KIRSTEN HULL
Various Families
London,UK
13
years of professional experience
I am a passionate and reflective educator with a background in early childhood education, primary teacher training, and psychology. I am dedicated to supporting children's holistic development through nurturing relationships, responsive teaching, and engaging, play-based learning experiences. My experience across Reggio Emilia-inspired and nature-based early childhood settings has shaped my belief in child-led exploration, creative expression, learning through the natural world, and the importance of meaningful interactions with the environment. With a strong interest in developmental psychology and how children learn, I take a reflective approach to my practice and value ongoing professional development, drawing on my understanding of child development to create inclusive, supportive environments where every child feels safe, valued, and empowered to thrive. Having relocated from New Zealand to London, I am keen to bring my experience, curiosity, and genuine passion for children's learning and wellbeing to a new educational setting.
Work history
Private Au Pair/Nanny
1 Year 1 Month- Caring for two children aged two and five, supporting their daily routines, play, and development through creative, nurturing, and engaging activities.
- Building positive relationships with both children and parents while maintaining a safe, structured home environment
- Provide predominantly sole-charge care for two children aged three and six, managing daily routines, school and nursery runs, extracurricular activities and their overall wellbeing.
- Independently plan and facilitate creative, educational and child-led activities that support learning, curiosity, literacy, social development and independence.
- Take full responsibility for both children during school holidays, managing long days from 7:15 am to 6:00 pm, including meals, activities and outings.
- Organise independent day trips with both children and manage travel logistics, including train travel between Cornwall and London.
- Draw on a BSc in Psychology and five years of early childhood teaching experience to support children's development and create enriching learning opportunities that complement their education.
- Work collaboratively with parents, providing guidance on child development, behaviour and educational needs, and sharing professional observations to support informed decisions about the children's care and learning.
- Manage children's routines, meal preparation, child-related household tasks and family scheduling, alongside dog walking and pet care.
Nanny/Babysitter
12 Years 9 Months- Provided regular and occasional childcare for children of varying ages.
- Managed children’s routines, meal preparation, personal care, and bedtime.
- Built nurturing relationships, kept safe environments, and supported social development.
Early Childhood Teacher
1 Year 8 Months- Supported child-led learning through play, discovery and connection with the natural world in a calm, unhurried environment.
- Implemented a nature-based programme using native forest, vegetable gardens and animal paddocks to foster curiosity, confidence and environmental awareness.
- Planned, observed and documented children's learning through the key-child system, collaborating with families to set learning goals and celebrate progress.
- Supported children with diverse learning needs through tailored strategies and responsive, consistent support.
- Encouraged manageable risk-taking in nature play to develop resilience, problem-solving and independence.
- Created inclusive learning environments that respected children's cultural identities and encouraged meaningful conversations.
- Collaborated with colleagues to maintain a nurturing environment where children felt safe, valued and motivated to explore.
Early Childhood Teacher
2 Years 9 Months- Implemented play-based learning strategies that encouraged children to explore their interests, develop curiosity, and construct working theories about the world.
- Built trusting partnerships with families through open communication and collaboration, supporting continuity of learning between home and the centre.
- Identified children requiring additional support and implemented targeted strategies to promote their individual development, wellbeing, and participation.
- Fostered calm, inclusive learning environments by establishing clear expectations and supporting children to develop positive social skills and respectful relationships.
- Worked flexibly across multiple classrooms and age groups, adapting to the needs of children, colleagues, and the wider teaching team.
- Designed and facilitated creative learning experiences inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, using music, movement, storytelling, clay, wire, charcoal, natural materials, and explorations of light and shadow.
- Maintained high-quality learning documentation, observations, and daily reflections, managing time and resources effectively to communicate children's learning and progress with families.
Teaching Placement
3 Months- Planned and delivered engaging lessons across curriculum areas, incorporating interactive activities to support student understanding and participation.
- Collaborated with the classroom teacher to plan learning experiences, support individual student needs, and maintain a positive learning environment.
- Monitored student progress through observation and assessment, using feedback to inform teaching practice and support learning outcomes.
- Adapted teaching strategies and resources to accommodate different abilities, learning needs, and stages of development.
- Supported students to develop positive learning habits, independence, confidence, and constructive classroom relationships.
- Built positive professional relationships with students and teaching staff, contributing to a collaborative and supportive classroom environment.
Early Childhood Relief Teacher
10 Months- Provided flexible teaching support across five classrooms, adapting to different age groups, learning environments, and teaching team needs.
- Built positive, respectful relationships with children and colleagues, contributing to a welcoming, supportive, and collaborative learning environment.
- Adapted quickly to unfamiliar routines, classroom expectations, and children's individual needs to maintain continuity of care and learning.
- Supported teaching teams with daily routines, learning experiences, and the general operation of the centre.
Education
Graduate Diploma - Primary Teaching
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
Cambridge A levels
Skills
Teaching and Learning: Play-based learning
lesson planning
curriculum delivery
and creating engaging learning experiences.
Assessment and Documentation: Observing learning
monitoring progress
documenting development
and using observations to inform teaching practice.
Child Development and Inclusion: Understanding individual learning needs
supporting developmental progress
and adapting teaching approaches to different abilities.
Positive Behaviour Management: Establishing clear expectations
fostering positive social skills
and maintaining calm
supportive learning environments.
Creative and Inquiry-Based Learning: Reggio Emilia-inspired practice
child-led exploration
creative expression
and learning through the natural environment.
Organisation and Planning: Managing competing priorities
preparing learning experiences
and maintaining accurate documentation.
Teamwork and Adaptability: Working collaboratively with teaching teams and adapting to different classrooms
age groups
and learning environments.
Relationship Building: Developing trusting relationships with children
families
and colleagues through effective communication and collaboration.
Reflective Practice and Professional Development: Curious and committed to continuous learning
actively exploring child development
educational approaches
and evidence-informed teaching strategies to strengthen my practice and support children's learning and wellbeing.
REFERENCES:
- Emily, Brooke- Dean, London Au Pair - mother
- Amber, James, The Wilderness ELC- Centre Manager
- Courtney, Fowler, The Wilderness ELC- Team Leader
- Patricia, Morton, The Rabbit Patch- Saffron Street Centre Manager
- Amy, Mcleod, The Rabbit Patch - Team Leader
Affiliations
- I am very interested in psychology, child development, and lifelong learning, with a particular passion for understanding how people learn, develop, and thrive. In my spare time I enjoy travelling and I really value spending quality time with my friends and family. I enjoy creative pursuits including knitting, painting, clay-making, exploring nature and discovering new places.
Timeline
Private Au Pair/Nanny
Emily & Henry
2025.09 - CurrentRead More
Early Childhood Teacher
The Wilderness ELC
2023.10 - 2025.06Read More
Early Childhood Teacher
The Rabbit Patch ELC
2021.01 - 2023.10Read More
Teaching Placement
Kaiapoi North School
2020.06 - 2020.09Read More
Early Childhood Relief Teacher
The Willows Early Learning Centre
2019.07 - 2020.05Read More
Nanny/Babysitter
Various Families
2014.01 - CurrentRead More
Macleans College
Cambridge A levels
2015.12Read More
University of Canterbury
Bachelor of Science from Psychology
2019.11Read More
University of Canterbury
Graduate Diploma from Primary Teaching
2020.11Read More