Donna Green’s first experience of care was often a challenging one, but she credits that with making her a better Nursery Practitioner.

That’s because before joining Clever Clogs, the 32-year-old worked in a supported living service providing care for people with mental health, autism, and epilepsy.

She says: “Working with people with complex needs and challenging behaviour was very rewarding, but it got to the stage where I needed to make a change in my career.

“I knew I wanted to stay in care and so when the opportunity arose at Clever Clogs, I jumped at it and six years later I am still here!”

Donna is now Senior Practitioner in charge of Little Hedgehogs, the room for our very youngest babies.

She says: “I have worked in other rooms, but I prefer babies and I think this goes back to what I was doing as a carer working in supported living.

“Babies obviously need more care, support and attention, and they start off non-verbal, so you need to help with that important first stage of their development.

“The first stages of learning are lovely, and I see babies who are now in our oldest room who are ready to go to school and it’s nice to know I played a part in their personal growth.”

When she’s not at work, Donna spends a great deal of time indulging the second love of her life, horses. This not only involves riding but breeding horses for show as well.

She says: “I am up at 5am each day to check on the horses before I start work at the nursery and go back at night to do it again; then on weekends I get the chance to ride, so it’s non-stop!”