Educator of the Year 2017 Awarded

Educator of the Year 2017 Awarded

Monika Gamble wins Educator/Nanny of the Year Award 2017

Monika Gamble from Wild Things Ltd. Homebased ECE Service Dunedin, is delighted to be named the NZ Homebased ECE Association Educator of the Year 2017 at the New Zealand Homebased Association Conference Award Ceremony on Saturday 23rd September 2017. Ariana Moss from Barnardos KidsStart Homebased ECE Service Invercargill was named as runner up.

The awards, organised by the New Zealand Homebased Early Childhood Education Association, celebrate the quality teaching educators and nannies provide in homes and communities throughout New Zealand. The 2017 judging panel consisted of Sonja Rosewarne (Open Polytechnic), Justine Mason (CORE Education) and Judy Layland (Otago University).

“Monika demonstrates the high calibre and dedication of the educators who provide homebased childcare in New Zealand,” says Susan Phua, President of the Association.

Rothbury Insurance Broker is proud to sponsor the Educator or Nanny of the Year Award for 2107. This is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the excellence that educators bring to their role and the important contribution that educators and nannies make towards home based education.

Susan Phua says “we can see the benefits for children of receiving childcare and education in natural home based settings and smaller groups. We believe homebased ECE targets a specific need in the sector that is vital to establishing close relationships and meeting the needs of the individual child so well. The work the educators and nannies put in is crucial to the children, and we feel that this Award encourages and acknowledges excellence in home based early childhood education.

The awards - part of the Homebased Childcare Association’s Annual Conference - were held at the Brentwood Hotel in Wellington on Saturday last. Monika was presented with a perpetual trophy in recognition of her outstanding work with young children, and both recipients were also awarded a cash prize.

Debbie Mair, Visiting Teacher from Wild Things Ltd says: “Monika is appreciated by the parents who have children in her care, as someone who knows their children well. The parents readily get to see the quality education programme in action. Monika is well respected by her colleagues as someone who is reflective in her practice and in tune with the children, and incorporating best practice to foster children’s learning’.

Of the runner up Ariana Moss, the judges said, “Ariana’s nomination foregrounded her commitment to families and children attending her setting, in particular to their cultural diversity, and her commitment to bicultural curriculum. Families put a high value on this.”

The award was introduced five years ago, as the Association felt it was time that the people who use and value homebased childcare and education had a voice and a means to recognise and celebrate the educators and nannies who do such great work with their children.

ENDS

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