The Team Behind On the Button:
Catherine - Early Years Consultant
Catherine lives in Suffolk with her dog, cat, and three tortoises. This unusual mix shows her eccentric side and how she has a patient and calm nature, both at home and at work. She values calm, clarity, and thoughtful routines in how she leads and lives each day.
After many years working with early years leaders, Catherine understands the real challenges of the job, such as handling responsibility, making decisions, and balancing rules with care. She is known for being direct, thoughtful, and determined. She believes good systems should help people, not make things harder.
Catherine always puts the child at the centre of her work. She cares deeply about safeguarding, accountability, and protecting both children and the staff who look after them. She believes clear systems help reduce anxiety, so leaders can focus more on their teams and the children.
Outside of work, Catherine relaxes in her hot tub, enjoys gardening, and likes searching for antiques or bargains in charity shops. She loves eating out, prefers a curry that isn’t too spicy, and thinks a proper meal is a roast dinner with pork or lamb and all the right trimmings. She is a bit of a stickler, showing she values taking time, paying attention, and enjoying things done well.
Frustrated with current safeguarding systems, Catherine created On the Button to better fit real early years practice. With over 50 years of experience in various settings, including her own, she understands and respects the challenges of early years work and the people who do it.
Sarah - Early Years Educator
Sarah lives in Essex with her husband and young family, and much of her time outside work is spent with her two children. They’re often out and about together, with Colchester Zoo a firm family favourite. Saturdays usually mean football, and family life has also given Sarah a soft spot for Disney characters, with Minnie Mouse firmly at the top of the list.
Sarah has worked alongside Catherine for over 30 years, starting out as an NVQ trainee and progressing to run one of Catherine’s nurseries. Over time, she became known as a steady, committed and highly capable leader, with a deep understanding of what quality looks like in practice. Her leadership was recognised through an Outstanding Ofsted inspection, reflecting both her consistency and her attention to detail.
Sarah has seen early years from every angle. She knows what it takes to support staff, meet expectations and keep children at the centre of daily practice. Her experience is hands-on and hard-earned, and it shows in the calm, practical way she approaches her work.
At On the Button, Sarah’s contribution is rooted in that experience. She brings continuity, insight and a strong sense of what works in real settings, helping ensure that systems and processes reflect the realities of early years life rather than abstract ideals.
Sarah’s strength lies in her consistency, loyalty and deep understanding of the sector. She brings warmth, experience and quiet confidence to the team, shaped by decades of commitment to children, families and early years practice.
Iona - Business Development Manager
Iona lives by the coast in Essex with her partner, their young son, and a three-legged cat who very much runs the household. Being near the sea matters to her, and she values the sense of space and perspective that coastal living brings to busy family and working life.
Iona is the person who usually knows the answer when something technical needs figuring out. If she doesn’t, she’ll find it. She looks after the behind-the-scenes systems at On the Button, including the CRM, websites, newsletters and email campaigns, making sure everything works as it should and reaches the right people in the right way. She has a practical, methodical approach and a knack for joining things up, particularly where technology and communication meet.
Her background reflects a strong interest in language, learning and how ideas are shared. Reading and writing are long-standing passions, and she also enjoys painting in watercolour, finding it a welcome counterbalance to screen-based work. She brings that same creativity and attention to detail to how information is shaped and shared across the organisation.
Outside of work, Iona enjoys spending time with family and friends and making the most of life by the coast. And when it comes to Christmas, there’s no competition; Iona’s tree will always be the tallest and most impressive of the team.
Iona brings curiosity, capability and quiet confidence to On the Button, keeping the systems running smoothly so others can focus on supporting early years practice.
Isla - Communications Manager
Isla works quietly behind the scenes at On the Button. She’s the one who keeps an eye on how things are landing, and whether what we’re saying actually makes sense to people working in early years. She lives in Kent, near the sea, and values space, fresh air and time to think, which probably explains the calm, steady way she goes about her work.
Isla has spent over ten years in the early years. She started as a nursery apprentice and worked her way up, running a pre-school room while also taking on the job of promoting the setting. Along the way, she became interested in how language, tone and timing can make a real difference. She still steps in as a manager for pre-schools when they need support, which keeps her firmly connected to the everyday realities of the job.
