1. About us
  2. Case Studies
  3. Policies

Learner & Employer of the Month Awards

Our monthly learner and employer awards celebrate the fantastic work our apprentices do towards their learning and development, and our employer partners’ incredible efforts toward their employees’ apprenticeship journeys. The awards are nominated and voted on by our Paragon Skills colleagues. Each month our winners will be featured here in our ‘Hall of Fame’ and in the next issue of our monthly ‘Employer Pulse’ newsletter.

Learner and Employer of the Month – December 25

...

Learner of the Month

Liberty-May Hardy

Leaps and Bounds Daycare

Employer of the Month

Rosemount Nursery School

Courtney Cowen has been a treasure ever since working in partnership with me in May 2025 in supporting the two apprentices that are employed by her. She not only shows an interest in the apprentices learning, but she will also take time out of her busy schedule to sit with the learners to ensure that they are understanding and doing the tasks that I set for them. This shows me that she takes notice of the contact that I make whether it’s phone call or email, Courtney is a shining example of how an employer should work and her commitment to ensuring that the setting is running smoothly and the children are happy and receiving the best education possible whilst making sure her own employees well being is positively maintained, is incredible! She has been to every meeting and progress review I have conducted with the learners and has always treated me with such kindness and respect. 


Learner and Employer of the Month – November 25

Learner of the Month

Debbie Harrison

3-2-5 Preschool

This learner has had a recent change of tutor and has openly struggled with the change.  She has shown resilience and perseverance in a tough time when things have not been the same as they were.  She has continued to work hard and keep on top of her wark regardless and completed an excellent observation.

Employer of the Month

Little Jigsaw's Children's Day Nursery

I would like to nominate little Jigsaws Day nursery wigan, They truly shine in their work that they do with both staff and children. We have apprentices with them and they have just transferred over two apprentices from Woodspeen. The collaboration between learners and the managers is seamless, and the nursery has a wonderful ethos that really stands out in everything they do. Check out their Facebook page, they do a monthly Jar of Love and each month someone is nominated on why the Jar of Love is passed to them and they get the appreciation post and little gifts-which I think is lovely… it’s the little things.


Learner and Employer of the Month – October 25

Learner of the Month

Suzanne Hannibal

Little Conkers

My learner was extremely behind when she was allocated to me.  In a short period of time she has shown determination, commitment and the highest level of time management and organisation to get herself to 100%.  She has done this whilst working full time and as a busy mum, whilst also sitting her functional skills.  She has demonstrated excellent knowledge and skills in practice, and deserves to be recognised for her hard work.

Employer of the Month

Heaton Park View Nursery

Heaton Park View Nursery were amazing with their entries to Arti’s Adventures recently, and the children all looked like they had the best time with Arti! A lot of effort went in to create some great adventures and I can’t wait to see what they will put forward for Arti’s next campaign!

Previous Winners of the Learner and Employer of the month award

Select a month below to see winners

?>

Rosemount Nursery School

Employer of the month

Courtney Cowen has been a treasure ever since working in partnership with me in May 2025 in supporting the two apprentices that are employed by her. She not only shows an interest in the apprentices learning, but she will also take time out of her busy schedule to sit with the learners to ensure that they are understanding and doing the tasks that I set for them. This shows me that she takes notice of the contact that I make whether it’s phone call or email, Courtney is a shining example of how an employer should work and her commitment to ensuring that the setting is running smoothly and the children are happy and receiving the best education possible whilst making sure her own employees well being is positively maintained, is incredible! She has been to every meeting and progress review I have conducted with the learners and has always treated me with such kindness and respect. 

Liberty-May Hardy

Rosemount Nursery School

Learner of the month

Little Jigsaw's Children's Day Nursery

Employer of the month

I would like to nominate little Jigsaws Day nursery wigan, They truly shine in their work that they do with both staff and children. We have apprentices with them and they have just transferred over two apprentices from Woodspeen. The collaboration between learners and the managers is seamless, and the nursery has a wonderful ethos that really stands out in everything they do. Check out their Facebook page, they do a monthly Jar of Love and each month someone is nominated on why the Jar of Love is passed to them and they get the appreciation post and little gifts-which I think is lovely… it’s the little things.

Debbie Harrison

Little Jigsaw's Children's Day Nursery

Learner of the month

This learner has had a recent change of tutor and has openly struggled with the change.  She has shown resilience and perseverance in a tough time when things have not been the same as they were.  She has continued to work hard and keep on top of her wark regardless and completed an excellent observation.

