Over the past two years, Sue Gascoyne, managing director of Play to Z,has emerged as a key player in the early years training sector.
During this time, Play to Z has held cluster conferences andteam-building events, and put on courses and workshops at nurseries,children's centres and for advisory teams. It has even held trainingsessions in Dubai.
Sue also works with parents, carers and their children in areas ofdeprivation. Here her aim is to inspire and empower them to use freelyavailable resources and to understand their children's play.
Practitioners are mentored with her Playscope Activity Cards, which havefun ideas and curriculum links. These can be carried around bypractitioners then used for spontaneous moments. More experiencedpractitioners are also benefiting from the creativity that the cardsspark.
In May, Sue launched a national Sensory Play research project that hasattracted funding from the East of England Development Agency.
In partnership with Anglia Ruskin University, she is carrying out aseries of observations on two- to five-year-olds, examining how theyrespond to sensory resources such as treasure baskets.
Sue has a hands-on and accessible approach to training, making it idealfor increasing understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage andgood practice generally.
Effective training is a two-way process, and Katrin Stroh, speech andlanguage therapist and author, who nominated Sue, says, 'When traineesparticipate fully or even lead a training experience, their learning ismuch deeper, more meaningful and hugely empowering. Sue's approachexemplifies this in every aspect of her work, whether it is runningtrain- ing sessions and workshops, in the development and content of herchild-led Activity Cards or in her cutting-edge research into children'ssensory experiences and needs.'
The impact of Sue's training is far-reaching, and practitioners, parentsand carers are left 'enthused, inspired and empowered by the knowledgethat valuable play experiences do not have to cost the earth'.
Karin adds, 'Sue's great passion and enthusiasm helps makes adifference.'
HIGHLY COMMENDED
- Helen Field, Bedford Training and Assessment Centre, Bedford
As a lead internal verifier and trainer, Helen Field ensures thatBedford Training and Assessment Centre trains the early years workforcefor Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council anddelivers NVQs from levels 2-4 in early years and playwork. She writesall the underpinning workshops to support these. Her nominator describesher as 'passionate, enthusiastic and inspiring'.
- Dianne Larrington, Crechendo Training, London
Dianne Larrington, a playwork trainer with Crechendo Training, hasdelivered a range of playwork training from the CACHE Level 2Certificate in Playwork to a host of INSET days, including leadershipand management and EYFS workshops. Managing director Philip Davies callsher 'exciting and innovative in her delivery' and says she has a 'knackfor relating her sessions to students' own workplaces.'
FINALIST
- Sally Eaton, The Childcare Company
CRITERION
Open to anyone responsible for early years and childcare training incolleges, training companies or in-house for nursery groups.
