Our staff

Our friendly and approachable staff have a wealth of experience. Their priorities are to ensure your child is safe, happy and has plenty of opportunities for learning through play.

We pride ourselves on ensuring and encouraging members of staff to take regular training courses to provide the very best care for your children within our setting.

Our staff have varied backgrounds which provide the pre-school with a range of skills and abilities. Find out more about our wonderful staff and our volunteer below. In addition we bring in skills where we feel it adds value to the children's experience such as the popular ball skills sessions run with the help of qualified coach Chris Webster and Rugbytots with the brilliant Neal Frost.

Clare Livingstone

Setting Manager

PGCE Primary (3-11 years)

Safeguarding Level 3

Paediatric First Aid

Elaine Gubb

Pre-School Leader/SENCO

BTEC National Diploma Childhood Studies

Safeguarding Level 3

Paediatric First Aid

Elaina Nicholas

Pre-school Assistant

Early Years Care & Education L2 & L3

Paediatric First Aid

Safeguarding Level 2

Welcome to Plymtree Pre-school! Our dedicated Setting Manager has been nurturing young minds since 2010, bringing over two decades of teaching experience to our community. Having lived in Belgium for nearly five years, worked as a supply teacher at a British school, enriching her understanding of diverse educational environments. With a passion for the outdoors and a commitment to years education, she ensures a vibrant learning environment for all children. When she's not inspiring our little learners, she enjoys supporting her children's sports and embracing her love for running, cycling, and gardening.

I trained as a Nursery Nurse at East Devon College and gained my BTEC National Diploma in Childhood Studies in 1997. I worked in nurseries in Devon, including Puffins of Exeter, before moving to Oxfordshire in 2001. After working in a nursery in Oxford, I became a nanny for over four years. In 2007, my husband and I started our family and moved back to Devon in 2010.

Once my children were in school, I updated my EYFS training and returned to childcare. I’ve worked in Foundation Stage Units and preschools, joining Plymtree Preschool in 2015 as bank staff and becoming Play Leader in 2016. Outside of work, my family and I enjoy outdoor activities like biking, beach trips, and exploring the moors.

I finished my Level 3 in Early Years Childcare & Education while working in a nursery, and I’ve also had the chance to work in a reception class at an Exeter school. I really enjoyed being part of a nursery management team as well!

My husband and I moved to Cullompton in 2006, and since then, I’ve been focused on raising our two daughters. We love spending time with family and friends, especially going for walks in the beautiful Devon countryside—bonus points if there's a great café at the end!

Ruth Clarke

Volunteer Play Assistant

Safeguarding Level 2

Angela Rogers

Pre-School Assistant

Children & Young people's Workforce L2

Safeguarding

Peadiactric First Aid

I helped at Plymtree Playgroup when it was first started nearly 40 years ago then left to work at Payhembury School as a classroom and meal time assistant for several years. I have been back at Pre-school as a volunteer for nearly 10 years now.

I love to spend any spare time walking my dogs on our farm and doing lots of handicrafts.

Welcome to my journey! I began my career as a nanny in central London back in 1991, where I nurtured my passion for childcare until I started my own family in 2006. After moving to Surrey, dedicated time to raising my two children while volunteering at our local centre, which was incredibly rewarding. Since relocating the South West in 2015, I’ve enjoyed working as a qualified Preschool Assistant at Plymtree Preschool, thriving in our lovely rural setting.