Tracey began her career as a Nursery Nurse, with 33 years of experience working as a Teaching Assistant across Nursery, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2. She served as Chairperson of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at her last primary school, organising social activities and fundraising events for families and the local community. In addition to her work on community summer playschemes, Tracey is an active member of her local church and the Mothers’ Union. As a mother of three, she is eager to support local parents and children in Redcar and Cleveland.

Claire lives and has always worked in Teesside. She is an experienced primary teacher, having taught from nursery to year 6 and as Early Years Lead in two schools. She has worked in education for 25 years and has also been a Specialist Leader in Education, Local Authority Early Years Lead, inspector and university lecturer. She holds a masters degree in education and is passionate about supporting all who work in early years to be the best they can be. She continues to be inspired every day by what we can learn from our youngest children to improve their experiences.

Leah is a highly experienced early help professional with nearly two decades service within the Early Help team in within the Redcar and Cleveland Local Authority, specialising in children’s services and early intervention. She is passionate about improving outcomes for children and families and was a recognised leader in the development and delivery of Family Hubs and Children’s Centres. Leah brings a strong track record in stakeholder engagement, operational leadership, and partnership working, successfully driving service improvements and enhancing outcomes across diverse communities. She is skilled in team leadership, performance management, and the design and delivery of training and development strategies.

Aimee has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Studies and a postgraduate diploma in Psychology, which has given her a strong understanding of children’s development, wellbeing and individual needs. Aimee previously worked in a nursery with children aged 0-5, where she enjoyed helping children build confidence and develop their independence through play. As a mother to a two-year-old, she has also had personal experience of supporting a young child through their early years. She is committed to creating a safe, caring and stimulating environment where every child feels valued, supported and able to thrive.

Ruby comes from a background of working in mainstream education, predominantly with children with SEND and SEMH and has strong interests in these areas. She holds a degree in Early Years, Education and Training and is studying a Masters degree in Trauma Informed Practice. With two under 3’s at home, she uses her professional and personal experiences and expertise to help her engage parents with services within the local community that will help their child to develop to their full potential.

Sue has lived and worked in the North East all of her life and began her career in education in 1998, training as a primary school teacher after working as a business travel consultant at British Steel in Redcar – a role that enabled her to fulfil her ambition of travelling and seeing the world. Throughout her teaching career, she worked across the primary age range, with a particular focus on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). As EYFS and Key Stage 1 Lead, Sue was passionate about improving outcomes for the youngest children and also contributed to the strategic leadership of the school as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. She dedicated 26 years to the same school, building a wealth of experience and a lasting commitment to early education.

Hannah joined Thrive at Five with a strong background in early years and primary education. She brings a breadth of experience as a teacher, having worked across mainstream schools and private nursery settings, including within the Redcar and Cleveland community. With a particular passion for early childhood development, Hannah is committed to supporting families during the crucial early years of a child’s life. As a mum to two young children, and having recently returned from maternity leave, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her role, helping families feel supported, confident, and empowered.