Our Amazing Team

The childcare team is committed to delivering the highest standard of care, offering a warm, nurturing, and stimulating environment for every child. Each member of our team is highly trained and fully qualified in all aspects of child development, safety, and well-being. With a strong focus on learning through play, emotional support, and individual growth, we ensure every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged to thrive.

the Willows Children's Nursery Warrington
Sue Jones

Sue Jones ( CEO & Owner )

26 years ago, the night of the Millenium I had a dream to open my own Nursery School. I was working as an outreach Teacher for Warrington Borough Council, I had three small children under 5 and unable to reserve a place in a local nursery to put my own children in and go back to work as the 6 Private nurseries available at the time were full.

The lightbulb moment happened, ‘I will open my own Nursery’, I retrained as a Nursery Nurse and Roll on 26 years later having opened and run successfully 11 of my own branches, The Laurels Nursery, The Stables Nursery 1, The Stables Nursery 2, Hobsons Nursery, Kalgarth Grange Nursery, Kalgarth Lodge Nursery, The Abbey Nursery, The Willows 1 Nursery and The Willows 2 Nursery, Blackbrook Nursery, Warrington Rugby Creche we then dipped into Franchising.

Next came 10 UK branches, Solway House Nursery, Rainbow Nursery, Turville Nursery, Scholars Childcare, The Lodge Nursery, Apex kids, The Station House Nursery, Genius Gems Nursery, Newton House Nursery and Shadsworth Nursery.

After that I hit the International stage opening 9 more, 6 Kids Academy branches in the UAE, 2 in Bahrain and 1 in China to complete our Portfolio and helped another 7 branches rebrand under our White label package taking our total nurseries to 37 in 26 Wonderful Early Years fun filled years. I also have a passion for Adults with Learning Difficulties and have also added in to the mix 3 Supported living care homes taking the total to 40 settings which is something I am incredible proud of. I couldn’t have done all the above without the support of my amazing, teeny, tight knit but mega mighty team who I am Proud to have spend the last 26 Years working alongside.

Kerry Eccles

Kerry Eccles ( Operations )

I’ve been part of Evolution Childcare for over 23 years, starting as an Assistant Manager and steadily working my way into the role I’m proud to hold today. Along the way, I’ve collected more qualifications and training certificates than I have space in my filing cabinet for.

I’ve completed an extensive and diverse programme of professional development across early years practice, leadership, safeguarding, health and safety, mental health, care standards, wellbeing, inclusion and therapeutic approaches, all reflecting my commitment to lifelong learning and high‑quality practice.

I now lead on writing and developing our policies, procedures and operational documents in close collaboration with the Proprietor, keeping us ahead of the curve in the childcare sector. I also design and oversee our staff training and development, ensuring every team member is equipped to deliver the high‑quality care, education and learning environments that every child in our settings deserves.

Louise Quinn

Louise Quinn ( Group Finance )

I have worked for Evolution Childcare for just over 10 years as the Group Finance Manager but have worked in the accounting industry for over 20 years, I got my first taste of accounts when i was 18 when I worked at Marks & Spencer, within a short period of time with the company I was promoted to Deputy Finance Supervisor at the Gemini Store over seeing a team of 8 people which was a great achievement at such a young age.

At the age of 30 I decided to take the leap and go to Night School to gain my accounting qualifications, so with that and the vast experience and knowledge I have gained working within different accounting environments it’s safe to say I do have a bit of a clue as to what I’m doing.

My Role here at Evolution as Group Finance Manager …that is a difficult one to answer as I’m sure some people presume I just sit and use a calculator all day (if only it was that easy), as Finance is the Key area of the Business it is my responsibility to ensure that all 5 corporate nurseries are kept well above water and they do not sink, something I am an expert in.

Sue Shovelton

Sue Shovelton ( Group Manager )

I joined Evolution Childcare in 2002 as an Early Learner Room Practitioner. Throughout the last 23 years I have progressed my career through management to my current position as a Group Manager. During my career in childcare.

I have gained an abundance of experience and qualifications including gaining my proudest moment when I gained my Foundation degree in Early Years and have recently been awarded The Early Years Leadership qualification.

My role now includes supporting each of our nursery teams with their staff development and training in providing quality childcare, care, education for all our children that attend our settings.

Lynn Bates

Lynn Bates ( Group SEND Co-ordinator )

During my childcare career, I have worked in private day nurseries, mainly with children aged 3–5 years. I joined Evolution Childcare The Willows in May 2010 as a childcare practitioner and was promoted to Room Manager of Reception in 2012.

Over the years, I have gained experience and qualifications to support my role in education and learning environments, and I have also completed a team leadership qualification as part of my personal development.

I have a true passion for providing a fun, caring and educational environment for all children in my care, helping them develop to the best of their abilities. Alongside my team, I support children and families as they make the transition to primary school. I hold a BTEC qualification in childcare, I am paediatric first aid trained, and I maintain up‑to‑date safeguarding and food safety certificates.

I am currently the Group SEND and Behaviour Co‑ordinator based at The Willows. Over the years, I have gained both experience and qualifications in working with children who need additional support. This enables me to adapt my skills to work with a wide variety of children and families, enhancing their learning and development.

Evolution Childcare

Meet the Management Team

Lynn Bates

Lucie Swift

Manager at The Willows

I have been part of the Evolution Childcare family for over 15 years, gaining extensive experience across all age groups and rooms. This breadth of hands-on practice has given me a deep understanding of child development, high-quality care, and the day-to-day realities of nursery life.

After several years of dedicated work, I was offered the role of Baby Room Manager and Assistant Deputy Manager — positions I held for around five years. During this time, I strengthened my leadership skills, supported staff development, and worked closely with families to build strong, trusting partnerships. These experiences shaped my approach to nurturing both children and teams, and prepared me for the next step in my journey.

