Nursery World Awards 15: Individuals - Trainer of the Year

Anne Horn has worked for Southend Adult Community College as team leader for early years for the past 10 years, and has now taken on college-wide responsibilities for providing outstanding teaching, learning and assessment.

She has taken the lead in safeguarding training, is chair of a children’s centre steering group and has been employed as an Ofsted inspector. She has worked as a tutor, mentor and assessor for childcare professionals over the East of England, supporting them in gaining EYP Status and EYT Status.

At the college’s 2014 inspection, the early years provision was found to be ‘outstanding’. Anne has worked tirelessly with the team to support tutors to become outstanding teachers by applying very high standards to all aspects of teaching, learning and assessment.

Anne always supports her team and wants them to reach their full potential. She has supported staff to gain high level qualifications by providing paid study days, mentoring staff, giving freely of her time and knowledge to help them improve their own skills. Anne is the VETPRO lead at the college and has encouraged staff to take up the opportunity for sharing practice across the European Union, with staff visiting Germany, Norway, Spain and Denmark. These visits have allowed staff to share their fantastic work and inspire the team with the great work being carried out by other organisations.
  
She recognised that the key to improving the quality of childcare was to work closely with the early years team at Southend Borough Council to ensure the training that the team delivered met the gaps identified by skills audits were being met. Programme design and content was discussed and planned together to drive up the quality of childcare in Southend.

Ten years ago, when Anne took over as team leader at the college, the childcare provision was only offered at level 2 and 3. She introduced the level 4 and then worked in partnership with a local university to agree a progression onto the second year of the foundation degree, allowing learners the chance to progress onto a full degree and EYTS. Anne introduced the level 5 childcare qualification and, again working with a local university, agreed a progression onto a full honours degree into the final year.

Highly Commended
Sarah Olley, Tutor, Montessori Centre International
Sarah Olley teaches on the Diploma Montessori Pedagogy and the Foundation Degree Montessori Early Childhood Practice and has worked for the college for 25 years. She supports both students and colleagues with infectious energy and enthusiasm. She has taken special responsibility for students with additional learning needs and guides students on their teaching practice placements. Her team describer her as ‘our own personal treasure and touchstone’.

Finalists
Suzanne Nelson, Bright Horizons
Gill Springer, Professional Training Solutions & London Early Years Foundation
Helen Vickery, Professional Training Solutions

Criterion
Open to anyone responsible for training in colleges, training companies or in-house for nursery groups

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