Inspiring Guests Share In Student Success
28 May 2013
Please find a photograph of student Sophie Nightingale (left) holding Matilda with Jo Bromley (centre) and (right) Kath Nightingale, the owner of Nightingales nurseries.
I wanted to come along to this event to explain how Matilda has benefited from having the support of someone with this level of knowledge and competency at her nursery, as well as to thank Sophie for all of the fantastic care she gives.
”Jo Bromley, Matilda's mother
A very special three year old girl has joined the University of Derby in a celebration of the achievements of its students who are training towards professional status for working with children under five.
Matilda, who has cerebral palsy, and her mother Jo Bromley attended the celebration of Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) students, held at the University on May 23 (2013), to share their experience of how Matilda has benefited from having an early years professional working in her nursery.
Jo was invited to the event to talk about one of the EYPS students, Sophie Nightingale, who works at Nightingale Nursery in Long Eaton, where Matilda attends for 15 hours each week.
She said: "Because of her additional needs Matilda needs special care. Both the nursery and Sophie have embraced having her. They have been working incredibly hard to ensure she is fully included in the nursery's activities and have bought in a structured approach to her care, learning and development. Most importantly Matilda loves it there.
"I wanted to come along to this event to explain how Matilda has benefited from having the support of someone with this level of knowledge and competency at her nursery, as well as to thank Sophie for all of the fantastic care she gives."
Sophie, 24, from Long Eaton, said: "I was really touched that Jo and Matilda made so much effort to come along to the event. It was wonderful to hear the difference that they think Early Years Professional Status can make.
"The evening was a brilliant end to a really enjoyable time at the University. The course has given me so much more knowledge and confidence than I ever expected it would."
Debrah Turner, EYPS Programme Leader, said: "I was delighted to welcome our students and guests to this event, to acknowledge and recognise the achievements of our newest Early Years Professionals. Jo's comments underline how the passion and dedication of our Early Year Professionals makes a real difference to the lives of children and their families and they truly are the agents for change in the sector."
Also speaking at the event was Kerry Leigh from 'Laughology, the Science of Laughter'.
Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) is the gold standard for those working with children under the age of five and is nationally recognised. Students study at University for up to 12 months to attain this graduate-level status.
For more information about the course, the title of which will change to Early Years Teacher Status from September 2013, visit www.derby.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/early-years-teacher
The National College for Teaching and Leadership states: 'The introduction of Early Years Teachers will build on the EYPS programme to raise the status of the early years workforce. The change will give one title of 'teacher' across the early years and schools'.