In 2019, I was proud to be promoted to Nursery Manager, a role that has allowed me to bring together my passion for early years, my commitment to high standards, and my belief in creating a warm, supportive environment for children, families, and staff.

Alongside my practical experience, I have completed my Foundation Degree in Early Years and undertaken a wide range of professional training throughout my time at Evolution Childcare. Continuous learning is important to me, and I am committed to ensuring our practice remains reflective, current, and centred around the needs of every child.

Jane Bedford - Kalgarth

Jane Bedford

Manager at Kalgarth Grange

I have worked with Evolution Childcare for over 15 years, gaining extensive knowledge and understanding of children’s learning and development from birth to five. Throughout my career, I have completed a wide range of training that has strengthened both my professional practice and my commitment to high‑quality early years provision.

I hold an NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development, as well as an NVQ Level 3 in Business and Administration. Alongside these qualifications, I have completed numerous certificates, including First Aid, Safeguarding, Food Hygiene, Health and Safety, SEN, Behaviour, Fire Marshal, Equality and Diversity, EYFS, GDPR, Prevent, FGM, Channel, Food Allergy, Infection Control, Early Language Development, Epilepsy, and many more. This training has supported my ability to lead confidently and maintain the highest standards of care, safety, and compliance.

As Nursery Manager, I understand the importance of safeguarding and work closely with my team to ensure our environment is safe, stimulating, and rich with opportunities for children to grow, explore, and thrive. I take great pride in the positive relationships we build with families and in the nurturing, high‑quality learning experiences we provide every day.

Shannon Downes - Stables

Shannon Downs

Manager at The Stables

I began my career in childcare by completing my Level 3 qualification in 2015 during my time at college. I joined Evolution Childcare in June 2016 at the Stables site, where I first worked in the Toddler Room. In 2019, I was promoted to Room Manager in the Early Learners Room, a role that allowed me to support all rooms across the nursery and continue developing my skills through extensive in‑house and online training.

In April 2021, I transitioned to our sister nursery, The Abbey, where I continued to grow professionally while working alongside a wide range of colleagues and teams. In October 2024, I applied for the Assistant Manager position at the Stables and was delighted to return to the nursery where my Evolution journey began.

Throughout my time with Evolution Childcare, I have received strong support and guidance from management and have taken on several additional responsibilities, including Health and Safety Officer, Events Lead, and SENDCo. These roles have strengthened my understanding of nursery operations and deepened my commitment to inclusive, high‑quality practice.

Most recently, I have been promoted to Nursery Manager at the Stables. I am proud to continue my journey here and look forward to leading the team, supporting our families, and contributing to the positive experiences and development of the children in our care.

Bethan Kennish - The Abbey

Bethan Kennish

Manager at The Abbey

I have been part of the Evolution Childcare team for nearly 22 years, bringing a wealth of experience, stability, and continuity to The Abbey. Over the course of my career, I have completed extensive internal training and developed strong knowledge of early years practice, policies, and day‑to‑day operations.

I hold a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification, as well as a Level 3 Team Leader and Management qualification. Alongside these, I have gained a wide range of certificates, including safeguarding, first aid, food hygiene, food allergy awareness, behaviour, and Prevent. These have supported both my professional development and my commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care and safety.

For the past eight years, I have had the privilege of serving as Nursery Manager. In this role, I provide supportive leadership to the team, foster positive and trusting relationships with families, and ensure that our environment remains safe, nurturing, and of consistently high quality. I take great pride in the work we do and in the positive impact we have on the children and families within our community.

Danielle Mason

Danielle Mason

Manager at Blackbrook

I have been employed by Evolution Childcare since 2007, beginning my career at the Stables site, where I worked across both the Reception and Early Learners rooms. In 2015, I was promoted to Room Manager in Early Learners and later moved into the Reception Room as Room Manager.

Throughout my career, I have completed extensive in-house training and gained a range of certificates that have supported my professional and personal development. Alongside my core role, I also held the position of Stables Events and Equal Opportunities Officer. In this role, I was responsible for planning and organising monthly events for children, parents, and staff, documenting these events, and promoting awareness of diversity, culture, and inclusion within the setting.

In 2017, I was promoted to Third in Charge, which further developed my understanding of nursery operations and provided opportunities to work closely alongside the Manager, including supporting training exercises. I was then promoted to Assistant Manager in 2019, where I worked with a range of managers and gained valuable leadership and operational experience.

In September 2020, I was promoted to Nursery Manager at Blackbrook. I thoroughly enjoy my role and take great pride in the positive impact we make on the children in our care and their families. Most recently, we have opened our under twos provision and I am are excited to watch it continue to grow and thrive.

Emma Syers - Newton House

Emma Syers

Newton House is a Franchise

I have been employed at Evolution Childcare since 2005. In 2007, I completed my NVQ Level 3 in early years childcare and shortly after that, I was promoted to Room Manager at The Stables.

Throughout my time with Evolution Childcare, I have undergone extensive internal training, which has equipped me with a thorough understanding of how various children learn and develop. In October 2013, I advanced to the position of Assistant Manager, during which I became actively involved in staff training, offering essential support to my colleagues in their respective roles.

I have collaborated closely with each manager within the group to learn about different management styles. In October 2015, I was promoted to Nursery Manager at The Abbey Nursery School in Weaverham. Although my time there was brief, I gained valuable skills in marketing and the launch of a brand-new setting.

After my time at the Abbey, I participated in the opening of two additional nurseries, Blackbrook and then Newton House, in 2021. This experience has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of business management and operational processes within a nursery setting

I am currently working towards completing my Level 7 in Early Years Senior Leadership and I aim to pursue a master’s degree thereafter.