How it all began
What is so unique and special about Tiny Turners Nurseries?
Being parents and grandparents, founders Karen Clark and Helen Dey understand the needs of working families and have developed Tiny Turners nurseries to give parents and carers the excellent childcare that provides complete peace of mind; along with the opportunity for children in their care to learn invaluable social skills and the foundations for early education.
Karen and Helen first met in 1995. Helen had moved down to Teesside from Scotland with no family close by. So, to help with childcare, Helen struck up a friendship with Karen who managed the local day-care nursery, who looked after her two-year-old daughter Jennifer. Karen had always wanted to own and run her own children’s day nursery. So a necessity, combined with a shared passion for excellent childcare and education, created a partnership and their first nursery was opened in April 1997 in the grounds of Sir William Turners Sixth Form College in Redcar. Hence the rather unusual name ‘Tiny Turners’.
Karen Clark
Karen is a qualified Nursery Nurse with over 35 years of experience of managing, developing and innovating at Tiny Turners Nurseries. She has a passion for offering the best care possible within a home-from-home environment. Long years of experience have shown her what works well and what keeps children and parents happy.
Helen Dey
Helen is a qualified mathematics teacher with over 35 years of teaching and management experience in preparatory schools, secondary schools, sixth form colleges and universities. With a passion for education, she believes that learning is the key that unlocks opportunity for every child to fulfil their true potential. In over 20 years of partnership Karen & Helen have worked closely together to expand Tiny Turners to its four Tees Valley locations. Both Karen’s own children (Jessica, Harry & Holly) and Helen’s (Jennifer & Kirsty) attended Tiny Turners, giving them the peace of mind and confidence to build their business. And now Karen’s grandson attends Tiny Turners in Hartburn, demonstrating the multi-generational strength of the Tiny Turners formula with its strongly embedded family values.
