Little SERC creche wins national teaching award

Little SERC creche wins national teaching award

28 June 2023

A CRECHE team based at the South Eastern Regional College’s Newcastle campus has won a prestigious national teaching award.

The team and the further education college’s Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Environment team both won a Pearson National Teaching Silver Award.

The awards are an annual celebration of excellence in education run by the Teaching Awards Trust that recognises the life-changing work that takes place in education, highlighting the vital role educators play and the work that’s delivered in schools and colleges every day.

Members of the creche team won the early years team of the year award, while the enterprise, entrepreneurship and environment team was recognised for its Entrepreneurs’ Club.  

The awards all recognise outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the young people and children they work with every day.

Little SERC, the College’s creche, was established at the Newcastle campus in December 2020, with support from the Coastal Communities Fund.

It provides professional care, safe and stimulating play and enjoyable learning for children of adults enrolled on Restart and Access courses at the campus, with access to childcare crucial in helping parents gain skills and progress to work or onto further and higher education. 

The Little SERC team has a combined total of 72 years of childcare experience between them, and work collaboratively with the tutors to provide a holistic education and support package to local families. 

In addition, creche staff also work with outside agencies such as Home Start and Social Services, to reach people in the area who would benefit from the opportunity to return to education. 

The Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Environment team helps to develop students’ enterprise skills and provides support to help them put those skills into practice, also identifying and supporting entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland. 

Through their Entrepreneurs’ Club, they help develop work-ready and enterprising students, many of whom leave the College owning thriving businesses. 

To date, 43 of the Entrepreneurs’ Club projects progressed to become independent businesses with 281 students involved. 

The student businesses support economic growth and target Skills Barometer and Local Government Economic Development Plans priority areas.

Both winners are now shortlisted to win one of just 16 gold awards which will be announced and celebrated at a gala ceremony in London on November 25 and televised on the BBC, with winners showcased on The One Show. 

The honours were announced on National Thank a Teacher Day, an annual event celebrating the role of educators across the UK for the valued role they play in communities and shaping young people. 

College principal and chief executive Ken Webb, said for the organisation to be honoured with prestigious Pearson Silver Teaching Awards in the one year is remarkable.

Engineering lecturer Aine McGreeghan from Newtownards also won a silver award.