Meet the Team

Jenny

Franchisee

Having been a competitive swimmer and lifeguard, Jenny is passionate about swimming and water safety. She started Puddle Ducks West Yorkshire in 2011 when she was on maternity leave with her first child Daisy.
Marie

Senior Teacher (Baby and Pre-School & Swim Academy)

Marie is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her first child

Marie joined Puddle Ducks in the Summer of 2017. She decided to join Puddle Ducks as she has always loved swimming and working with young children. She has worked in childcare for the last 15 years in a variety of different roles starting as a nanny and progressing into her current full time role of a primary school teacher.

Marie feels the best thing about working for Puddle Ducks is seeing children confident and enjoying themselves in the water. She loves getting to know both the children and parents in her classes, that bond she sees is so special and makes for safe, happy and enjoyable lessons.

In the spare time that she has, Marie enjoys getting out in the fresh air for a run, and going to the gym, her latest achievement is completing the Great North Run in 2017.
Bethany

Teacher (Baby & PreSchool, and Swim Academy)

Bethany joined Puddle Ducks in July 2020, just as the first lockdown was winding down. She thought it would be a great stop gap before she was able to travel again. It's now the best job she’s ever had (and longest) - working with amazing people and having so much fun with children and their parents. Beth loves teaching in the water and making sure everyone is having a fantastic time learning, it makes her so happy.

In her spare time she likes to train aerial hoop, pole and strongman, she has also recently started violin - it is painful to hear.

Beth is currently studying to become a Primary school teacher because working with children is her passion, she wants learning to be fun and fair for everyone!

Interesting fact: a couple of the children in swim academy are taller than her and they find it hilarious.
Emma

Teacher (Baby & PreSchool, and Swim Academy)

Emma started to work for Puddle Ducks in 2023, in part because she loves to be in the water and wanted to spend more time there. Emma feels that swimming is a fundamental life skill, but that doesn't mean the learning to do it should be dull or boring.

She feels phenomenally privileged to be a part of a child's swimming journey, and it makes her so happy to be able to watch them grow, learn and develop in the water. Both in confidence and technical ability.

in her spare time, Emma likes to move. She enjoys climbing and paddle boarding. She claims to not be exceptional at either, but she just lives moving and being outside, so is pretty keen to have a go at anything!
Nicola

Teacher (Baby and Pre-School)

Nicola discovered Puddle Ducks with her first baby in 2020 and loved spending some quality one to one time with her little boy in the water. Her first son has now grown into a Little Dipper that loves to drench her with a watering can during splash time! Nicola has since had another little boy and a baby girl, and she is loving experiencing Splashers and Kickers lessons as a customer again with them.

Nicola joined Puddle Ducks as a teacher in 2022 and it slotted in perfectly around her part time job as a primary school teacher. She enjoys teaching swimming so much that she's always surprised when her last lesson finishes each week. Nicola loves seeing children's confidence grow in the water as they learn important skills but her absolute favourite part of the job is watching parents and babies have a lovely, relaxing time together.

In her free time, Nicola enjoys exploring new places and playing board games (which can be very interesting with 4 and 2 year old double trouble trying to get involved!).
Rebecca B

Teacher (Baby & PreSchool)

Becky started swimming with her daughter when she was just three weeks old; "those early moments in the pool together were amazing. Seeing her excitement and confidence grow in the water inspired me deeply. I quickly realized how incredible swimming is for child development, which fueled my passion to become a baby swimming teacher."

Outside of teaching, Becky absolutely loves outdoor swimming – she finds that there is something so refreshing about diving into natural lakes and rivers, rain or shine. Recently, she even had the opportunity to swim in the deepest lake in the UK!

In her classes, activities like 'Pass the Ball' and 'Jelly Plate' always bring lots of laughter and fun. Becky finds her role incredibly rewarding, and loves to see children and their parents enjoying themselves and bonding in the water.

