Jessica, nanny in Northwich

As a personal and year tutor for the BA (Hons) in Childhood Studies at Nottingham Trent University, I have known Jessica since her date of commencement in September 2012. Jessica will graduate in July 2015 with a predicted high upper second class degree or potentially a first that includes a very good profile across all disciplines. Jessica is an articulate and conscientious student who, throughout her course, showed a huge commitment to a range of childhood-related educational issues. She developed a completely focused and pragmatic approach to work but, at the same time, was able to reflect upon significant issues. She used her ideas very well to produce some very good pieces of academic work based upon thorough reading and research. Jessica’s tutors referred to her robust research and data collection skills as well as the way in which she linked her ideas to theoretical perspectives. They felt that she had a good understanding of curricula practices such as ECM and EYFS as well as that of international contexts and policies for children. Jessica shows a sound understanding of a range of perspectives of a wide range of age of children 0-8 years and the importance of working with the children, the families and the professionals involved with the child. Jessica has shown a very good understanding of the context and theoretical emphasis throughout her studies. In addition she had a very sound grasp of a range of academic fields within Childhood Studies as well as education in general. Jessica is a highly motivated and ambitious student with the confidence and energy necessary to carve out a successful career path. She enjoys her work and interacts well with others. Throughout her course her presentation skills both of her written and oral work have been excellent. She is an extremely cheerful student with a lively personality who communicates effectively. She is very effective in managing her own roles and responsibilities and is able to critically reflect upon a range of issues. During her course Jessica undertook a number of placements that enabled her to work alongside children, including an international setting in Morocco where she worked on a volunteer project within an orphanage for three weeks in 2014. Tasks included playing with, having vital skin to skin contact, feeding, health checks and getting supplies for the orphanage. As part of this placement Jessica worked with health professionals, volunteers and midwives. The babies Jessica worked alongside ranged in age 1-2 months to 2-3 years old. Jessica found this experience both humbling and emotionally rewarding and enjoyed the variety of aspects to the role. Jessica’s ability to build good relationships with the volunteers, health visitors and babies was good despite the clear communication barriers. Jessica has the motivation and ability to cope with post-graduate study and I would like to make the very highest possible recommendation that her application is successful.