Meet the Wonderland Staff
Wonderland provides the best quality education and care available to children and babies of all ages
Mandy Vorwerg
Mandy Vorwerg has been the owner at Wonderland since 2005. She holds a master’s degree in psychology, as well as a Social Work degree and play therapy qualification. She is actively involved in the day-to-day activities and management of the school and is passionate about childhood development. Mandy has an open door policy and enjoys building relationships with both the children and parents at Wonderland.
Caren Von Doetinchem de Rande
Caren Von D de Rande is our Office Manager and ensures the smooth running of all admin matters.
Ivy Hall
Our aftercare teacher, Ivy Hall, oversees the children and staff in the afternoons. Ivy has over 40 years of childcare experience and 7 grandchildren of her own. She enjoys being with the children and chatting to the parents in the afternoons.
About our Staff
- We have an assistant in each class to assist the teacher.
- Our baby class has a ratio of 4:1 and our toddlers 6:1.
- We have a dedicated aftercare teacher who comes in to manage and oversee the afternoons.
- Our assisting staff are all first aid trained and have ongoing in house training.
- Our teachers are all qualified and do ongoing training and skills development all through the year.
- Professional consultants: Should a child need a little extra help we have a team of professionals that we work with. Some come to see the children at the school in our therapy room and others have consulting rooms nearby. These include: Two Occupational therapists, a Play therapist, a speech therapist and Audiologist and an Optometrist.
- We have a very low staff turnover. Some staff have been part of our team for as long as 25years!
Meet the Team
Wonderland provides the best quality education and care available to children and babies of all ages
From left to right: Vanessa Donaldson (Squirrel class), Joanie Barnard (Bear Class), Melanie Illingworth (Hedgehog Class), Jo Krug (Bunny/Baby class)
Our Teachers
- Joanie Barnard is the teacher in the Bear class, she has a fun and energetic approach to teaching including lots of laughter and love to which the children respond very well. Her commitment to helping the children in her class develop and learn is easy to see in the way the children blossom and bloom as the year progresses.
- Vanessa Donaldson has a bubbly but thorough approach to teaching. She is a dedicated teacher which shows in her classroom of co-operative, happy and eager children in the Squirrel class.
- The children in the Hedgehog Class are lucky to be loved and nurtured by Melanie Illingworth. With her enthusiastic and loving nature Mel motivates and teaches the children in her class in the most positive way, encouraging them every step of the way.
- Jo Krug heads up the Baby and toddler centre. Jo is a qualified Occupational therapist. Jo is passionate about babies and toddlers and has a gentle, motherly nature toward the babies in her care (and sometimes to the Mommies too!).
Our Assisting Teachers
- We have an amazing team of assistants who have been working at Wonderland for many, many years. They are well loved by our teachers, parents, children and babies.
- Each class has a dedicated full time assistant and we then have extra staff to assist with the care of the children wherever needed, as well as to do the heavy cleaning and make our tasty meals.
From left to right: Patience, Roselyn, Lysbeth, Angela
Eunice (cleaner), Cannan (gardener and handyman), Mmamoabi (our cook)
Our Assisting Staff
- In addition to our classroom assistants we have a cleaner to keep our classrooms and toys sparkling clean, a cook to make our tasty and nutritious meals and snacks and a gardener / handyman / pavement guard to keep our beautiful playgrounds well maintained.
