The Roots team put children at the heart of all our decisions.
The Roots team put children at the heart of all our decisions. From developing provision for children with SEN to curriculum design and implementation, we bring together a diverse set of skills to create educational excellence. We are always ready to make the changes needed to give children the start they deserve.
Gemma Williamson - Executive Headteacher
Gemma Williamson is an accomplished leader in Early Years education, with extensive experience across nursery and primary settings. Before the federation of the three nursery schools, Gemma was Headteacher of Muriel Green Nursery School in St Albans and previously led the Foundation Stage at Laurence Haines Primary School in Watford.
Recognised for her expertise, Gemma was appointed as a Leading Teacher by Hertfordshire Local Authority, supporting schools to strengthen their Early Years provision. She became Headteacher of Muriel Green Nursery in 2017 and achieved the National SENDCo Award the same year. In 2024, she was named SENDCo of the Year.
Gemma has extensive experience in consultancy, supporting Early Years settings, maintained nursery schools and primary schools to strengthen leadership, provision and outcomes for children. She is also a governor at two Hertfordshire primary schools and contributes to boards advocating for the sustainability of maintained nursery schools.
Gemma holds the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leadership (NPQEL) and is driven by a strong belief that children do not get a second chance at preparing for adulthood. This principle underpins her approach to leadership, policy and practice.
Our Consultants
Annette Norris -
Head of School (Oxhey)
Annette joins the Federation with over 22 years of experience in education, alongside a lifelong connection to Early Years, having started her career in daycare nurseries in her hometown of Carlisle.
After relocating to the South, Annette worked across three schools in Essex, progressing quickly into leadership roles. She became an Early Years Phase Leader before taking on the role of Assistant Headteacher for Early Years and Key Stage 1. Most recently, she spent seven years as Headteacher of a primary school with a nursery provision.
A passionate and dedicated leader, Annette has a strong track record of school improvement and has supported primary schools and Early Years settings to strengthen the quality of their provision through training, development and effective leadership.
Annette joins the Federation as Head of School at Oxhey Nursery School, bringing her extensive experience and commitment to high-quality Early Years education to the team.
Kirstie Viner - Head of School (Muriel Green)
Kirstie has over 13 years of teaching experience across schools in London and Hertfordshire, with a particular specialism in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). She brings extensive experience supporting children at the very beginning of their learning journey.
Throughout her career, Kirstie has taught across both Nursery and Reception, led Early Years provision as an EYFS Leader, and held the role of Assistant Headteacher.
Passionate about creating nurturing, engaging and purposeful learning environments, Kirstie is committed to ensuring every child feels supported, valued and able to thrive. She is dedicated to providing children with the strongest possible start to their education.
Kirstie joins the Federation as Head of School at Muriel Green Nursery School, bringing her experience, enthusiasm and commitment to high-quality Early Years provision.
Clare Herbert- Head of School (Heath Lane) & Inclusion Leader
%20%26%20Inclusion%20Leader_JPG.jpg)
Clare has over 20 years’ experience in primary and Early Years education, having worked in schools in Newcastle, Atlanta and across Hertfordshire. She has held senior leadership and Headteacher roles, as well as supporting teachers across Hertfordshire as an Advanced Skills Teacher and Continuing Professional Development Lead.
Clare holds a doctorate in education from the University of Cambridge, with research focused on school improvement and developing professional capital through Lesson Study. She has also supported teachers in their academic development and tutored on the HertsCam Masters programme.
Passionate about inclusion, Clare is committed to ensuring children and their families are supported to achieve their potential. She brings this focus to her role as Head of School at Heath Lane Nursery School and Inclusion Leader for Roots Federation.
School Improvement Leads
Emma Mitchell
Emma has nearly a decade of experience working in Early Years settings across Hertfordshire, with extensive experience in Nursery and Reception and additional experience in Key Stage 1.
Emma joined the Federation last year, taking on a key leadership role at Heath Lane Nursery before bringing her experience to Muriel Green Nursery School as Senior Teacher. She is passionate about curriculum development and plays an integral role within the Federation’s curriculum development team.
Emma is committed to getting to know each child and their family, providing tailored support to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. Her experience, enthusiasm and focus on high-quality provision make her a valued member of the Federation team.
Sarah Pollen
Sarah has over ten years’ experience teaching in Hertfordshire, including as a Senior Teacher and Mental Health Lead within a large three-form-entry school in Stevenage, before joining Muriel Green Nursery School.
