Meet the Wise Owls team

Managerial team

Catherine

Catherine is the co-founder, owner and manager of Wise Owls. She has worked with children for as long as she can remember. The past 25 years of being a speech and language therapist has taken her to many nurseries in different countries and specialising in language development in the early years gives her a unique insight into what makes an excellent early learning and childcare setting

Mark

Mark is the co-founder and owner of Wise Owls. He was instrumental in the preparation of Ivy House and the setting up of the nursery but has handed over the reins of upkeeping the building to the professionals now.

Vicky

Vicky has been with Wise Owls since before it even opened, donning paintbrush and siliconing sinks in preparation for our grand opening. She briefly left but we missed each other too much so we are delighted that she came back and is now the manager in our Out of School Club at Moffat Academy. She loves all ages of children but schoolies have always been her passion! “During my free time I love walking, photography, music and singing. Most of these I have transferred to the nursery with being outdoors with children as much as possible, taking the Christmas photos the past two years and bursting into song at any given time…. Which has proved an ideal distraction technique when things get a little lively!”

Koren

Koren graduated from Drama school in Edinburgh in 2017 where she then went on to working in Italy for 8 months doing Panto style shows for children ages 2-16. She then set up her own princess party business – Once Upon Your Princess Party – where she has loved entertaining children across Dumfries and Galloway ever since. She joined us in July 2021 and gained her Qualification in July 2022. “Working with children is something I love doing and have ample experience in and working at Wise Owls Nursery is the icing on the cake for my career. I also have a puppy who I like to go on walks with and I love going to the theatre!”
As from August 2024, Koren is the room lead for the Owlets and Branchers room.

Claire

Claire joined us in March 2022 as a Modern Apprentice, qualifying within the year. As a mother of three herself, she has plenty of experience with young children and enjoys getting out and about with the kids. Claire enjoyed studying so much she studied for her Level 4 and is now the room lead for the Fledgling Room. We all appreciate her calm influence!

Kim

Kim has joined us in the office in October 2022 to whip us and our admin into shape.

Qualified Practitioners

Fiona

My name is Fiona Engel and I moved to Moffat from Edinburgh in 2019. I have over 25 years of experience in childcare and have worked with all age groups during that time. In my spare time you can find me sitting at my sewing machine creating a new wardrobe, making greeting cards for family and friends, and doing many other crafty projects. Of course, I also like to go for walks through the beautiful countryside.

Brooke

Brooke started with us as a cleaner in 2021 and completed her Modern Apprenticeship in Social Work with Children and Young People in July 2023. She predominantly works with the out of school club children, but is also a great help within the nursery in the baby room.

Lesley

Lesley joined us in April 2022.

Lesley completed her Level 3 qualification in Social Services (Children and Young People) in October 2023 and works predominantly with the Babies.

Fliss

Fliss joined us in August 2023, her son having attended Wise Owls as a baby. Fliss gained her qualification in July 2024 and loves being outdoors in all weathers!

Lyndsey

Lyndsey joined us in November 2023 when she loved coming to the nursery so much as a parent that she decided to join the team.

Molly

Molly has joined us after seeing how much fun her son was having in the baby room! You’ll find her mostly in the Fledglings room or at forest school.

Modern Apprentices

Yaroslava

Yaroslava has been a great addition to the nursery team as an extra pair of hands on busy days. She is now a modern apprentice, studying for her childcare qualification whilst simultaneously studying for a degree in languages.

Olivia

Olivia joined us in Spring 2025 and will be undergoing her apprenticeship training through Dumfries and Galloway College.

Brandon

Brandon has just finished his childcare course at Dumfries and Galloway college and will now be undergoing an apprenticeship through the same college.

Support Staff

Mo - Cleaner

Mo left Wise Owls, but missed us so much she came back! She also keeps the setting clean and tidy. She’s the one who will be most likely caught steaming in the nursery!

Gail - Cleaner

Gail joined us as a cleaner in November 2023. She has joined Mo in ensuring the nursery is spick and span.

Fiona - Nursery Cook

Fiona joined us in July 2022. She came to us from her last job as a catering manager at a high school and before that, cook at Bankfoot care home. Having worked with the elderly and with teens, she has decided to try her hand with our young ones! Thankfully she loves both cooking and kids, but outside of work she also enjoys exercising. football and Formula 1.

Nicky - Nursery Cook

Nicky has joined Fiona in the kitchen to ensure a healthy, well-balanced menu for our children.