Inspiring Warwickshire primary school teacher Johnathan Crockett is national award winner
A PRIMARY school teacher is top of the class, after scooping a national award.
Johnathan Crockett, of Tudor Grange Primary Academy in Meon Vale, has won a National Early Years Teacher of the Year award for the ‘Men in the Early Years’ category. The scheme, backed by the Department of Education and training provider The Best Practice Network, celebrates early childhood education and recognises ‘exceptional practitioners who go above and beyond to nurture and inspire young minds’.
Johnathan has more than 15 years’ teaching experience and worked with youngsters as a football coach. He started as a teaching assistant in a reception class and was inspired to train as a teacher. His career has taken him to schools in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, and Kent.
During lockdown, he created maths, phonics and story videos for children and families on YouTube and social media. The resources, originally intended just for his own class, became a hit with families across the country.
He said: “From day one, I knew that I wanted to work in Early Years. The fun, excitement, imagination, and most importantly, the incredible development and progress you see is simply unmatched by any other year group.
“I’m just a big kid at heart, so I fit in perfectly.”
Just two per cent of early years sector educators in the UK are male, according to research.
Johnathan added: “It’s rare to see men in early years but it’s incredibly important to offer that positive role model, especially for families with limited male figures in their lives.”
