Nicola Wood
Maidstone,Kent
Summary
With a strong background in childcare and education, working with children from 6 months to 19 years from all walks of life, I have a wealth of experience to offer. I bring strong leadership and communication skills, and an unwavering commitment to fostering a nurturing and engaging environment for young children. I have a comprehensive understanding of child development, safeguarding and child protection, due to both experience and completing relevant modules in my Law LLB.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
SEND Teaching Assistant
Nexus Foundation Special School
Tonbridge, Kent
03.2025 - 08.2025
- Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children in my care.
- Provided additional support to students with special educational needs, ensuring inclusivity.
- Facilitated active learning environments with engaging teaching aids and resources.
- Developed and nurtured excellent relationships with staff, students, their families and other professionals.
- Assisted the class teacher with planning and assessment.
Agency Worker (Nursery and SEND School)
Southern Education Recruitment Ltd
Maidstone/Tonbridge, Kent
05.2023 - 03.2025
- Assisted permanent staff in the day to day running of both settings.
- Maintained a professional demeanour, promoting positive agency image.
- Built strong relationships with clients.
- Responded promptly to changing demands, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability.
Deputy Manager/SENCo/Designated Safeguarding Lead
Marden Preschool Playgroup
Marden, Kent
11.2013 - 08.2021
- Delegating tasks to staff, ensuring they had the tools that they needed to carry out their roles to a high standard.
- Building relationships with the children, their families and multi-agency professionals.
- Ensuring the setting was fully inclusive, and making any reasonable adjustments to ensure this was the case.
- Ensuring all policies and procedures were adhered to.
- Collaborated with the manager to achieve organisational goals.
- General administration tasks
Retail Team Leader
Sainsbury's
Tonbridge, Kent
11.2006 - 10.2013
- Bering responsible for the running of the Checkouts Department whilst on shift.
- Successfully communicating and problem solving with both staff and customers.
- Staff appraisals/disciplinaries
- Scheduling for 100+ members of staff, ensuring maximum productivity.
- Cash management.
- Unlocking/locking of the store.
Education
LLB, Bachelor of Laws - Law
University of Kent
Canterbury 09.2021 - 06.2024
Diploma - Children's Learning and Development
Pearson Edexcel
Maidstone 06.2015 - 07.2016
Access to Higher Education - Psychology/Sociology/Human Biology
North Kent College
Tonbridge, Kent 09.2013 - 07.2014
GCSEs -
Simon Langton Grammar School for Girls'
Canterbury, Kent 09.1994 - 03.2001
Skills
- Leadership
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Adaptability
- Resilience
- IT literate
- Project coordination experience
- Resourceful
- Strong understanding of Safeguarding and Child Protection
- Nurturing attitude
- Inclusive practice promoting
- Child-Centred approach
- Staff appraisal conducting
- Implementation of inclusive practices
- Parent partnerships
Certification
I hold a current DBS, issued in March 2025
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
SEND Teaching Assistant
Nexus Foundation Special School
03.2025 - 08.2025
Agency Worker (Nursery and SEND School)
Southern Education Recruitment Ltd
05.2023 - 03.2025
LLB, Bachelor of Laws - Law
University of Kent
09.2021 - 06.2024
Diploma - Children's Learning and Development
Pearson Edexcel
06.2015 - 07.2016
Deputy Manager/SENCo/Designated Safeguarding Lead
Marden Preschool Playgroup
11.2013 - 08.2021
Access to Higher Education - Psychology/Sociology/Human Biology
North Kent College
09.2013 - 07.2014
Retail Team Leader
Sainsbury's
11.2006 - 10.2013
GCSEs -
Simon Langton Grammar School for Girls'
09.1994 - 03.2001