Meet the team

I would like to give a big welcome to you and your family from all at Cranbrook Children's Centre.

We are here for the families with children aged 0 - 5 years living within Cranbrook, Hawkhurst, Sissinghurst, Benenden, Iden Green, Colliers Green, Sandhurst and Frittenden.  We aim to be a "one stop shop" for families providing a variety of services such as family learning, play opportunities, signposting to existing services in the area and information and advice on making the most of your family situation.

We are here to be led by you, if you would like something in the area let us know, and we will either signpost, or do our best to provide that service in partnership with you.

Best Wishes

Pam Holmes, Children's Centre Network Manager

Cranbrook Children's Centre Team:

Pam Holmes - Children's Centre Manager

Pam is our Network Children's Centre Manager.  Pam is responsible for the overall running of Cranbrook and Paddock Wood Children's Centres and is based at Cranbrook Children's Centre.

Val Ansell  - Community Involvement Workers

Val is our Community Involvement Worker for Cranbrook Children's Centre.  Val has the responsibility of ensuring every family within the community is aware of Cranbrook Children's Centre services and their benefits.

Val understands that parenting can be a difficult job, that there is no such thing as an average family.  Each family is different and will in the course of family life meet many challenges which they may need support with.  Val assists familes in promoting their children's well being as well as supporting them to bring out the best in their children and help them achieve their full potential.  She does this through a wide variety of services such as home visiting, parenting courses, drop-ins, family learning activities as well as access to guidance, advice and support with the many aspects of parenting.

Val encourages all parents to become actively involved in all aspects of the Children's Centres service delivery and development to ensure all families make full use of the services delivered at the Centre.

Karen Todd - Finance Administrator

Karen is our Finance Administrator for Cranbrook and Paddock Wood Children's Centres.  Her role is to assist in managing the two Children's Centre budgets and ordering and receiving goods for our Centres.

Penny Smith - Administrator

Penny is our Administrator at Cranbrook Children's Centre.  Part of Penny's role is to maintain our website ensuring everyone who accesses it has the latest information about Cranbrook and Paddock Wood Children's Centres.  Penny is responsible also for our Children's Centre newsletter, so please email her any news or photos you would like to include in our next copy.  Penny is also responsible for being the main point of contact for our volunteers and helping to co-ordinate their activities in support of the Centres. 

Pam Ludlow - Receptionist/Administrator

Pam Ludlow is our Receptionist at Cranbrook Children's Centre part of her role is to welcome children, families and professionals into the centre, to register families and provide information about children's centres.  Pam is also responsible for administration and updating our Children's Centre database.

Annemarie Greenaway - Early Years Practitioner

Working within the framework for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).  Annemarie, our Early Years Practitioner aims to provide high quality activities to children 0-5 years of age and their parents/carers through stay and play sessions.  The sessions are developed to promote all areas of children's learning with the aim of supporting children in achieving their full potential across Every Child Matters outcomes.  All activities are planned taking into account the children's interests and their is a clear emphasis placed on partnership working with parents/carers as well as other agencies within our community.  Our creche workers provide high quality childcare to enable parents/carers to attend adult course run in our centres.

Frances Thomson - Receptionist

Frances is our Receptionist at Paddock Wood Children's Centre but currently helps us two days per week at Cranbrook.