Meet Our Team

Ellie Smallcombe

Lead Facilitator

Ellie, our Lead Facilitator has a BSc (hons) in Human Communication and is a qualified primary teacher with around 13 years of experience of teaching in a special needs setting.  She has a Level 3 Forest School Leader qualification and is working towards a Level 3 in childcare and play work and another Level 3 in Coastal Schools! 

She loves an outdoorsy lifestyle and lives on a smallholding with her husband and two small boys, two dogs, two cats, five sheep, two ponies three ducks and numerous chickens.  She is a craft-a-holic, knitting, crocheting, sewing, felting, spinning, dyeing yarn, pattern designing, and also loves baking, making jams jellies and chutneys, but most of all cake!!  She also loves reading although since having the boys she has converted to audiobooks as the only way to get through books at a reasonable rate. 

She can’t wait to meet your little people and follow their individual amazing journeys!

Laura Vettori

Facilitator

Laura is our Facilitator, she is a qualified NNEB and has worked for most of her career in child care, working in and running a variety of settings.  She has a BA (hons) in Humanities with creative writing and a number of qualifications in jewellery making, silver-smithing, holistic massage and stained glass making.  She is also about to complete her level 3 as a Forest School Leader. 

She lives in a rural woodland with her sons and volunteers at an afterschool club providing activities for children locally as well as at the Botanical gardens.  She also attends craft fayres locally with her hand made crafts.  When she has time she enjoys walking, swimming and reading.

Alicia Priestley

Volunteer Facilitator

Alicia is currently studying for a degree in Early Years Education and the Forest School Level 3 qualification.

She works at a forest school at Newquay honey farm, and at the National Botanic Gardens of Wales leading Children's activities. Alicia is also a support worker for children in foster care. 

In her spare time Alicia likes to paint, carve wood, grow vegetables and walk in the woods.She lives at the edge of Brechfa forest with her partner and a crazy rescue dog Bron.

The Core Group

Founder Volunteers

Staci Sylvan, Katie Ruddy, Jeannette Simpson and Ellie Smallcombe make up the Core Group of Coed Cariad which was founded in July 2017.  

The Core Group manage all aspects of the project ensuring that Coed Cariad offers the highest level of quality childcare, forest school and play practice.  

To learn more about our work and our vision for Coed Cariad Learning Community contact us at info@coedcariad.org.