Janet Brackenbury

Teaching early literacy and language skills through story, rhyme, song and puppet shows, which I love, has enabled me to bring the use and variety of language to the children which they have expressed through their play and activity. Indoors I provide an uncluttered room, with space for children to express themselves, with easy access to open-ended play equipment. Such organisation allows children to independently experiment, problem solve, be creative, make decisions and learn about being empathetic human beings who can care for themselves, others and the environment. Outside is another daily classroom where I have given the children the opportunity to explore the world around them, interact with nature, and with their peers, and gain physical strength and well being, improving fine and gross motor skills. Painting and drawing allow children to express, experience and explore their creativity through colour and form to support early writing skills and crossing the curriculum with mathematical and scientific concepts. I have been teaching painting with the use of watercolour for many years, observing how children grow as they experience the way the paint moves on the paper, the lightness of touch, the control in keeping colours separate, the awe as the colours gently meld into one another. Drawing brings more form, with straight and curved lines, mark-making in preparation for forming letters, writing and reading.

Through good communication I have successfully worked with, written and reviewed policies and risk assessments. Health and Safety is paramount within an Early Childhood setting, and I have been the Lead and Deputy Lead for Child Protection over the past 12 years. As a teacher and Teaching Team member, I have proved my versatility and colleagueship. I have worked independently as well as being part of a team within the Kindergarten, and a larger team within the Early Childhood Department working to support the curriculum, pupil development and co-ordinated outcomes. Learning together through peer on peer reviews and looking at the professional development needs of individuals and the department as a whole through team plans. Further I have been part of the senior team and worked with the whole school community to promote the vision of the school. During my mainstream teaching times I have been able to make decisions on how to make the most of a classroom budget, taking care to prioritise the essential materials required but taking care that they are of good quality and suitable for the task. I try to reuse, recycle and reduce waste to be economical with resources. As a Kindergarten Teacher I have carried out many parent interviews, home visits and meetings to communicate the philosophy behind our work and to gain good home school relationships.

I am a dedicated teacher/learner who enjoys the variety of life that is the role of the Kindergarten Teacher. I have enjoyed being part of kindergarten organising festivals, and ringtimes and learning from the daily experience of the children. I believe that I would be an asset to any school.