At On the Button, Isla helps keep the team rooted in what’s actually happening in settings. She’s good at spotting when something feels too heavy, too complicated or just not quite right, and finding a clearer way through it. This is particularly true in areas like safeguarding and wellbeing. Her approach comes from experience, and from a genuine respect for the people doing the work.
Outside of work, Isla is usually thinking about her next trip. She loves camping in her VW camper van, walking coastal paths and hilltops, and planning future adventures, preferably somewhere warm, as snow really isn’t her thing. She enjoys reading biographies and is especially drawn to the stories of people who have travelled and lived life a little differently. A cruise is on her “maybe one day” list, although she’s still not sure how she feels about being confined with quite so many people.
Isla brings a steady, thoughtful presence to the team. She doesn’t seek attention, but she notices the details others might miss, and that quietly makes a difference.
Catherine lives in Suffolk with her dog, cat, and three tortoises. This unusual mix shows her eccentric side and how she has a patient and calm nature, both at home and at work. She values calm, clarity, and thoughtful routines in how she leads and lives each day.
After many years working with early years leaders, Catherine understands the real challenges of the job, such as handling responsibility, making decisions, and balancing rules with care. She is known for being direct, thoughtful, and determined. She believes good systems should help people, not make things harder.
Catherine always puts the child at the centre of her work. She cares deeply about safeguarding, accountability, and protecting both children and the staff who look after them. She believes clear systems help reduce anxiety, so leaders can focus more on their teams and the children.
Outside of work, Catherine relaxes in her hot tub, enjoys gardening, and likes searching for antiques or bargains in charity shops. She loves eating out, prefers a curry that isn’t too spicy, and thinks a proper meal is a roast dinner with pork or lamb and all the right trimmings. She is a bit of a stickler, showing she values taking time, paying attention, and enjoying things done well.
Frustrated with current safeguarding systems, Catherine created On the Button to better fit real early years practice. With over 50 years of experience in various settings, including her own, she understands and respects the challenges of early years work and the people who do it.
Sarah lives in Essex with her husband and young family, and much of her time outside work is spent with her two children. They’re often out and about together, with Colchester Zoo a firm family favourite. Saturdays usually mean football, and family life has also given Sarah a soft spot for Disney characters, with Minnie Mouse firmly at the top of the list.
Sarah has worked alongside Catherine for over 30 years, starting out as an NVQ trainee and progressing to run one of Catherine’s nurseries. Over time, she became known as a steady, committed and highly capable leader, with a deep understanding of what quality looks like in practice. Her leadership was recognised through an Outstanding Ofsted inspection, reflecting both her consistency and her attention to detail.
Sarah has seen early years from every angle. She knows what it takes to support staff, meet expectations and keep children at the centre of daily practice. Her experience is hands-on and hard-earned, and it shows in the calm, practical way she approaches her work.
At On the Button, Sarah’s contribution is rooted in that experience. She brings continuity, insight and a strong sense of what works in real settings, helping ensure that systems and processes reflect the realities of early years life rather than abstract ideals.
Sarah’s strength lies in her consistency, loyalty and deep understanding of the sector. She brings warmth, experience and quiet confidence to the team, shaped by decades of commitment to children, families and early years practice.
Iona lives by the coast in Essex with her partner, their young son, and a three-legged cat who very much runs the household. Being near the sea matters to her, and she values the sense of space and perspective that coastal living brings to busy family and working life.
Iona is the person who usually knows the answer when something technical needs figuring out. If she doesn’t, she’ll find it. She looks after the behind-the-scenes systems at On the Button, including the CRM, websites, newsletters and email campaigns, making sure everything works as it should and reaches the right people in the right way. She has a practical, methodical approach and a knack for joining things up, particularly where technology and communication meet.
Her background reflects a strong interest in language, learning and how ideas are shared. Reading and writing are long-standing passions, and she also enjoys painting in watercolour, finding it a welcome counterbalance to screen-based work. She brings that same creativity and attention to detail to how information is shaped and shared across the organisation.
Outside of work, Iona enjoys spending time with family and friends and making the most of life by the coast. And when it comes to Christmas, there’s no competition; Iona’s tree will always be the tallest and most impressive of the team.
Iona brings curiosity, capability and quiet confidence to On the Button, keeping the systems running smoothly so others can focus on supporting early years practice.
