Early Years Teaching Award

We are very proud that Miss Jan Cotton, teaching and overseeing our Nursery and Reception units, has been awarded Key Practitioner status by Suffolk County Council.

The “Early Years Foundation Stage” was introduced by in 2008 by the government, and applies to the teaching philosophy for all children up to five years of age.

St Mary’s took this on board from the outset. It goes far beyond traditional classroom teaching: it involves all aspects of the children’s learning world, including the design of the classroom, keeping photographic and written records of each child’s learning development and relationship with friends and staff.

As an Early Years Key Practitioner, Jan, assisted by Nursery Nurse Kathy Warren, will be available to offer advice and guidance to other schools whose teachers will be able to visit to get first-hand experience of how the children learn.