Leadership & Governance
Stewards of Childhood
Driven by Purpose
Behind our nature-led woodland settings is a multidisciplinary leadership team combining decades of accredited pedagogical training, institutional educational governance, and enterprise-scale innovation.
Carolina
Founder & Nursery DirectorÂ
Early Childhood Pedagogy, Practitioner Mentorship & EYFS Standards
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Founding Happywoods in 2017, Carolina brings an extensive academic foundation from City and Islington College, where she trained and assessed educators in professional Early Years and Childcare qualifications. Her pedagogical leadership ensures our woodland curriculum is rooted in genuine developmental science, nurturing confident, resilient children while personally guiding our practitioners to achieve the highest standards of professional practice.
15+ Years in Education Development, People & Operational Leadership
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP
Executive Leadership
Juan
Head of Marketing and Communication
Enterprise Transformation, AI Innovation & Family Communications
With a background spearheading complex digital transformation, product management, and AI initiatives at multinational enterprises including Visa Inc. and Vodafone Business, Juan leads Happywoods' strategic roadmap and community experience. He blends enterprise-grade operational rigor with human-centered digital communication, ensuring our settings scale sustainably while keeping parents seamlessly connected to their children's daily learning journey.
20+ Years in Product Strategy & Scaling businesses globallyÂ
Alexis
Quality Assurance Executive
Institutional Governance, Resource Sustainability & Capital Planning
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Bringing over 25 years of senior leadership in the UK education sector, Alexis previously served as a Director at City and Islington College. She directs quality assurance and educational governance across all Happywoods locations. Her background leading high-level educational quality frameworks ensures that every setting consistently surpasses EYFS standards, providing rigorous pedagogical oversight, compliance auditing, and continuous coaching for our room managers
25+ Years in Education | Former College Director
Abeer
Setting Manager & Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Lewisham — St Mildreds Road
- Level 3+ Early Years Lead
- Paediatric First Aid
- SENCO Trained
Setting Managers
The experienced educators on the ground who lead our rooms, mentor apprentices, and build trusted partnerships with local families every day.
Stanimira
Setting Manager & Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Enfield — Heene Road
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- Forest School Lead
- Paediatric First Aid
Beatriz
Setting Manager & Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Enfield — Bell Lane
- Early Years Practitioner Lead
- Designated Safeguarding Officer
- Paediatric First Aid
OUR FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS
The Principles That Shape Every Day in the Woods.
Great early childhood care isn't accidental. It is the result of intentional culture, emotional security, and an uncompromising commitment to how children actually learn and grow.
ATTACHMENT & WELLBEING
A Bridge of Safety Between Home and Nursery
We believe genuine learning only happens when a child feels completely safe and seen. We never rush settling in; our phased three-step transition (1 hr, 1.5 hrs, 4 hrs) honors each child's individual pace, establishing a secure emotional anchor with their key worker before deep exploration begins.
OUR STANDARD
Paced, child-led transitions • Trauma-informed care • Dedicated key-person bonds
NATURE-LED PEDAGOGY
Freedom to Explore, Get Muddy, and Build Real Resilience
We reject static, screen-heavy care in favor of tactile woodland discovery. Whether in our dedicated forest school zones or expansive sensory gardens, children interact daily with real elements—dirt, wood, weather, and tools—learning physical confidence, creative risk-assessment, and a lifelong respect for the natural world.
OUR STANDARD
All-weather outdoor play • Sensory exploration • Sustainable woodland curriculum
PRACTITIONER CULTURE & RETENTION
Educators Who Are Valued, Mentored, and Stay
The biggest threat to a child's early security is staff turnover. Led by former higher-education qualification trainers, we invest deeply in our educators with continuous accredited coaching, real career progression, and above-market support. When practitioners love where they work, your child experiences warm, consistent, familiar faces every morning.
OUR STANDARD
Accredited internal college mentoring • Low practitioner turnover • Continuous Level 3+ training
FAMILY PARTNERSHIP
Zero Guesswork for Parents
Entrusting your child to us is a massive step, and you deserve complete clarity. From daily real-time digital observations and transparent meal tracking to direct open lines with your setting manager and clear funding guidance, we operate with zero mystery. You are always an active partner in your child's nursery life.
OUR STANDARD
Real-time daily learning updates • Transparent fee schedules • Open-door manager access