Charlotte Barry - Early Years Teacher at N Family Club Angel Nursery and a winner of the National Early Years Teacher of the Year Awards 2023 in the Trainee category

Charlotte’s journey to becoming an award-winning Early Years Teacher is a testament to her passion, creativity, and dedication. While training to achieve her Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) through the Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) programme delivered by Best Practice Network, Charlotte was named National Trainee Early Years Teacher of the Year—a recognition of her exceptional contributions to early education.

A Background in Creativity and Innovation
Joining N Family Club Angel in June 2022, Charlotte brought with her a unique background in art and design, specialising in childhood interactive art. Her innovative approach has enriched the learning environment at N Family Club, particularly through her work in the Atelier. Using her creative expertise, she has encouraged children to develop imaginative and expressive skills, supporting their development within the Expressive Arts and Design area of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

One of her notable projects includes working with Great Ormond Street Hospital to teach children the importance of proper handwashing through creative, interactive techniques. This initiative highlights Charlotte’s ability to combine artistry with practical life skills, engaging children in meaningful and memorable ways.

Incorporating Bruner’s Spiral Curriculum
Charlotte’s work aligns seamlessly with N Family Club’s bespoke curriculum, which emphasises self-expression and inventive ideas. Inspired by Bruner’s theory of a spiral curriculum, she ensures that children revisit and build upon key concepts, fostering deeper understanding and mastery over time. Her thoughtful and innovative approach inspires curiosity and creativity, leaving a lasting impact on the children in her care.

Exemplifying N Family Club Values
Charlotte consistently embodies N Family Club’s core values of playing as a team, going beyond, and being outstandingly outstanding. Her dedication to her EYITT training is particularly commendable, balancing the demands of a rigorous training programme alongside her role in a busy nursery setting. Her commitment to professional growth and excellence ensures she delivers the highest standard of care and education to the children she works with.

Recognition and Impact
Charlotte’s recognition as National Trainee Early Years Teacher of the Year  reflects her outstanding achievements and her ability to go above and beyond in her role. It is a well-deserved honour that celebrates her innovative teaching, dedication to her training, and unwavering commitment to nurturing young learners.

A Bright Future Ahead
As she continues her journey as an Early Years Teacher, Charlotte’s work serves as an inspiring example of the transformative impact that passion and creativity can have on early years education. Her story demonstrates how the combination of professional training, personal dedication, and a supportive workplace like N Family Club Angel can enable educators to achieve excellence in their field.

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“Charlotte demonstrates our values of playing as a team, going beyond and being outstandingly outstanding. She has been very dedicated to her EYITT training and has worked hard to complete the work alongside working in a very busy nursery. Charlotte is full of passion for early years. Her creativity is astounding and she puts her all into the learning experiences with the children. We are so proud of her for winning this award and we are glad that all her hard work and dedication has been recognised.”

- Mrs Chelsea Biddle, manager at N Family Club Angel Nursery - Islington