Therese is the founder of Forbes Children’s Nursery, opening the doors to the first nursery in 1996. Her passion for early childhood education began during her university years working in childcare and later through her involvement in running a voluntary nursery while raising her own family. With a background in publishing and authorship, including With Child: Birth Through the Ages, Therese brought a deep understanding of child development into practice when she and her husband established the nursery in their home. A strong advocate for outdoor learning, she was among the first in Scotland to embrace the forest school approach, using natural landscapes to enrich children’s experiences. This commitment continues today through regular adventures in forests, hills and beaches, reflecting Therese’s belief that meaningful outdoor experiences play a vital role in children’s learning, confidence and wellbeing.
Anthony grew up in the original Forbes Road nursery before leaving home for university and officially joined the nurseries in 2007. As Therese’s son and now Director, he brings both a lifelong connection to the nursery and valuable experience from a successful business career. Over the past 30 years, Forbes Children’s Nursery has grown organically from its first setting at Forbes Road to five nurseries today, while remaining true to its core belief that our teams are at the heart of what makes Forbes so special. Anthony is committed to supporting both staff and children, helping to create a nurturing, inspiring environment where children develop the skills, confidence and social awareness they need to grow into happy, healthy individuals, and where team members feel valued and proud to work.
Carol is the Business Director for Forbes and brings over a decade of experience as a contractor within the financial sector. Carol joined the nursery group in August 2017 and has since played a key role in strengthening business processes and supporting the leadership teams of the nurseries since. Alongside her professional commitments, she is a parent to three children, giving her valuable insight into the needs of families and children, which further informs her approach to her role.
Andrea is the Director of Care and Education and has been a cornerstone of Forbes since it opened in 1996. Having worked at Forbes from the very beginning, she has seen many changes over the years, but the love and care shown to the children and the warm, family feel have always remained the same. Andrea has worked across all Forbes nurseries with children of all ages and has enjoyed watching so many grow up over the years. She holds an HNC in Early Learning and Childcare, an HND in Childhood Practice, and a PDA in Childhood Practice, and has a particular passion for the Under 3s, believing this is a vital stage where children’s natural curiosity makes every day new and exciting.
Sara has been a valued member of the Forbes team since 2006 and brings a wealth of childcare experience to her role as Nursery Manager. Holding a Degree in Design, she is known for her creativity and for providing exciting, stimulating activities that inspire children to explore and learn. Based primarily in the Preschool Room, Sara combines her managerial responsibilities with hands-on work alongside the children. This balance allows her to remain closely connected to the daily life of the nursery, ensuring she understands and supports the needs of both children and families. Sara’s passion, creativity, and commitment to early childhood education make her an invaluable part of the Forbes team.
Abby is our Assistant Manager and has been a valued member of the Forbes team since 2016. She brings a wealth of experience and strong leadership to her role, supporting both the team and families. Abby is based in the baby room from Tuesday to Friday, where she provides calm, nurturing care and builds strong bonds with the children. Her dual role ensures a seamless balance between hands-on support in the room and wider management responsibilities, helping to maintain a consistent and high-quality experience for all.
Annabel is our Operations Manager and joined Forbes in November 2022. She works across all four of our settings, supporting the managers and their teams. With over 15 years of management experience, Annabel brings strong leadership and organisational skills to her role. As a mother of two, she also brings empathy and understanding to her work with children, families, and staff.
Rachel is a qualified teacher who joined Forbes in 2023, bringing with her a wealth of experience and a passion for early years education. She is known for her calm, friendly, and nurturing approach, building strong relationships with both children and families. Rachel works in the Preschool Room as our Team Leader, where she not only supports the children’s learning and development but also provides valuable guidance to the staff team and works closely with management to ensure high standards across the setting. Her dedication to both children and colleagues makes her a vital part of the Forbes community.
Ellie is a dedicated full-time member of our Baby Room team, having joined Forbes as an apprentice in 2023. She has since successfully completed her SVQ Level 3 qualification and is now a fully qualified Nursery Practitioner. Ellie is known for creating a calm, nurturing environment where every child feels safe, supported, and valued. Her professional yet warm approach helps babies and young children settle with confidence and feel secure throughout their day.
Miriam joined the team in April 2024, bringing with her three years of nannying experience. She works in our Tweenie Room and has recently begun her SVQ Level 3 training with one of our training partners.
Sonya joined us in 1999 and has been our dedicated chef for over 25 years, providing delicious and healthy meals for the children every day. She is a proud mother of one son. In 2009, Sonya represented the nurseries at the UK-wide Nursery World Awards for the Food Award, where we were honoured to be named runners-up
June is a qualified practitioner who spent 16 years working in our baby room. She is now a support member of staff, working across all rooms in the nursery to provide excellent care to our children.
Craig is a qualified practitioner and our dedicated Forest School Team Leader. He joined the nursery in 2016 and leads both our Forest School and Beach School programmes. Craig supports our Greenhill, Bruntsfield Place, and Claremont nurseries, sharing his expertise and passion for outdoor learning across all settings. He has completed his qualification in Forest Kindergarten Leadership (Level 7). With his calm, knowledgeable approach and genuine enthusiasm for the outdoors, Craig has made a lasting impact on so many children over the years.
Karen works in our nursery admin team joining the nursery in 2003. Karen works across our four settings supporting the managers and staff. Karen is a mother herself.
Mike is a highly skilled joiner with over 50 years of experience. He supports Forbes by carrying out general maintenance across our nurseries and has been involved in a wide range of projects throughout his career, including being part of a Channel 4 Grand Designs build.
Alongside this, Mike puts his craftsmanship to wonderful use by creating beautiful bespoke wooden teepees, tables, and chairs, which are loved by both staff and children. His dedication, experience, and creativity make him a much-valued member of the Forbes team.
Kay, our Teaching and Learning Coordinator, has over thirty years of experience in education. She began as a primary school teacher, later moving into outdoor education in Glenshee, and has worked with Barnardo’s Inclusive Education programme and at an outdoor therapeutic school in Colorado. A trained Forest School Leader, Kay is passionate about creating environments where children thrive through child-led play. She values the power of stories and books, and is committed to helping children explore the maths and science in the world around them, especially outdoors.
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