After setting up Kaleidoscope's first nursery in York in 1991, former teacher Jane Middlebrook recognised that the key to good quality lay in staff training and investing in people.
Six years ago, she saw the need for senior staff to undertake early years degrees. Although not everyone could do courses simultaneously, Jane devised a degree programme to ensure all managers had the opportunity to be degree-qualified by 2014, preferably with Early Years Professional Status.
So far, five managers and seniors have BA Honours Early Years Degrees, four have Foundation Degrees - two of which are about to complete BA Honours - and three other senior staff have just started Foundation Degrees. Four staff are EYPs and two are currently in the programme.
She developed a system of monthly supervisions to support staff on the degree programme and which feeds into the existing annual appraisals scheme.
Achieving a Masters in Leadership and Management in Education enabled Jane to cascade leadership learning to the management team, and this changed the whole culture of the company. She has instigated a shift from a focus on 'caring' for children to 'nurturing' children, ensuring the pedagogy of learning through play is evident and key to quality practice in all settings.
Jane has developed the self-reflection skills of the whole team, driving quality from the bottom up. She is passionate about the quality of service and ensures that her practitioners are highly trained in child development and skilled in working with parents to support children to develop as happy and confident individuals with an enthusiasm for learning.
Finalists
Helen Black, Southend Adult Community College
Anita Epple, Touch-Learn International
Criterion
Open to anyone responsible for early years and childcare training in colleges, training companies or in-house nursery groups.