Sarah is passionate about supporting children and their families throughout their educational journey, creating environments where children can develop a genuine sense of joy, confidence and curiosity in learning.
With a particular interest in children’s mental health and wellbeing in the Early Years, Sarah is committed to helping every child feel secure, supported and able to thrive within their setting.
Jess Carini
Jessica graduated from the University of Sussex with a BA (Hons) in Geography before completing her PGCE at Middlesex University. She began her career as a Teaching Assistant and has since spent over a decade teaching across all primary year groups, from Nursery to Year 6.
Jessica joined the Heath Lane team last year as a Class Teacher and now takes on the role of Senior Teacher, supporting teachers and Early Years practitioners to deliver an exciting and ambitious curriculum.
Passionate about promoting physical wellbeing, Jessica is committed to helping children develop a love of movement, active learning and the outdoors, supporting them to build healthy habits from an early age.
Lucy Matley
Lucy has 16 years’ experience as a teacher, supporting children and families across Hertsmere and Watford. With a strong background in Key Stage 2, she has developed a particular passion for Early Years and the opportunities this stage provides to shape children’s earliest experiences of learning.
At Oxhey Nursery School, Lucy teaches across both the 2–3 and 3–4-year-old age groups, where her commitment to delivering an ambitious and engaging curriculum shines through.
Lucy believes strongly in the power of play and the importance of being an active play partner, using meaningful interactions to support children’s development and learning. She values strong relationships with children, families and colleagues as the foundation of a thriving learning environment.
Alongside her teaching, Lucy co-chairs the governing body of a primary school, reflecting her wider commitment to education, leadership and the communities she serves.
Sue Wells
Sue has worked in Early Years for over 25 years, bringing extensive experience across pre-school and daycare settings. During her career, she worked in three pre-schools before managing her own setting for 14 years, developing a wealth of expertise in providing high-quality care and education for young children.
Sue has been Daycare Manager at Muriel Green Nursery School for the past four years, where she leads the daycare provision with a strong focus on creating a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment.
Passionate about building trusting relationships with families, Sue understands how important the transition into daycare can be for both children and parents. She provides thoughtful support to new families, helping parents feel confident and reassured as their children take their first steps into nursery.
Chloe Reade
Chloe has worked with children since leaving school in 2015, beginning her career as a children’s entertainer in a soft play centre. Her natural ability to engage children through fun, creativity and laughter has remained a defining part of her approach to Early Years.
Chloe joined the team at Muriel Green as an Early Years Practitioner and has since gained experience across every room, working with children from babies through to Nursery. This breadth of experience, combined with her strong understanding of child development and ability to work strategically and efficiently, led to her joining the senior leadership team as Deputy Daycare Manager.
Chloe is passionate about supporting every child to thrive, with particular expertise in supporting children with additional needs. She also plays an important role across the Federation, supporting staff to ensure children with hearing impairments receive inclusive, high-quality provision and the right support to succeed.
Central Team
Mandy West
Finance Manager
Michelle Shearer
Lead Administrator
Sean Smith
Site Manager
.jpg)
Mandy has worked in finance all her adult life and joined the federation administration team in September 2022 working across all three setting. Prior to this Mandy worked for a short period at Herts For Learning as a School Financial Adviser where she worked alongside both Muriel Green and Heath Lane Schools in addition to other schools in Hertfordshire. Before that she worked in industry where she spent the previous 27 year's working within the Finance Team at the Head Offices of a global engineering manufacturing company where she held the position of Head Office Accountant.
With a diverse background spanning finance and admin roles in education and the mobile phone sector, I've spent the last 5 years mastering the art of catering. Beginning my journey at Woolworths, I've developed a wide spread set of skills to support the varied roles of the team within the Federation. Personally, I cherish my role as a mum to two boys and a proud houseplant enthusiast.
Sean has extensive experience in the education sector, having previously worked as an ICT consultant across schools in Hertfordshire. Sean holds a key role at Roots Federation, where the is responsible for site maintenance, health and safety, and ensuring compliance across all schools within the federation. His expertise in both technology and operational management helps maintain a safe, efficient, and compliant learning environment for all.
We are proud to collaborate with a diverse network of consultants who share our commitment to excellence. By working together, we aim to spread expertise and knowledge across the country, ensuring that organizations and communities benefit from innovative solutions and best practices. Our consultants bring a wealth of experience and specialized skills, helping us deliver impactful results and drive meaningful change nationwide.
If you would be interested in working with us, please complete our consultancy form & the team will come back to you.
