- I play the drums!
- I love nature walks and getting my hands dirty
- I am part of the Henley Players, an amateur drama group in Henley I recently performed in this years Pride & Prejudice
- I am a big lover of music and dancing
Dacey-Mae Martin
Henley-On-Thames,Oxfordshire
Summary
My name is Dacey and I was born and raised in Henley. My childhood was a bit of a whirlwind, experiencing foster care for several years. This has meant I have a special connection to those with similar experience, leading to my time spent with a supported housing project for vulnerable young adults.
During my childhood, one of the things that was consistent in my life was school. Luckily I never had to move too far, which meant I kept the same relationships with my friends and teachers. I have always considered going to school as some of the best years of my life so far. I love learning, socialising and exploring - and school ticked all of those boxes for me.
I know my family never expected me to come out of it all so well, but I now know that was massively down to the consistent people in my life - my teachers, my close family and my friends. I would love nothing more than to be part of a child's learning and development, helping them to discover their interests, create happy memories and simply enjoy the life they get to live on this fantastic planet!
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Nursery Apprentice
Cygnets of Henley
01.2026 - Current
- Developed strong, trusting relationships with children and their families, enhancing communication and parental involvement.
- Engaged children in interactive games and storytelling sessions, fostering creativity and language skills.
- Facilitated outdoor play and learning activities, ensuring safety while fostering exploration and physical development.
- Observed and documented children's achievements, supporting the assessment of developmental progress.
- Supported children's personal care needs, including feeding, changing, and naptime, enhancing overall health and hygiene.
- Addressed any first aid and health concerns promptly, following nursery protocols and safeguarding children's wellbeing.
- Assisted with the transition of new children into the nursery, easing adaptation and minimising anxiety.
- Contributed to the preparation of learning materials and resources, tailoring to developmental stages of children.
- Maintained clean, safe classroom areas, promoting a healthy learning environment.
- Participated in staff meetings and training sessions to continuously improve childcare skills and knowledge.
Cultural, Learning and Participation Officer
The House Project Oxfordshire
Oxford
12.2023 - 12.2025
- Planned and managed engaging projects, games, and activities for teenagers, fostering community involvement.
- Coordinated outdoor activities and educational workshops, enhancing teamwork and leadership skills among participants.
- Facilitated group discussions on various social issues, enhancing young people's awareness and critical thinking abilities.
- Provided supportive environments for young people, helping them navigate personal difficulties through attentive listening.
- Established strong rapport with young people, showing empathetic and providing mentorship/guidance to their personal and academic challenges.
- Undertook work directly with young people in community projects, residential activities and outdoor education.
- Planned, created and organised fun activities to improve mental health and wellbeing.
- Provided youth work support, encouraging youth to take part in new positive opportunities and experiences.
- Created a welcoming atmosphere, encouraging diversity and fostering mutual respect among youths from varied backgrounds.
- Respected confidentiality of client files, information and conversations, following data security best practices.
- Partnered with social service agencies and healthcare providers on individual client plans.
Bartender
The Catherine Wheel, Henley
Henley-On-Thames
05.2020 - 12.2022
- Form relationships with regular customers, getting to know their order and making them feel welcome and valued.
- Resolved customer conflicts by actively listening and addressing concerns, leading to increased customer satisfaction.
- Maintained high hygiene standards, ensuring a safe and clean environment for customers and staff.
- Fostered positive relationships with colleagues through open communication, encouraging team work during shifts and trying to bring humour and positivity to the day.
