Graduate’s decision to ‘do a degree’ pays dividends for young children

A graduate’s quest to give young children the best start in life has been sealed thanks to her time at University of Northampton.

Laura Hale – Pre-School Manager at Copredy Pre-School, Oxfordshire – will graduate from her Early Childhood Studies degree in November, but she is already up for a national award.

Laura feels her achievement is all the more remarkable because, working full-time and juggled family commitments, she had not considered studying for a degree.

Laura picks up her story: “When my children were small, I was mesmerised looking at how they learned and developed. Watching them grow, experience things, and interact with the world around them, I was curious about how this happens.

“At my last Ofsted inspection in 2019 – we achieved ‘Outstanding’ – one of their team told me that I should do a degree, which surprised me because I didn’t think I was the academic type. Aside from work, I also have three children, and my twin daughters were then on the cusp of going to high school.

“But I was intrigued enough to look at a few providers and I instantly loved Northampton! Right from the first days of that degree, and they were challenging because we started during Covid, all the lecturers were so passionate, I was captured even more. I always thought I kept myself up to date with new training, but the amount I’ve learned over three years has been phenomenal.”

The impact of her new insight into her profession has been seismic, helping Laura and her team build on what they offered to children and families. She continues: “It’s been massive, for all of us. The way we look at education is that it’s a brick wall and, like all structures, it needs a strong foundation.

“That’s where early years is and, if we don’t have the foundations right, the upper structures or later stages of our education and development will be unstable.”

Laura’s enthusiasm and passion has been recognised with a first-ever national award nomination. Laura is nominated for a Graduate of the Year gong at the Nursery Times Awards by Senior Lecturer in Education Peter Goy.

He cites Laura’s clear skills as an early childhood practitioner, turning her degree learning into direct, positive practice, challenging, and convincing her local authority to better resource support for special educational needs and inclusion children, and for always going above and beyond as the main reasons she should be recognised.

Laura concludes: “I read the confirmation email and thought ‘what is this?’ I’m not good with stuff like this, so I was completely blown away. One of my colleagues said my best characteristic was that I’m passionate and have high expectations because I want everything my children could possibly have. But it’s just me, ‘doing what I do’ to ensure our service delivers.”

The awards will be held on Saturday 30 September.