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Education lead Matt Langtontruly understands both theory and practice and is regarded as a shining example to others, especially those new to the sector. He is incredibly passionate and curious about the science behind early childhood development – and studies it avidly outside of work – but is also dedicated to being a hands-on practitioner.
Matt is currently studying towards a degree in early years while working at the nursery. He took a ‘leap of faith’ when joining Outdoor Owls as the company’s first practitioner when it opened with two children in 2020 and has proved to be an excellent hire! He is a firm believer in a child-led, play-based approach, and during his time at Outdoor Owls has broadened his practice to outdoor education, including being close to finishing a Forest School Leadership Level 3 qualification.
He delights in seeing how children thrive in nature and now plays a big part in training and developing practitioners who are new to the early years field and also those who have worked indoors for many years in the hope that they will also embrace the EYFS outdoors.
Matt uses the nursery team’s online communication tool to share links to articles and blogs that he finds useful in order to further improve theoretical understanding and practical knowledge. In team inset days, he has also delivered learning presentations to colleagues to help build their confidence. Matt has also inspired other males to join the setting.
He has experience working with all the nursery’s age groups, from 20 months to five years old, and is known to be happy to perform any task required of him in whatever the weather. Even in Matt’s free time, he is thinking about how he can make a difference to further extend children’s knowledge and experiences. For example, by personally crafting wooden block pieces for the children to use in their water play.
Matt is relentlessly dedicated to developing PSED skills – it takes a lot of time, but he has shown incredible results not only with his key children but in the whole setting. He is a true believer that children must first have good self-regulation and emotional skills if they are to succeed in their next step after nursery.
He has supported children with unique needs and special educational needs. He applies incredible care, empathy and self-regulation to patiently support children through emotional situations, and works with managers to support parents of these children to improve their parenting skills to help their child and consequently improve their family life.
An emphasis on wellbeing has been embedded by Matt by way of training the entire team around the theory and practice of using the Leuven Scale. He supports the team to assess children’s wellbeing levels and ensures that this is provided to parents in end-of-term assessments, including areas where they can provide support at home to their children.
Matt is much loved and respected by his peers, managers, children and their families.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Sophie O’Sullivan, Springfield Bees Pre-School – Essex
Sophie O’Sullivan, a Level 3 Early Years Educator, is committed to her career and lives and breathes childcare.
She is passionate about delivering high standards of care and education and does this by engaging with families. For instance, Sophie has implemented the Making It REAL (Raising Achievement in Early Literacy) programme that helps practitioners to build parents’ knowledge and confidence so that they can help their children with reading and writing and create a positive early home learning environment. Sophie has extended this by introducing ‘borrow bags’ for children to explore at home with their parents. A judge commented that Sophie was ‘an advocate for supporting vocabulary-building in parents to support [children] at home’. Judges also said Sophie offers great support for children with SEND.
Along with being professional, Sophie is a good friend to her colleagues. She boosts morale by arranging social events and has supported colleagues, not out of obligation but because she truly cares.
