EARLY YEARS LEADERS
Welcome!
Centrally-based and system-based Early Years Leaders work collaboratively to shape the strategic direction of the Early Years Service and to plan, implement and quality-assure improvement across the sector.
Nursery Headteachers and Children's Centres Leaders
Early Years Leaders in Schools
SLEs team
Local Authority Team
Nicola Theobald
Early Years Improvement Officer
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More to follow…
Kate Hubble
Senior Foundation Years Consultant
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Kate is a Senior Foundation Stage Consultant within the Local Authority Early Years Quality Improvement team. She works collaboratively with Early Years System Leader teams and LA colleagues to support quality improvement across the city through partnership working with Schools, PVI settings and Childminders. Kate taught in both mainstream and special school settings for 15 years before working for 9 years as a specialist teacher within the Local Authority Early Years Inclusion Team. In 2012, Kate became the Lead Teacher at Filton Avenue Nursery School and Children’s Centre where she worked closely with the 2-year-old team as well as with local Early Years settings. Kate has worked collaboratively with Lead Teachers and Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs), to plan and facilitate CPD opportunities for all Early Years settings. Kate is a designated SLE with a SEND specialism and led the working groups that wrote both the Differentiated Early Years Outcomes (DEYO) and The Bristol Characteristics of Effective Learning materials. She is a regional Makaton tutor, an Early Years Moderator and a qualified trainer for the Level 3 Early Years SENCo Award.
Nicky Bale
Foundation Years Bristol Standard Consultant
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I am one of the Foundation Years consultants with responsibility for The Bristol Standard Quality Improvement Framework and Outdoor Play and Learning. My teaching experience has been in mainstream nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1. I have also worked as a lead teacher in a children’s centre as part of my consultant role. I lead the Bristol Standard here in Bristol and co-ordinate the involvement of the other local authorities that form the Bristol Standard Family. I used this Quality Improvement framework when I was teaching and believe it is transformational in bringing teams together as reflective communities and also improving quality.
My main passion is outdoor learning for young children and I enjoy supporting settings as they develop their outdoor spaces. I completed a Masters degree a while ago which focused on adults attitudes to outdoor play and learning.
I am a Learning Ambassador for Bristol and firmly believe that it is never too late to learn something new. I think I have proved this myself by taking lessons and learning to swim in recent years!
Beth Osborne
Foundation Years Consultant
Birth to Three
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I am the Foundation Years Consultant for birth to three in Bristol. My Teaching experience has been in independent , primary, nursery schools and children centres. I have also been a lead teacher, Foundation Stage Leader, Head of Nursery and deputy head teacher. My passion is from birth to three and I have recently achieved a PGCE in this area.
I am a Foundation Stage Profile Moderator and work as part of the Bristol Standard team as part of the development group, mentor and validator.
Kate Irvine
Interim Foundation Years Consultant
Assessment and Transition
Ali Carrington
Interim Foundation Years Consultant
Helen Brandford
Training and Development Officer
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Helen has worked for the Early Years Service in Bristol for over 16 years mainly supporting initiatives related to workforce development and quality improvement, including coordinating applications for the ‘Quality Supplement’.
Helen has been part of the Bristol Standard Quality Improvement Team for over 3 years and is responsible for the coordination of efficient and effective processes and systems. This includes maintaining a database of Bristol Standard submissions and outcomes; the development of Alfresco for web based submissions and document storage; supporting the team of external Bristol Standard mentors regarding payment, setting updates and alfresco support.
Helen also coordinates professional development opportunities for practitioners in the foundation years in schools and early years settings offered on behalf of the early years improvement team.
Lead Teachers
Lead teachers are qualified, experienced early years teachers who are an integral part of Bristol’s early years system leadership approach, leading improvement in the quality of Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision and practice in their own children’s centres and in early years settings in their reach areas. Lead teachers contribute to improving outcomes for children and families and to reducing inequalities.
They work with parents/carers, professionals and agencies to reduce disadvantage and narrow the gap in children’s achievement.
Lead teachers work in partnership with Bristol’s Foundation Years Consultant and Childminding teams to secure consistent support and guidance across the city. Their support is informed by an analysis of Bristol’s data and strategic priorities. Together with Bristol’s Early Years Inclusion team, they contribute to an inclusive service ensuring equity for all children and families.
They contribute to the professional development of early years practitioners in private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings, nursery classes, reception classes, nursery schools, and childminders through advice, coaching and mentoring and provision for continuing professional development (CPD) in locality networks to meet the needs of practitioners.
East/Central Bristol
Rachel Pirie
Joanne Franklin
Jane Francis
Zoe Breen
North Bristol
Terri Mitchell
Rosie McCallum-Faraday
Jane Smith
Amy Adams
South Bristol
Pippa Hawkins
Sarah Wardle
Hugo Turvey