Inspirational Formby Primary School honoured in prestigious UK celebration of teaching

THE Early Years Team at Redgate Primary School has been named as 1 of 80 Pearson National Teaching Award Silver Award winners across the country. The team is honoured with a Silver Award in the Award for Early Years Team of the Year for their outstanding commitment to changing the lives of the children they work with every day.

The EY team at Redgate has grown from 1 Teacher and a TA working alongside 7 reception pupils in 2015 to the expanded team it is today, which works across Nursery, Reception and the complex needs unit. The EY team currently supports 66 children.

This growth has brought new and exciting opportunities for the children and families within the community to learn and develop together within an inclusive, nurturing, child centred and play rich environment. The impact of the passionate and ever evolving Early Years team has not only improved the outcomes for children in the mainstream and SEN early years departments, but it has also improved the sustainability of the School and influenced the whole School ethos of child-centred practice. The Early Years Team has also shaped the strong person-centred pedagogy of the complex needs provision, which has had a demonstrative positive impact on pupils at Redgate.

As a Silver Award winner, the Early Years team has now been shortlisted to win 1 of just 16 Gold Awards later in the year. Recognition of this once in a lifetime achievement will be broadcast on the BBC's The 1 Show as part of a week-long celebration of teaching, which sees famous faces honour award winners every night in the run up to the ceremony. This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the exceptional School leaders and Teachers who have worked wonders to bring together their local communities despite the challenges of the past few years.

The Silver Award winners are being honoured as part of the wider celebrations for national:- 'Thank a Teacher Day,' bringing together everyone across the country to celebrate the Schools and Colleges at the heart of our communities.

The Pearson National Teaching Awards is an annual celebration of excellence in education, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational Teacher can have on the lives of the young people they work with. This year marks its 23rd year of celebrating our School teaching staff across the UK.

Sharon Hague, Managing Director of Schools at Pearson UK, said:- "Congratulations to today's Silver Award winners on their incredible achievement, they should all feel very proud of themselves. And thank you to all the incredible educators and support staff across this country who really do make our Schools and Colleges so special. I am delighted that we can take this opportunity to say how much we appreciate all that you do for the young people in your care."

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said:- "Congratulations to the Early Years Team at Redgate Primary School on this incredible achievement, and for the hard work and dedication which led up to it. Winning this award is impressive, well-deserved and shows the team's commitment to helping students achieve their full potential."

Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children's Laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said:- "For so many of us, it was someone at School who changed our lives, was at our side through hard and difficult times, who lifted us up when we were down, helped us find our voice, gave us confidence when we needed it most, and set us on a path that we have followed ever since. No matter who we are, School has touched our lives and played a central role in our childhoods. School is about so much more than learning, and we see that now more than ever before. Schools really are the beating heart of our communities. Every person that cares for our children in Schools should be celebrated loud and clear on Thank A Teacher Day 2022."
 

Roy's Glad-den to be the new Lord Mayor

LIVERPOOL'S new Lord Mayor is being sworn in, on Wednesday, 25 May 2022. Cllr Roy Gladden grew up above his grandma's chip shop on Breckfield Road in Everton, attending Granton Road Junior School.

He joined the King's Own Royal Border Regiment at the age of 17, and was discharged in 1967. At the age of 40, he studied for a social work degree from Liverpool John Moores University, and began working for the Council as a social worker in Everton, until his retirement in 2010.

Cllr Gladden was 1st elected in Clubmoor in 1982, and chaired the Libraries and Arts Committee and was also Vice Chair of Social Services, serving as a Councillor until 1987. He returned as a Councillor for County in 2010, and has chaired the Culture, Tourism and Visitor Economy Select Committee for the last 3 years.

Roy married his late wife Irene Mooney in 1968 and they had 4 children together. Sadly, Irene passed away in 1985 aged just 36, after a short illness.

In 1990, Roy married Roz, who had 3 children, and the couple now also have 10 grandchildren and 4 greatgrandchildren.

As a veteran, Roy has, for many years, supported personnel from the Armed Forces, Reservists, the Merchant Navy and their families and became the Armed Forces Champion for Liverpool City Council in 2018.

Cllr Gladden has been an active trade unionist all his working life within the GMB and Unison, and was fulltime convenor and chair of the Council's Joint Trade Union Committee.

Roy's wife, Cllr Roz Gladden; who was previously Lord Mayor in 2016/17; will be Lady Mayoress, with his daughters all willing and able to stand in at any time.

Lord Mayor elect, Cllr Roy Gladden, said:- "To represent my City and its remarkable people is the proudest, yet most daunting, moment of my life. The City has changed beyond recognition over my lifetime, from a City of largely manufacturing jobs, to the dreadful slump and unemployment of the 1980's. Liverpool is now reborn and is developing its strength as an outward looking, regenerating City which needs tourism at its heart. My experience and knowledge within the Culture and Visitor Economy Select Committee will enable me as Lord Mayor, to be an ambassador and represent our City to the many visitors, both national and international and display our greatest asset, our people and its history. The theme of my Lord Mayoral year will be 'change' and I have chosen local charities which will represent how our City has changed in its perception and culture throughout my lifetime."

Cllr Gladden's charities will be:-

► Options for Supported Living; a local organisation existing to support, empower and enable people with disabilities to live their lives to the full.

► South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services; which has delivered a range of services and support to approximately 4,000 women since 2010.

► Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service (LDAS) which supports 2,500 women and girls affected by domestic abuse and violence every year.

► Veterans HQ Liverpool; which supports ex-armed forces personnel, reservists and their families.

If you think you can help raise money for The Lord Mayor's Charities please contact Liverpool Town Hall by emailing:- Town.Hall@Liverpool.Gov.UK or by visiting:- LiverpoolTownHall.Co.UK/LMCA to donate.

Did you know that...?

The Lord Mayor of Liverpool is known as the 1st citizen and is the chosen representative of the City, acting as a focal point for the community as well as promoting the City and forging national and international links. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool is always a serving Councillor, elected by the full City Council, at its Annual General Meeting held each May, and stands for 1 year in office.

The Lord Mayor's duties include:-

► Representing the City at civic functions and engagements.

► Promoting the City nationally and internationally.

► Supporting local charities and community groups.

► Attending religious events of all denominations.

► Meeting delegates from twinned cities.

► Chairing Council meetings.

► Conferring Honorary Freemen and Freedom of Associations and Institutions.