We are proud to be working with a cohort of passionate teaching professionals who continuously strive toward the overall development of their pupils.
A shining example of this dedication and passion was shown by Amy, one of our part time Early Years teachers based at South Wilford C of E Primary School in Nottingham.She was recognised for her unwavering dedication toward her pupils and commitment to Reading For Pleasure. She was awarded the coveted “Experienced Teacher Award,” as part of the Farshore Reading for Pleasure awards.
This prestigious annual award is delivered in partnership with The Open University and The UK Literacy Association (UKLA). They aim to recognise exceptional teaching practice that inspires more children to read.
The Open University and UKLA recognised her hard work and named Amy a “terrific talent” in inspiring more children to read, as well as offering practical solutions so other teachers can implement these strategies
What motivated Amy to increase reading among her students?
As an Early Years practitioner, Amy understood the importance of increasing reading enjoyment in children. However, she noticed a lack of representation for the age group she teaches. This inspired her to implement a strategy known as “Reading Rivers” – which she adapted for the age of the children in her class.
A Reading River is a method for an individual to reflect on their books, stories, and reading habits over time. This creates a “river” effect of different literature, texts, websites, and authors that they have engaged with over time
It also provides essential insight into a pupil’s reading preferences at home, and what they have already engaged with before they enter a classroom. Amy helped her Early Years class to engage with this activity, as well as holding a whole school Reading Rivers Day, so that teachers could adapt this strategy to their specific class and age group.
Her years of experience as a teacher helped Amy to identify reading as a key factor in pupils’ development. She developed a robust and structured programme to help students progress their reading skills. This initiative was a huge success as she was applauded by the parents – they noticed a sudden interest among students who were absorbed in reading.
Amy’s achievement exemplifies why we continuously work hard to close attainment gaps, as reading enjoyment can create positive outcomes for many pupils. Studies have shown writing improved writing ability, better text comprehension and grammar, as well as an increased breadth of vocabulary. This is one of the many great endeavours that Amy and her teaching colleagues adopt to build better skills for the students.
Amy Greatrex, Early Years Teacher said:
“Thank you to Farshore, the UKLA and the Open University for the honour of receiving the Experienced Teacher Award 2022. South Wilford and Transform Trust gave me the gift of leading this and I am so grateful to be a part of this important work. Reading teachers changed my life and continue to do so.”
Natalie Aldridge, headteacher of South Wilford C of E Primary School added:
“Amy epitomizes the philosophy of our school which is about being at our best for our children. She consistently goes above and beyond to make sure children develop a love of reading. She coordinated a whole school “Book-nic” a picnic themed reading festival and reading for pleasure is weaved throughout our entire school thanks to her passion and dedication. We are all so proud of her.”
The Trust encourages all staff teams to pursue their own learning journeys and is unbelievably proud of those that strive for excellence. As well as Amy receiving external accolades, she is now our Reading For Pleasure Lead across Transform Trust. This has enabled Amy to share best practice and give fellow teachers the necessary tools to make this a priority in their own schools.