“I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to become a mentor for the CREC SCITT Programme. Having trained as a teacher myself with CREC, I understand first-hand the amazing support and passion for Early Years that can be gained through this course. I feel fortunate that I have been able to share my passion for teaching with my student teacher, helping her become a confident and prepared practitioner. Observing her grow in confidence and ability to reflect on her own practice has been very rewarding. Becoming a mentor has meant that the learning has become embedded into my own practice and I feel that I am a much-improved teacher as a result of this.”

***

Since completing the SCITT Postgraduate Degree with CREC in 2019/2020 Stephanie has worked as an early years teacher within the Birmingham Federation of Maintained Nursery Schools.

She began her career as an NQT at Gracelands Nursery School, before securing a position at Highfield Nursery School and then providing School support to Newtown Nursery School.

More recently, Stephanie has gained an Interim Deputy Head position at St Thomas Centre Nursery School and is completing a NPQL in Leadership.

She’s currently one of the Mentors for Teaching students at CREC and, through the Birmingham Early Years Network, she is sharing good practice with other professionals.

“CREC SCITT course really gives you a flavour of what life as a teacher is really like. From vast experience you gain in the classroom within your EY stage and KS1, to all the academic work that you will do.

All the training experience I received, I believe it set me up for my role. It gave me confidence to run my own room and lead a team.

Training at CREC has given me lifelong skills and a sense of belonging.”

Completing my teaching experience at CREC allowed me to understand my own pedagogy and allow me to ensure I do not lose the identity of those values and ideas.”

***

After completing her teacher training, Sam accepted a position at St Thomas Centre Nursery School. She completed her NQT year during the COVID-19 pandemic. He role then changed dramatically when she stepped into the role of Deputy Head.

She is currently working as a nursery teacher at Lillian de Lissa Nursery School, one of our placement schools, where she also provides mentoring support to one of CREC’s current teacher trainees.

She began the role of SENCO in 2023 and I is currently completing NASENCO award.

Since joining Lilian de Lissa, she has worked extensively using Reggio Emilia approach, while also implementing Froebel principles and practice, ensuring play and creativity is at the forefront of every child’s adventure at nursery.

“The tutors at CREC are supportive, knowledgeable, and inspiring. They encourage you to challenge your thinking and reflect on your own practice throughout the course. I valued the mixture of placement and days at CREC throughout the week. The structure of the course allows you plentiful opportunities to reflect on your teaching practice and re-connect with tutors and other student teachers, within a small and understanding learning community, regularly. Training with CREC has enabled me to become a confident, reflective, and passionate Early Years Teacher and prepared me for a career in education. I will forever by grateful for the encouragement and ongoing support I have received from CREC.”

***

After completing her teacher training, Clair accepted a position at Allens Croft Nursery School, Birmingham. She went on to carry on her postgraduate studies at CREC and was awarded Masters in Education in 2020.

Clair continues to develop her practice and research. She has recently presented at BECERA Conference where she shared the findings of her MA research project into children's perspectives of starting school and the implications for practice. Her research has helped explore the challenges and develop transition to school pedagogy at Redcliffe Nursery School in Bristol, where she currently works as a nursery teacher.