to have been able to work with young children, as those early years are such an important part of their lives.

I have a genuine enthusiasm for learning, and I hope to be able to pass this on and share my experience and knowledge with others through my role as a tutor. I am particularly interested in the benefits of loose parts resources, forest school and the curiosity approach to learning.

Outside of work, I like to spend time with my family, reading and making crafts and jewellery. In the springtime, I can usually be found in my friend’s sheep field, helping out with lambing.