Education
Paediatric First Aid
Training - Tiger Lily
Reading01-2026
A-Levels - Drama & Theatre Studies
The Henley College
Henley on Thames, OXF01-2023
A-Levels - Textiles
The Henley College
Henley on Thames, OXF01-2023
A-Levels - Psychology
The Henley College
Henley on Thames, OXF01-2023
GCSEs - English Literature
Gillotts School
Henley on Thames, OXF01-2020
GCSEs - English Language
Gillotts School
Henley on Thames01-2020
GCSEs - Mathematics
Gillotts School
Henley on Thames, OXF01-2020
GCSEs - History
Gillotts School
Henley on Thames, OXF01-2020
GCSEs - Religious Studies
Gillotts School
Henley on Thames, OXF01-2020
GCSEs - Dance
Gillotts School
Henley on Thames, OXF01-2020
GCSEs - Science
Gillotts School
Henley on Thames, OXF01-2020
GCSEs - Sociology
Gillotts School
Henley on Thames, OXF01-2020
Skills
- First Aid Certification - I received my Paediatric First Aid Certificate in February 2026
- Safeguarding Awareness - Working with both vulnerable young adults and young children, I know how vital it is to their safety and wellbeing to report any concerns I may have
- Allergy Awareness - Training on key allergens, contamination and food hygiene Experience of working in a nursery kitchen where children across settings have preferences and allergies to be aware of
- Familiar with EYFS curriculum - Although I am still new to the role, I do have a basic understanding of each area of learning I do howantever want to continue solidifying this, especially when it comes to what is expected for different age groups
- Risk Assessing - As part of my CLPO qualification, a big part of my job was to plan and coordinate events for care leavers Risk assessments were a part of my daily job, so I have plenty of experience writing and managing risk
- Classroom Management - Very vigilant when it comes to keeping setting clean and tidy Important for the health and safety of the children and promotes a calm environment for both staff and children "Tidy house, tidy mind!"
- Mentoring Youth - Mostlyduring my time with care leavers I ran workshops on key skills for independant living that do not get taught in school For example, paying rent/bills or conflict resolution
- Parent communication - Key in a childcare setting, so all parties can work in harmony and have shared goals for their child Important parents feel heard and supported
- Responsiveness - Quick to react to hazards, situations where First Aid is needed and comforting children who are upset or have hurt themselves Important to be a calm prescence for children in these situations
- Relationship-building - Being consistent with the children I work with, having a kind and gentle demenour so the children know I am a person of safety Prioritise the development of the children over ease of the job Making children laugh and smiling along with them Finding fun in the small things to make tasks more enjoyable for children, like transition periods or when promoting personal hygiene
- Creative thinking - enjoy brainstorming new and engaging activities for children
- Energetic and enthusiastic - ADHD is my superpower when it comes to working in childcare I get bursts of energy and love entertaining the children with dancing and spontaneous games Sometimes I think I feel just as excited and intrigued to discover new things as the children are I am always ready to get stuck into activities!
- Effective Communication between myself and team I really believe getting along with your team is crucial to not just to our own mental wellbeing but for the children's ability to feel safe and calm in the setting environment
- Building Trust and Maintaining Consistency - This skill was especially important in my previous job as many young people struggled to form relationships with others due to lack of trust Many had been let down by those who were supposed to care for them, so I make it a priority to be a constant person of safety and reassurance
- Experience of working with children/young people of varied backgrounds - aware of the importance of celebrating these differences, learning about them and actively getting to know about their cultures or relgions
Interests
References
- Sarah Ashfield (Manager at The House Project, Oxfordshire County Council) - 07523 803656
- Ceilidh Prince (Colleague at Cygnets) - 07583 416227
Timeline
Nursery Apprentice
Cygnets of Henley
01.2026 - Current
Cultural, Learning and Participation Officer
The House Project Oxfordshire
12.2023 - 12.2025
Bartender
The Catherine Wheel, Henley
05.2020 - 12.2022
Paediatric First Aid
Training - Tiger Lily
A-Levels - Drama & Theatre Studies
The Henley College
A-Levels - Textiles
The Henley College
A-Levels - Psychology
The Henley College
GCSEs - English Literature
Gillotts School
GCSEs - English Language
Gillotts School
GCSEs - Mathematics
Gillotts School
GCSEs - History
Gillotts School
GCSEs - Religious Studies
Gillotts School
GCSEs - Dance
Gillotts School
GCSEs - Science
Gillotts School
GCSEs - Sociology
Gillotts School