Laura Yates - Owner
Astone Richardson – Area Manager & Forest School Teacher
Astone Richardson – Area Manager & Forest School Teacher
Laura has worked in Childcare since 2004 through pre-schools, nurseries, schools and Children Centres. She has a wealth of experience working with other professionals including health visitors, speech and language therapists and education specialists. In 2011 Laura took over Sandy Bears Tattenhall as Owner and since then has worked tirel
Laura has worked in Childcare since 2004 through pre-schools, nurseries, schools and Children Centres. She has a wealth of experience working with other professionals including health visitors, speech and language therapists and education specialists. In 2011 Laura took over Sandy Bears Tattenhall as Owner and since then has worked tirelessly to create a wonderful childcare setting (alongside having 4 children of her own!)
Laura is thrilled to have expanded Sandy Bears to Cholmondeley where she can support a whole other network of families by creating another amazing provision. Laura works in the office focussing on all paperwork, parent’s queries and requests and staff’s continuous professional development. Laura is passionate about the settings ethos and is always available for parents and families.
Astone Richardson – Area Manager & Forest School Teacher
Astone Richardson – Area Manager & Forest School Teacher
Astone Richardson – Area Manager & Forest School Teacher
Astone has worked in Early Years since 2008 and is committed to being at the forefront of research and development in this area. Astone began working at Sandy Bears in 2011 after completing her English Degree and subsequently trained for her Early Years Teacher Status.
Astone has worked closely with Laura to make Sandy Bears in Tattenhal
Astone has worked in Early Years since 2008 and is committed to being at the forefront of research and development in this area. Astone began working at Sandy Bears in 2011 after completing her English Degree and subsequently trained for her Early Years Teacher Status.
Astone has worked closely with Laura to make Sandy Bears in Tattenhall to be the most wonderful setting. In 2018 Astone opened our beautiful Cholmondeley setting with Laura and is now based between both Tattenhall and Cholmondeley settings. Astone works in the rooms and the office, supporting families and developing staff practice and running training sessions.
Astone is our Forest School Teacher and provides children with these weekly sessions and implements the ethos to all practitioners for their day to day activities
Laura Silverwood - Deputy Manager
Astone Richardson – Area Manager & Forest School Teacher
Laura Silverwood - Deputy Manager
Laura has been at Sandy Bears since 2014 and since then has worked her way up to be Deputy Manager at the Tattenhall setting. Laura is a qualified Early Years Teacher following her Early Childhood Studies Degree at Chester University.
Laura is a mum of two and works within all age groups, supporting staff and the day to day running of t
Laura has been at Sandy Bears since 2014 and since then has worked her way up to be Deputy Manager at the Tattenhall setting. Laura is a qualified Early Years Teacher following her Early Childhood Studies Degree at Chester University.
Laura is a mum of two and works within all age groups, supporting staff and the day to day running of the nursery. Laura is a key worker to a group of children and also runs our Parents Committee team and Parent Support Groups.
Amy - MANAGER
Molly Payne – Early Years Educator Level 3
Molly Payne – Early Years Educator Level 3
Amy worked in a school for 9 years before moving to Sandy Bears Cholmondeley in to run our Rising 3s and Pre-School Room. In 2024, Amy then made the move over to our Tattenhall site to take on the Manager’s role.
Amy has a wealth of knowledge about Early Learning and is able to implement fantastic practice to ensure our little bears are
Amy worked in a school for 9 years before moving to Sandy Bears Cholmondeley in to run our Rising 3s and Pre-School Room. In 2024, Amy then made the move over to our Tattenhall site to take on the Manager’s role.
Amy has a wealth of knowledge about Early Learning and is able to implement fantastic practice to ensure our little bears are ‘school ready’.
Amy is also exploring Special Educational Needs courses with the support of the SENDCo to ensure all children in her room are fully supported when they are with us.
Molly Payne – Early Years Educator Level 3
Molly Payne – Early Years Educator Level 3
Molly Payne – Early Years Educator Level 3
Molly began working with Sandy Bears in November 2016. She has since completed her Level 3 and is an integral part of our team.
Molly is Key Worker in our Big Bears room full time and has extensive knowledge of supporting children with additional needs from working with outside professionals in the last three years.
Emily Timms – Early Years Educator Level 2
Molly Payne – Early Years Educator Level 3
Emily Timms – Early Years Educator Level 2
Emily starting working for us at the end of 2017. She is a Level 3 Early Years Educator and has a group of key children in the Big Bears room.
She is also our Eco-Officer so helps the children learn how we can make an effort to look after our environment.
INDIA OWEN - EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR & INTERVENTION WORKER
INDIA OWEN - EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR & INTERVENTION WORKER
INDIA OWEN - EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR & INTERVENTION WORKER
India is a qualified teacher who joined us at the beginning of 2020.
She completed her Early Years Teacher training in 2019 and has joined us to support in our Big Bears room and to be an intervention worker for children who need additional support in our room.
In 2024 India became our preschool lead which ensures our preschool children get the best start before heading off to school.
Molly Jones - BEar Cubs keyworker
INDIA OWEN - EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR & INTERVENTION WORKER
INDIA OWEN - EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR & INTERVENTION WORKER
Molly joined us at the beginning of 2021 and completed her Level 3 in Childcare with us.
Molly works in the Bear Cubs and is a Key Person to a group of children. Molly has extensive knowledge on the development of children aged 0-2.
LUCY - LEVEL 3 EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR
INDIA OWEN - EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR & INTERVENTION WORKER
LUCY - LEVEL 3 EARLY YEARS EDUCATOR
Lucy started working at Sandy Bears as a volunteer, she then decided to do her apprenticeship in 2022 and became a Level 3 Early Years educator having a group of key children in both Big Bears and Bear Cubs
KRYSTAL
KRYSTAL
KRYSTAL
Krystal started working at Sandy Bears in 2024, She is currently working towards her Level 2 in Childcare, Krystal supports the Bear Cubs staff in activities, care needs and observations with the 0-2s.
frankie
KRYSTAL
KRYSTAL
Frankie started at Sandy Bears in 2025, she is currently doing her Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship with us and supports staff and children’s wellbeing and care needs.