Ready Generations Nursery in Belong Wins Prestigious National Teaching Award

Ready Generations Nursery in Belong Wins Prestigious National Teaching Award

The team behind the Ready Generations Nursery at Belong Chester, has been named a silver award winner in the Early Years Team of the Year category in the prestigious Pearson National Teaching Awards for their impact on children’s early education and development, people living at the village and the wider community.

The award is endorsement of the unique intergenerational education and care opportunity afforded to children of the nursery, which was one of the first in the UK to be integrated within a care village. With children and residents living and learning alongside one another, the setting effectively harnesses the input of up to 100 extra educators and in particular those with interest and time to support the children’s learning. As a result, children are highly curious learners demonstrating increased empathy, and advanced communication skills, while older people are gaining a renewed sense of purpose, and enhanced mental and physical well-being from regularly taking part in shared experiences such as reading, singing, art, music and walks.

The Ready Generations Nursery team was among 99 outstanding teachers, lecturers, leaders, support staff, and education settings honoured as Silver Winners in this year’s awards, in recognition of their dedication and impact.

They will now be in with the chance of winning the prestigious Gold Award, which will be announced at an awards ceremony in London and on BBC One’s The One Show later this year.

The awards celebrate some of the very best educators and support staff across the UK, with winners announced nationally on National Thank a Teacher Day.

National Thank a Teacher Day and the Pearson National Teaching Awards are run by The Teaching Awards Trust, an educational charity which aims to celebrate the transformative impact of education across the UK and shine a spotlight on the pivotal roles teachers, support staff, colleges, schools and early years educators play in inspiring young people, every single day.

Sir Michael Morpurgo, author, former Children’s Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: “The dedication and impact of those involved in educating young people is truly remarkable. Their influence extends well beyond the classroom. Long before children find their voice, their confidence, or their calling, there is usually a teacher who helped them get there, working patiently and persistently, and often without any recognition at all. That is what makes National Thank a Teacher Day so important. It is a rare and well-deserved moment to celebrate our teachers and say we are grateful.

Nursery manager Ruth Sandbach added: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised for our team’s dedication to early years care and education in a truly inclusive intergenerational environment. By working so closely with the Belong village team, we have been able to break down age barriers and enrich the lives of our children, families and grand-friends. Seeing the joy that shared opportunities bring to everyone involved perfectly encapsulates why we do what we do, and we are honoured that this impact has been recognised by the Pearson National Teaching Awards."