I am the regional manager for the Yorkshire and Humberside region. I have been working with the Best Practice Network Early Years team since 2008. My roles include team leadership, group tutoring, personal tutoring and assessment. I really enjoy supporting trainees in a wide variety of settings and roles. I lead on the eportfolio and elearning aspects of the programme.

I am trained early years inspector as are other member of our team. I am inspecting provision under the current framework. An interesting aspect of the inspection for me is the leadership and management conversations, observations of practice and assessment around the quality of teaching and the impact on learning and development.

It is our view at Best Practice Network that colleagues within the network might be interested in attending briefing sessions to assist with preparation for inspection. This would include support in:

• preparing self-evaluation
• reflections on the quality of the teaching and learning taking place for all children
• observations of practice completed by leaders and managers
• guidance on the role of the leader during inspection.

I've set out what we can offer below.

Inspection preparation

Sessions are 3 hours long with opportunities for sharing information and discussions with colleagues. Follow up sessions are also available where you will have the opportunity to discuss the observations of teaching and learning that you have completed in your setting. In addition, our team of consultants can offer setting visits, subject to an agreed fee, to work alongside all staff in the setting.

If you would be interested in attending events such as these, I would really like to hear from you. If your setting could host a session we would be very interested to hear about your space and availability. Two free places would be offered to settings willing to host a session. Please email me for more information.

On a non-work related note - In August I made up part of the intrepid team of ten BPN climbers that took on the task of scaling the three tallest peaks in the United Kingdom (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) in 24 hours. This epic task was completed in the early hours of morning on a wet and windy Snowdon. The shattered but happy team have proudly raised over £2,000 for PEAs, who build sustainable schools in Africa.

Here I am in purple (third from left).