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In Loving Memory
Joseph Gerard Bannigan
Daventry Day Nursery
A little history about
how we got here.
Our name JGB Active Daycare comes from my late father Joseph Gerard Bannigan. My dad was my absolute hero. He was an amazing, inspiring dad who lived life for his family, myself, my brother, and my sister. He really was the most special man I’ve ever been privileged to know. He gave us so much love and care and instilled so many quality values into our lives. Nothing is more important than love for each other and togetherness. Dad was a man who worked hard his whole life and gave so much of his time to us growing up and in our adult lives. He now has 7 grandchildren but only met 3 of them, before he sadly passed in 2016. He doted on them and they became the center of his world.
My dad loved sports and the benefits of fitness and how it positively influences your overall well-being.
With his and my mum’s support I was guided into a gymnastics career where I gained the title of county and regional champion. This is where my passion for physical activity started. I put my years of gymnastics to good use and turned it into a career qualifying as a woman’s artistic level 3 Coach. I’ve coached children for nearly two decades and loved every minute of watching children grow and develop within themselves.
At JGB Active Daycare we believe children deserve the absolute best start to life. We feel that children should have opportunities to participate in sports and dance from a young age. This enables children to build on their passions for what may come in their future. JGB is the place that offers an Activity Club with our amazing sport, dance, and music facilities which we build into their daily routine.
“Children are our futures, teach them, love them, and watch them grow is the best gift in life” – quote by my dad
Dad would have been so proud to be the name and inspiration of JGB where we teach great values, love and respect for others.
Welcome to our family
—
Lara Bannigan
Owner / Manager
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Daventry Day Nursery
Outstanding Facilities
- Large spacious open plan classrooms
- Healthy, safe, and stimulating environment
- Low level partitioned off interior spaces for specific activity zones
- Soft play and a variety of different sporting equipment
- Outdoor Play area
- Sleeping rooms for babies/toddlers and preschool aged children
Our Staff
Meet The Team
Hello, I’m Lara, I am the owner of JGB Active Daycare. My vision for JGB is to give more opportunities to children to explore and thrive from a young age. My background is in sports and I was a competitive gymnasts for many years reaching a high level of gymnastics. I am a qualified level 3 women’s artistic gymnastics coach and have taught many children ranging from babies to 16+ years old. For 18 years being able to watch children learn and develop their skills and grow in confidence was my proudest achievement. All Children deserve the very best start to life and my passion is giving the best opportunities to build on their basic skills in many sports and dance movements to encourage early interests in physical activity for their futures. I am a proud mummy to 4 wonderful children. My children are my world and I have enjoyed supporting them to grow into the little characters they are today. They inspired me to create a safe, welcoming nursery by delivering the same, love, compassion and care to all children who we have the pleasure of caring for.
Hi I’m Helen and lm Manager at JGB Active Daycare and I have been a qualified practitioner for many years. I have worked in childcare for 33years and have loved every minute of it and continue to do so. I’m originally from Kent and worked in a nursery there for 14 years before moving to Daventry 19 years ago and I worked in a nursery here for 18 years before recently moving to my position here at JGB. Childcare has always been my passion. I believe all children deserve support, love, guidance and a good role model to get the best start in life. I feel privileged that over the years I have been part of doing this for so many children. My family are the world to me , I have 3 children and 1 granddaughter and my best times outside of work are being with them and making memories. I also enjoy cooking and socialising with friends in my spare time.
Hi I am Leonie. I am qualified level 3 childcare practitioner. I am loving every minute working with all aged children within JGB. I love watching how the children grow, learn, and their personalities develop over time, I feel so proud when they achieve even the smallest achievements. I have wanted to move into the childcare profession for many years and JGB has given me to much support to develop my skills in so many areas of our setting. I have 2 children of my own, who I love making memories with.... whether it's at home dancing around the kitchen (we love music) or on the side of a football pitch! Children are so special and am privileged to be part of their early years.
Hi, I am Lindsey and I am the Deputy Manager at JGB Active Daycare. I have 4 children of my own ranging from 8 to 19. I have worked in nursery, infant and primary schools, in a number of different roles, as a nursery nurse, 1:1 support for children with SEN and also covering and delivering lessons to children from Early years foundation stage to year 6. My qualifications are a Btec national diploma in childhood studies, NVQ level 3 in Early years care and education and I also have higher level teaching assistant status and have recently completed my level 3 early years SENCO qualification. I love that no two days are the same when working with children and being able to use your imagination every day. My favourite colour is red and I enjoy messy activities with the children , outdoors and role play and really getting to know what each individual child enjoys to do and meeting new families.
Hi my name is Ellie Heron I am 19 years old and I am a nursery assistant at JGB Active Daycare. I have worked at the nursery for 9 months and in this time I have built positive relationships with each child that I have worked with. I enjoy the variety that working in a nursery brings and that each day has something new to offer. I enjoy going outside exploring and having new adventures everyday with the children at JGB. I like to draw and be creative which I love to share with the children. I also like to spend time with my friends and family.
