Our story

Our Story

A warm, welcoming place where children and parents can slow down, connect and grow together.

It all started with one simple belief…

Every child deserves to feel understood.

For as long as I can remember, I have loved working with children.

For the past 14 years, I have worked, owned and managed Kickstart Preschool and Afterschool Club, working closely with children and families through the joys, challenges and big transitions that childhood brings.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of supporting hundreds of children and families through early years education, inclusion, fostering, mindfulness and therapeutic play. Every child I met taught me something new, and every family reminded me that behind every behaviour is a story waiting to be understood.

As my experience grew, so did my passion for helping children feel safe, valued and confident.

But there was always one question in the back of my mind…

Could we do more?

The Moment Everything Changed

While studying Therapeutic Play, I discovered incredible ways to help children understand their emotions, build confidence and express themselves through play.

I loved everything I was learning.

But something didn't quite sit right with me.

Many families told us that although their children had developed valuable emotional skills through traditional one-to-one play therapy, they sometimes struggled to carry those skills into everyday life at home. Parents often felt unsure about what had happened during the sessions or how they could continue supporting their child afterwards.

The people they needed most—their parents and caregivers—hadn't experienced that journey with them.

That's when I realised what I believed was missing.

The magic ingredient wasn't another toy.

Another strategy.

Or another session.

It was connection.

The Magic Ingredient

Children don't grow in isolation.

They grow through the relationships they have with the people who love them most.

So I began asking myself…

What if children and parents could learn these skills together?

What if families could:

understand big feelings together
practise calming strategies together
build confidence together
celebrate every small success together
and strengthen their relationship through play?

That simple question became the beginning of Kickstart Family Hub.

A mother and daughter dancing with colourful scarves at the Hub

Families gathered on the mat in front of the castle mural at the Hub

A child dancing with a giant teddy bear in front of the castle mural

More Than Play

People often ask us, "What happens at the Hub?" The answer is simple.

We play.

We laugh.

We build.

We create.

We make potions.

We tell stories.

We explore.

But underneath every activity is a purpose.

Every game is designed to build confidence.

Every conversation helps strengthen connection.

Every shared experience gives families practical skills they can take home and use in everyday life.

Because to us…

Play isn't the destination. It's how we get there.

Today

Kickstart Family Hub is a calm, welcoming place where children and parents can slow down, connect and grow together.

There are no expectations.

No judgement.

No pressure to be anything other than yourselves.

Just a safe space where every family is welcomed with warmth, kindness and understanding.

We celebrate every small step because we know that the smallest moments often become the biggest breakthroughs.

Parents and children colouring together at the Hub

Looking Ahead

This is only the beginning.

Our dream is to create a community where every family feels supported, every child feels understood and every parent feels confident that they don't have to navigate life's big feelings alone.

Because we believe…

Children thrive when the important adults in their lives grow alongside them.

And that's the heart of everything we do.

The People Behind Kickstart

Meet Wynette & Zoe

Wynette

People often ask where the ideas behind Kickstart Family Hub came from.

The truth is, they came from years of listening.

Listening to children. Listening to parents. Listening to families who simply wanted someone to understand what life felt like from their perspective.

Every qualification I have gained has helped shape the Hub, but the greatest lessons have come from working alongside families every day.

My background includes:

BA (Hons) Level 8 Degree Childhood Studies
Level 7 Early Childhood Care & Education
LINC Inclusion Coordinator
Therapeutic Play Skills
Mindfulness for Children & Families
FAR First Aid
Special Needs Assistant Levels 5 & 6
Foster Carer for over seven years

But more than any certificate, I believe families deserve someone who genuinely listens, celebrates their strengths and walks alongside them without judgement.

Zoe

Zoe has always had a natural ability to connect with children and create an environment where they feel safe, accepted and understood. Her calm, creative approach helps children build confidence, express themselves through play and develop meaningful connections with those around them.

She holds:

FETAC Level 5 in Early Childhood Studies
FETAC Level 6 in Early Years Education
FETAC Level 6 in School-Aged Childcare
Currently studying for a Level 8 Degree in Childhood Studies
Paediatric First Aid

Growing up as a foster sister in a family that welcomed children with a wide range of needs gave Zoe a unique understanding of the importance of patience, empathy and seeing every child as an individual. Alongside her professional training, these experiences have shaped the compassionate, relationship-based approach she brings to every family she meets.

Having experienced anxiety and dyslexia herself, Zoe understands that every child faces challenges in different ways. She believes that with the right support, encouragement and understanding, children can build confidence, recognise their strengths and thrive in their own unique way.

The Story Continues…

Every family who walks through our door adds another chapter to the Kickstart story.

Some arrive feeling worried.

Some arrive feeling exhausted.

Some simply want to understand their child a little better.

Whatever brings you here…

You'll be welcomed exactly as you are.

Because our story has never really been about us.

It's about the families who trust us to become part of theirs.