Mary Barlow pictured at the awards ceremony with Gaby Roslin
(left) and Ian Atkey of award sponsors Kid Ease (photo courtesy of
Leo Wilkinson)
Early Years specialist Mary Barlow has been named the UK's
Trainer of the Year at the prestigious Nursery World Awards.
Mary, who founded The Totem Pole in the grounds of the Belton
Woods Hotel near Grantham two years ago, received her award from TV
presenter Gaby Roslin at a ceremony in London on Friday (30th
September).
Her latest success comes just months after The Totem Pole won
the People Development category in the Grantham Business Excellence
Awards.
"It's a wonderful accolade to receive this award and recognition
of all the work I have done in the Early Years sector over the past
30 years," said Mary.
"Developing The Totem Pole has enabled my practice to move up a
gear and in turn is inspiring people in the sector to become
creative practitioners and to think outside the box when working
with children and their families."
The Totem Pole is a dedicated Early Years training and resource
centre for Early Years workers, teachers, teaching assistants,
parents and carers and Mary offers a unique approach to training
that is lively, practical and hands on.
The Totem Pole offers a range of training courses for early
years professionals, including Beginning With Babies, a four-day
programme where Early Years practitioners develop skills to
recognise, acknowledge and nurture babies as independent active
learners.
The Totem Pole also sells a broad range of open-ended resources
that can be creatively used throughout nurseries, schools and
homes, both indoors and out.
Liz Roberts, Editor of Nursery World, said: "Our awards shine a
light on the hard work, innovation and dedication of those in early
years education and childcare, communicating aspects of best
practice and helping to raise the profile of the sector.
"Early years education and childcare services are facing
challenging times, with the new Government bringing in many policy
changes, funding cuts starting to hit and the Early Years
Foundation Stage under review.
"Yet the fantastic work going on in the sector is often not
recognised and rewarded, and the Nursery World Awards aim to put
this right."