Hi I am Karen and I am a Level 3 Childcare practitioner her at JGB. I am married with two wonderful children. I enjoy baking and crafting in my spare time to which I love exploring these activities with the children at our setting. I have over fifteen years experience working in Early years settings including nurseries and also working in various primary schools and voluntary organisations. I really enjoy working at pre-school as our setting gives the children so many different opportunities to fulfil their full potential.
Hi, my name is Chelsea. I have a level 3 in childcare and have worked with children for over 8 years; primarily with under two's but have experience working with different age groups up to 8 years. I enjoy seeing the children within my care develop and grow into their own person as they achieve different milestones along the way; offering support and encouragement where needed with the knowledge that all children develop and grow at their own speed. I have a very caring nature and strive to form bonds with all children, providing them with a safe and nurturing environment. My aim within my career is to ensure that all children within my care are happy, healthy and safe. Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, in nature or engaging in arts and crafts. I also often babysit and petsit for those I know. I would love to foster in the future; supporting children going through difficult times, with additional needs or whom may simply need a home to feel safe and loved.
My name is Megan, and I am the Toddler Room Leader at JGB Active Daycare. I hold a Level 3 qualification in Childcare and have over 11 years of experience working with children across a wide age range, from birth to 12 years. Throughout my career, I have undertaken a variety of roles within the sector, which has enabled me to develop a broad and well-rounded skill set. I am particularly passionate about working with children under the age of three, as I find this stage of development especially rewarding. Supporting young children as they grow, explore, and reach key developmental milestones is a truly fulfilling aspect of my role. I am dedicated to nurturing each child’s individual needs and supporting them to reach their full potential within a safe, caring, and stimulating environment. From a young age, I have always aspired to work with children, and I feel privileged to be able to pursue this passion. I also have significant experience supporting children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), ensuring inclusive practice and tailored support for every child. As a parent of two children myself, I understand the importance of providing a warm, supportive, and trustworthy environment for both children and their families. Family is very important to me, and I enjoy spending quality time with them outside of work.
My name is Claire, and I am a Level 3 qualified Childcare Practitioner with extensive experience working with children across a range of ages. I joined JGB in 2024 and currently work within the preschool room, where I support children in their early learning and development. I am passionate about creating a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment where children feel confident to explore, learn, and develop. I take great pride in supporting children’s individual needs and interests, planning engaging activities, and encouraging them to build independence, confidence, and social skills. Watching children grow, achieve milestones, and develop into unique individuals is the most rewarding part of my role. I value building strong, positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues, as I believe effective communication and teamwork are key to providing the best possible care and learning experiences. Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and children, who are very important to me. In my spare time, I particularly enjoy creative activities such as drawing and painting, which also inspire the creative experiences I provide for children in my care.
My name is Ina, and I am currently completing my Early Years Educator Level 3 apprenticeship. I am highly passionate about working with children and supporting their learning, development, and wellbeing within a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment. I have gained valuable experience working with children across a range of age groups, which has enabled me to develop a strong understanding of individual needs and the different stages of child development. I am confident in planning and participating in a variety of activities that promote learning and development, including creative play, sensory and messy play, storytelling, music, and outdoor learning experiences. I take great pride in observing children grow in confidence, acquire new skills, and develop into independent learners. I firmly believe that every child is unique, and I am committed to supporting children to learn through play, explore their interests, and progress at their own pace. As a parent whose daughter attended the nursery, I have developed a deeper appreciation of the importance of building trust and maintaining strong communication with families. This dual perspective allows me to support both children and parents effectively, ensuring a positive and reassuring experience for all. I work well as part of a team and strive to build positive, professional relationships with children, parents, and colleagues. I find working with children extremely rewarding and take great pride in contributing to their early years learning and development.
My name is Sylwia. I was born in Poland and moved to England with my family at the age of 11. I am fluent in both English and Polish. I have a strong passion for working with children and bring over nine years of experience in the field. I hold a Level 2 qualification in Health and Social Care. Throughout my career, I have found great fulfillment in supporting children’s growth, development, and achievements. I am also a proud mother to my daughter, who is a central part of my life. Family is very important to me, and I value spending quality time with both family and friends. In my free time, my daughter and I enjoy being outdoors, going for walks, and exploring nature, as well as occasional shopping trips together.
Hello, my name is Stacey. I am a qualified Level 3 childcare practitioner, and this has been my passion for over 15 years. The main reason I enjoy my work is the strong bonds I build with the children, as well as working closely with their families. Watching children learn, grow, and thrive brings me great joy. I take pride in being a positive role model, supporting them in all aspects of their development. I believe every child is unique, and I enjoy helping them discover their individual strengths and talents, nurturing these through my own approach to childcare. I have two children and a dog, and as a family we enjoy spending time together, making memories and going on adventures.
