Mrs Julie Swinbank

Specialisms	Early Years (Nursery & Reception) Transitioning into EYFS and from EYFS to Y1 PSHE RE / SMSC

For the majority of my career and to date, I have been lucky enough to work as part of a Senior Leadership Team.  I have had the opportunity to successfully lead and manage priorities, either as a SLT shared project or as an individual initiative, for whole school or departmental improvement.  Additionally, for over fifteen years, I held the post of Assistant Head.

My current leadership role within SLT is Early Years Lead and it is one I am most passionate about!

During my tenure, I have built a systematic curriculum which spans from the development ranges associated with aged two provision, up to and including the transition into Year 1.  I lead, manage and I am a part of a committed and cohesive team who together build an engaging, exploratory, intent driven and inclusive provision, matched to our children’s needs. This is over five EYFS learning spaces. ‘Knowing more, remembering more and being able to do more’ begins in EYFS and I have recently been working on age appropriate retrieval strategies.

Nurturing a lifelong love of reading for our children deliberately underpins our whole curriculum. We also have a strong focus on healthy relationships, respect, self-regulation, keeping ourselves and others safe, and effective language and communication. Transformational learning using the vehicle of SMSC is a cognitive strategy I have led throughout our school in my respective roles as R.E. and P.S.H.E Leads.

At all times, I find solutions through a research based and collaborative approach, including ensuring we build very positive partnerships with our families from the beginning.

We recently went through a very positive Ofsted inspection who noted:

“Children in the early years make an impressive start to their learning journey.”

I feel strongly that wider collaboration between schools, recognises, celebrates and builds on a wealth of expertise. Working and learning together, as adults, supports our continuing professional development as practitioners and school leaders. This can only benefit our children, their wellbeing and the communities we support. I look forward to meeting and collaborating with colleagues in other schools; working together towards enabling all children to have the best possible start to their educational journey.