Isla works quietly behind the scenes at On the Button. She’s the one who keeps an eye on how things are landing, and whether what we’re saying actually makes sense to people working in early years. She lives in Kent, near the sea, and values space, fresh air and time to think, which probably explains the calm, steady way she goes about her work.
Isla has spent over ten years in the early years. She started as a nursery apprentice and worked her way up, running a pre-school room while also taking on the job of promoting the setting. Along the way, she became interested in how language, tone and timing can make a real difference. She still steps in as a manager for pre-schools when they need support, which keeps her firmly connected to the everyday realities of the job.
At On the Button, Isla helps keep the team rooted in what’s actually happening in settings. She’s good at spotting when something feels too heavy, too complicated or just not quite right, and finding a clearer way through it. This is particularly true in areas like safeguarding and wellbeing. Her approach comes from experience, and from a genuine respect for the people doing the work.
Outside of work, Isla is usually thinking about her next trip. She loves camping in her VW camper van, walking coastal paths and hilltops, and planning future adventures, preferably somewhere warm, as snow really isn’t her thing. She enjoys reading biographies and is especially drawn to the stories of people who have travelled and lived life a little differently. A cruise is on her “maybe one day” list, although she’s still not sure how she feels about being confined with quite so many people.
Isla brings a steady, thoughtful presence to the team. She doesn’t seek attention, but she notices the details others might miss, and that quietly makes a difference.
Lea - Social Media Manager
Lea lives in the Philippines with her husband and daughter, where life comes with warm weather, plenty of rain, and the occasional earthquake, something that can be unsettling and, at times, quite frightening. Home life is important to Lea, and she and her family hope to build a house from scratch there in the future, a plan she’s already giving plenty of thought to.
Lea has been working remotely for the past five years and supports On the Button in lots of different ways. She works across blogs, newsletters and social media, helping to shape and share content, and also takes ownership of specific areas within the CRM system. She’s organised, reliable and quietly gets on with things, often picking up tasks that help everything else run more smoothly.
Her work is thoughtful and consistent, and she has a good sense of what needs attention and what can wait. Lea brings care and attention to detail to everything she does, making sure information is clear, accurate and ready to use. Living where she does, she’s used to adapting to whatever the day brings, and that calm, flexible mindset carries through into her work. She’s a steady and valued part of the On the Button team, always willing to help and happy to take responsibility.
Outside of work, Lea enjoys quieter time at home. She likes watching series or films, reading, and scrolling through social media, often with music playing in the background. She has a deep love for music, especially classic love songs. A fun fact about Lea is that she’s a devoted fan of Lisa from Blackpink, so much so that she named her daughter after her.
Proud of her Filipino roots, Lea is also a real food lover and is always happy to recommend local favourites, particularly adobo and sisig. From across the world, she brings warmth, commitment and a practical, can-do attitude to On the Button, staying very much part of the team despite the distance.
The Project's ITGuys
The development team behind On the Button met while studying at Nottingham Trent University. What began as a shared interest in technology grew into a friendship, and later a working partnership built on trust, problem-solving and a shared way of thinking.
Working closely with Catherine from the very beginning, they built On the Button from scratch. Rather than starting with an off-the-shelf product, they took the time to properly understand what was being asked for, analysing how early years practice works in real life and translating Catherine’s ideas into a system that genuinely reflects that. Much of what makes the software work as it does comes from their ability to listen carefully, ask the right questions, and then explore new technological ideas to solve very specific problems.
They are On the Button’s go-to IT team. They look after the technical foundations of the platform, keeping everything secure, stable and moving forward on behalf of our company. They work quietly in the background, fixing issues, improving functionality and making sure the system continues to do what it’s meant to do, without fuss.
Away from screens and systems, their shared interests include a love of dogs, music (with more than one guitar in the mix), fast cars, and getting away whenever they can. Travelling and camping feature heavily, offering a welcome contrast to problem-solving and code.
They prefer to stay behind the scenes, but their contribution is central to On the Button. The software exists because of their skill, patience and willingness to build something properly, from the ground up.
Anita - Finance Manager
Anita looks after the finances at On the Button. She keeps a close eye on things, makes sure nothing important is missed, and brings a steady hand to the business side of the work.
She understands how important it is to get the basics right. Anita works carefully with the detail, keeps systems clear, and makes sure figures make sense. Her approach is organised, calm and reliable, which is exactly what you want when it comes to finance.
