Valerie Grady – Director

Valerie is the Founding Director of Willow Cottage Nurseries overseeing the pre-school education, child development, recruitment, food and nutrition.

Born in Witney, she grew up and went to school in Eynsham and later studied Food Science & Nutrition at Queen Elizabeth College under Professor John Yudkin and Professor Arnold Bender, and gained her first degree from London University in 1975. After her marriage to Neil, she gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Warwick University and later taught Home Economics in Coventry before opening Willow Cottage Nurseries.

In 2009, Valerie updated her nursery skills by gaining Post Graduate Early Years Professional Status at Oxford Brookes University.
Valerie is committed to raising standards of Nursery Care and Pre-school Education through establishing competent teams of professional and motivated staff.