From newly-qualified staff right up to post-graduates and Early Years Professionals, Wendy has the ability to inspire and motivate.
She is a warm and enthusiastic trainer who believes that when practitioners learn, then the children they care for learn too. It was this passion that led Wendy to launch her training company, Networks for Knowledge, with a business partner in 2008. She firmly believes in networked learning, hence the name of her company, and has set up a trainer network that meets regularly to share ideas and materials.The company has developed a suite of courses that are in demand, to the extent that it now employs a team of associate trainers.
Her achievements include organising a conference on the outdoors for 150 practitioners on behalf of Stoke City Council, devising and implementing a 'Developing Early Years Professionals' course for Shropshire and Staffordshire County Councils and leading the Graduate Practitioner Network in Stoke-on-Trent.
One of Wendy's strongest points is being able to put people at their ease and share information. As a simple but effective way of engaging participants, she uses 'fiddles, nibbles and scribbles' - nuts and sweets in bowls, pens, post-it notes and paper, and a heap of toys to play with throughout the day. One person noted, 'I have enjoyed this training day more than any I have been on because of your fiddles. I'm a kinaesthetic learner and it really helped to keep me focused.'
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Sue Usher, Crechendo Training, London
Sue challenges current practice and motivates learners to return to their settings with practical, achievable new activities. She has a particular passion for outdoor play and has developed a range of outdoor and environmental play training programmes within the EYFS requirements - including the catchily titled 'Bees, trees and dirty knees' - which have proved very popular.
FINALIST
Mary Davies, Casterbridge Care and Education, London
Criterion
Open to anyone responsible for early years and childcare training in colleges, training companies or in-house for nursery groups.