If something needs checking or following up (which doesn’t happen often), Anita works with Isla or Iona to sort it out in a straightforward, respectful way. She knows when something needs attention and when it doesn’t.
Anita lives in Cornwall and enjoys the quieter pace of life there. She has a large dog who needs plenty of walking, so getting outside is part of her everyday routine. When she’s at home, she enjoys embroidery and other needlework and likes spending time on things that take patience and care. She’s happiest with something practical to focus on and a bit of calm around her.
Anita is very much a behind-the-scenes presence, but her work underpins everything else the team does. She brings consistency, trust and a quiet confidence to On the Button, making sure things are looked after properly.
Lea lives in the Philippines with her husband and daughter, where life comes with warm weather, plenty of rain, and the occasional earthquake, something that can be unsettling and, at times, quite frightening. Home life is important to Lea, and she and her family hope to build a house from scratch there in the future, a plan she’s already giving plenty of thought to.
Lea has been working remotely for the past five years and supports On the Button in lots of different ways. She works across blogs, newsletters and social media, helping to shape and share content, and also takes ownership of specific areas within the CRM system. She’s organised, reliable and quietly gets on with things, often picking up tasks that help everything else run more smoothly.
Her work is thoughtful and consistent, and she has a good sense of what needs attention and what can wait. Lea brings care and attention to detail to everything she does, making sure information is clear, accurate and ready to use. Living where she does, she’s used to adapting to whatever the day brings, and that calm, flexible mindset carries through into her work. She’s a steady and valued part of the On the Button team, always willing to help and happy to take responsibility.
Outside of work, Lea enjoys quieter time at home. She likes watching series or films, reading, and scrolling through social media, often with music playing in the background. She has a deep love for music, especially classic love songs. A fun fact about Lea is that she’s a devoted fan of Lisa from Blackpink, so much so that she named her daughter after her.
Proud of her Filipino roots, Lea is also a real food lover and is always happy to recommend local favourites, particularly adobo and sisig. From across the world, she brings warmth, commitment and a practical, can-do attitude to On the Button, staying very much part of the team despite the distance.
The development team behind On the Button met while studying at Nottingham Trent University. What began as a shared interest in technology grew into a friendship, and later a working partnership built on trust, problem-solving and a shared way of thinking.
Working closely with Catherine from the very beginning, they built On the Button from scratch. Rather than starting with an off-the-shelf product, they took the time to properly understand what was being asked for, analysing how early years practice works in real life and translating Catherine’s ideas into a system that genuinely reflects that. Much of what makes the software work as it does comes from their ability to listen carefully, ask the right questions, and then explore new technological ideas to solve very specific problems.
They are On the Button’s go-to IT team. They look after the technical foundations of the platform, keeping everything secure, stable and moving forward on behalf of our company. They work quietly in the background, fixing issues, improving functionality and making sure the system continues to do what it’s meant to do, without fuss.
Away from screens and systems, their shared interests include a love of dogs, music (with more than one guitar in the mix), fast cars, and getting away whenever they can. Travelling and camping feature heavily, offering a welcome contrast to problem-solving and code.
They prefer to stay behind the scenes, but their contribution is central to On the Button. The software exists because of their skill, patience and willingness to build something properly, from the ground up.
Anita looks after the finances at On the Button. She keeps a close eye on things, makes sure nothing important is missed, and brings a steady hand to the business side of the work.
She understands how important it is to get the basics right. Anita works carefully with the detail, keeps systems clear, and makes sure figures make sense. Her approach is organised, calm and reliable, which is exactly what you want when it comes to finance.
If something needs checking or following up (which doesn’t happen often), Anita works with Isla or Iona to sort it out in a straightforward, respectful way. She knows when something needs attention and when it doesn’t.
Anita lives in Cornwall and enjoys the quieter pace of life there. She has a large dog who needs plenty of walking, so getting outside is part of her everyday routine. When she’s at home, she enjoys embroidery and other needlework and likes spending time on things that take patience and care. She’s happiest with something practical to focus on and a bit of calm around her.
Anita is very much a behind-the-scenes presence, but her work underpins everything else the team does. She brings consistency, trust and a quiet confidence to On the Button, making sure things are looked after properly.
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