Meet the Trainers
Chris Blanshard
Chris Blanshard trained as a Nursery Nurse at the age of 16 and briefly worked in nursery settings in the Moss-Side area of Manchester.
In 1975 she qualified as a primary school teacher in South Yorkshire. This was followed by many years teaching across the primary age ranges within schools in the North and South of England.
She has been involved in establishing and teaching on Early Years foundation, undergraduate and post graduate degree levels at University College Chichester.
She lived for a brief period in Spain where she taught in an international school before returning to England to work as the Education lead at a Sure Start children’s centre in Littlehampton, West Sussex.
Further work as an Early Years Advisory Teacher for both West Sussex and Hampshire Education authorities has reinforced her belief that to truly provide the very best start for a child’s route to learning we have to have a deep understanding of early attachment, child development, and the significance of the adult role in nurturing, developing and caring for a child’s individual needs and self-worth.
Chris is a foster carer and in July 2008 became a grandmother for the first time. She is enjoying her new role immensely! Her granddaughter has provided many opportunities to inform her research into early attachment and the significance of primary and secondary attachment figures. She would endorse Marion Dowling’s belief that ‘'The value that we place on ourselves is also affected by how secure we feel.’
Lizzie Chittleboro
Lizzie Chittleboro is an Early Years specialist who has worked as a Teacher, Head of Nursery and as an Early Years Advisory Teacher.
Her passion for Early Years Education was initially inspired by attending a course in Early Childhood Education at Roehampton University. This period of learning and reflection, transformed her philosophy. She has worked for many years as a teacher in Nursery schools both in rural and urban environments.
As Head of Nursery in an Independent School she developed a new Nursery School working with the architect from initial design, to opening and developing the nursery. The importance of the partnership with parents has always been fundamental to her practice and recognises the impact this has on the child’s learning.
As an Early Years Advisory Teacher she has enjoyed facilitating training and sharing in discussions with practitioners about the challenges of implementing good practice in their settings.
Her two children Simon and Jenny have taught her the importance of recognising and supporting the unique learning journey of each child and their individual needs and preferences.
She has a strong belief in nurturing the creative potential in every child, so that they have the opportunity to flourish and reach their full potential in life.
IF..
by
Pamela Houk
If you’ll be
my patient friend,
trusted guide,
fellow investigator,
partner in learning,
Then I will
explore the world,
discover my voice,
tell you what I know
in a hundred languages.
Taken from: The Hundred Languages of Children.