Play Aloud was created in Pirton, Hertfordshire in 2011. Katie sat with a table of fellow mums, having a coffee, talking about how we all wished our school had an out of school club. Katie was a childminder at the time, having changed from a career in Arts Education to spend more time at home with her own children, whilst also taking care of the children of friends. Katie was Chairperson of the local Pre-School at the time when the committee managed to raise funds to create a purpose-built setting near the school. It seemed too good an opportunity to miss- to move the childminding into the old Pre-School premises at the Village Hall. Thus, Play Aloud was created with mums, coffee and cake and the desire to build a childcare provision that would nurture local children and let them Play Aloud!
Now Play Aloud has developed into a group of 5 settings in Hertfordshire.
Lorraine, joined Play Aloud in 2019 as the Manager of St Andrews, where she achieved a 1st Class Hons BA and a Master in Early Childhood Studies. Lorraine and the team achieved Outstanding with Ofsted in 2023 before heading off on maternity leave. On her return Lorraine became the Operations Manager for Play Aloud overseeing and supporting all clubs and Managers.
Nikki, is our Head of People and is also the Manager at Play Aloud Samuel Lucas. Nikki takes fantastic care of our employees, supporting all HR and staffing within the company. Nikki does all this whilst balancing a young family and starting a Level 7 qualification.
Owner/Director
PGCE Teaching with QTS. Level 7 Postgraduate Early Years Professional Status.
Mum of 2 boys, 2 cats, a dog and 5 Play Alouds. Katie has a passion for creative education and children being able to learn, explore and express themselves in free-play opportunities.
Katie worked as a Teacher then in Arts Education and Arts Management before beginning her career in Childcare. Katie says “I love to see children play and have fun together and I love to join in too! Messy play is fabulous, but I particularly love it when children create their own world and lose themselves in their play.
I always want Play Aloud to be a place where I’d be happy for my own children to go and believe the best quality starts with finding the best teams and the most inspiring leaders.”
Operations Manager
BA Hons 1st Early Childhood Studies, MA in Early Childhood Studies
Lorraine is the Operations Manager at Play Aloud. Her qualifications include Level 5 in Management and Leadership for Early Years, BA Hons with a 1st in Early Childhood Studies and Masters in Early Child Studies.
Lorraine has worked in childcare and education for 16 years within private education and charity settings before joining Play Aloud in November 2019.
Lorraine says “My days in Early Years are never the same and that is what I love the most.”
Lorraine’s role is to support the settings, and oversee the day to day running of Play Aloud.
Head of People and Manager
Level 5 in Management and Leadership for Early Years
Nikki is the Manager at Play Aloud Samuel Lucas, she is also our Head of People, supporting all employees.
Her qualifications include Level 5 in Management and Leadership for Early Years BA hons top up in Early childhood studies. Nikki has worked in childcare for 18 years within the day nursery sector and being a private nanny before joining Play Aloud in April 2016.
Nikki says she has always had a desire for childcare, being part of the building blocks of the children’s learning and development is a huge privilege.
Following Nikki’s own personal journey within the world of SEND for her own children she also has a passion to support any families within the world of special Education needs.
Payments Manager
Ms Collins works behind the scenes on all things related to payments and income for Play Aloud. You can contact Ms Collins on payments@playaloud.co.uk