Becky really enjoys working for Puddle Ducks; our child-led approach to teaching is lovely. Recently, her daughter started with Swim Academy and, at 5 years old, she has already achieved her 10m distance badge! "She's a wonderful little swimmer, and starting her early has truly paid off with her confidence around water and her skills at such a young age."

Becky looks forward to meeting some of you in the pool, and she hopes you and your little one enjoy your swimming journey as much as she has!
Anna

Teacher (Baby & PreSchool)

Anna joined Puddle Ducks in 2023, as well as being a primary school teacher for 20 years.

Anna loves to see children develop their confidence and independence in water, and seeing parents and children bonding during the sessions.

Her favourite activity in the classes is jumping, it's amazing to see how confident some children are (and how far they can jump!) And her favourite song is The Grand Old Duke of York, it's just so splashy!

In her free time Anna enjoys spending time with her family and visiting new places.
Rebecca S

Teacher (Swim Academy)
Emily

Teacher (Baby & PreSchool)

Emily joined Puddle Ducks in 2023, and fell in love with the roleafter observing just one class. Before working for Puddle Ducks, Emily was an early years teacher, but after having her own children she felt it was time to change careers, and she is just so pleased she did! Teaching young children to be safe and confident in the water doesn't feel like work. Her own children also now enjoy attending Puddle Ducks and Swim Academy sessions too.

Emily's favourite Puddle Ducks song is Grand Old Duke of York. This is because it's very splashy and she loves watching all the children laugh and smile as they are lifted up and splashed back down into the water. Her favourite activity to teach at Puddle Ducks is surface dives; to see the children go from being reluctant to put their faces in the water, to diving down to the bottom of the pool and coming up with huge smiles is so rewarding.
Ben

Teacher (Baby & PreSchool, and Swim Academy)

Ben joined Puddle Ducks at the beginning of 2024, wanting to explore something new and exciting, following a decade of office work.

Having really loved learning to swim when younger, and still enjoying the water now as an adult, he feels teaching new young swimmers is the perfect way to pass on that enjoyment, alongside helping children learn important swimming and survival skills.

In his spare time, Ben enjoys playing video games (both casually and competitively), staying healthy by working out, doing aerial hoop and calisthenics!
Poolside Assistants

Becki started at Puddle Ducks in January 2024 after being recommended to the position by a friend. She has always loved swimming and providing a high level of customer service. She loves seeing the children and their adults each week, and catching up with them before they get in the pool for their fantastic lesson. It really is a pleasure to see so many children grow in confidence in the water and have time to bond with their grown ups. In her spare time, Becki likes to spend time with her family, go for walks, dancing, and more swimming!
Rebecca

Business Operations Manager

Rebecca has been working with us here at Puddle Ducks West Yorkshire since July 2016, she’s one of the friendly voices at the other end of the phone, sorting out your bookings, payments and making Puddle Ducks fit around your busy lifestyle.

Previously Rebecca worked as a Purchasing Executive for Zenith Vehicle Contracts and made the career move to Puddle Ducks to tie in with her eldest son Freddie starting full time school as the part time hours fitted perfectly around her family life. Freddie has also previously enjoyed Puddle Ducks classes as a Little Dippers where he built amazing water confidence!

Rebecca really enjoys working at the Puddle Ducks office, the new routine has given her a fantastic work life balance and she enjoys speaking to all our lovely customers and the rest of the team to ensure all expects of customer service are in place and running smoothly.

In her spare time Rebecca enjoys spending time with family, especially on the East Coast where her mum has a caravan sited, going to gigs (when she can bribe a babysitter!) and going out for meals with friends and family.
Vicky

Customer Care Executive

Vicky has been with us in the office since October 2017, initially as maternity leave cover for Rebecca, but she loved it so much she has decided to stay. She has 3 children between the ages of 9 and 15 who run rings around her and keep her very busy. But after a 6 year career break raising a family, she felt it was time to get back to work and the part time hours means she is still able to do the daily school run.