Heaton Park View Nursery

Employer of the month

Heaton Park View Nursery were amazing with their entries to Arti’s Adventures recently, and the children all looked like they had the best time with Arti! A lot of effort went in to create some great adventures and I can’t wait to see what they will put forward for Arti’s next campaign!

Suzanne Hannibal

Heaton Park View Nursery

Learner of the month

My learner was extremely behind when she was allocated to me.  In a short period of time she has shown determination, commitment and the highest level of time management and organisation to get herself to 100%.  She has done this whilst working full time and as a busy mum, whilst also sitting her functional skills.  She has demonstrated excellent knowledge and skills in practice, and deserves to be recognised for her hard work.

The Mulberry Bush

Employer of the month

I am nominating The Mulberry Bush nursery for Shaping Lives’ Employer of the Month award. Their dedication to staff training and development stands out across every interaction.

The team consistently invests time and energy into helping their staff grow, ensuring each member has a clear pathway for progression. They embrace apprenticeships as a core part of their culture, supporting learners at every stage and celebrating their achievements.

Their commitment shone again during our recent video recording. From careful preparation to making everyone feel welcome, the team provided outstanding support and demonstrated the professionalism and enthusiasm that make them such valued partners.

The Mulberry Bush nursery is a true example of how a setting can nurture both children and staff, and I wholeheartedly recommend them for this recognition.

Madison Hooper

The Mulberry Bush

Learner of the month

Madi started her Level 3 at the beginning of the year and initially struggled to keep on track. When we met in July she could not see a positive way forward. Together we put plans in place which were achievable and set shorter targets in a timely way. Throughout August Madison smashed all of the goals/objectives we set, sitting and passing all three elements of her Functional Skills L2 English alongside childcare assignments and attending workshops. Her English Writing result was 90% – amazing!!

Meeting Madi at the end of August was like speaking to a different person. She was full of smiles and with a ‘can do attitude’ we have set similar targets for moving forward.

Proud of you Madi, keep up the great work!!

 

Shardlow Hall Day Nursery

Employer of the month

Shardlow Hall has been getting really involved in Arti’s Adventures, It’s been amazing to see the team fully embrace it and getting the children excited, creating fun activities around it, and really bringing the whole thing to life. The staff are always supportive and friendly.

Megan Dyer

Shardlow Hall Day Nursery

Learner of the month

This learner began her learning journey back in 2022 and had a break during maternity leave.  Returning to learning proved to be challenging for them- working, parenting and finding time to learn and devote the required time to their level 5 apprenticeship.  At the point of giving up, the learner found the motivation and love for learning again and despite being behind plan, the commitment and dedication to get back on track and race for timely completion is commendable and I feel that they deserve recognition for their hard work and determination.  Well done!

Sunflower Nursery

Employer of the month

I have worked with this setting 7 years ago when my learner was first employed by them, the learner is still there and now coming to the end of her EYEL3 award.

The new manger Amel who has progressed into this role for a year now, is very supportive towards my learner Sara Jamil Kausar, who I have had for 4 weeks, she has been so accommodating for her observations that needed to be done, professional discussions, reviews and 121 and also EPA preparation. The manager understands the importance of staff development and is so flexible and supportive. Thank you Amel, I hope to work again with you in the near future.

Keyah Hearsum

Sunflower Nursery

Learner of the month

I would like to nominate this learner for Learner of the Month in recognition of her incredible progress and growing confidence throughout her apprenticeship.

When she first started, she expressed feeling nervous about the course and was reluctant to attend workshops or turn her camera on during sessions. Over time, her confidence has grown significantly, she now takes part actively in workshops, contributes to discussions, and shows a real enthusiasm for learning.

This development extends beyond workshops. During one-to-one discussions and observations, she has demonstrated excellent practice with the children in her care. She plans engaging, thoughtful activities and has built strong, positive relationships with the children, reflecting her dedication and professionalism.

She has also taken on a supportive role within her setting, helping new apprentices with their course. She offers guidance on how to use Bud and complete their work, providing encouragement and reassurance along the way. Her support has been greatly appreciated, with apprentices commenting on how helpful she has been. 

The setting manager has also given very positive feedback, noting both her personal growth and the valuable contribution she is making by supporting others. She is a fantastic role model and truly deserves this recognition.

Jumping Jac's Day Nursery

Employer of the month

This employer has worked with Shaping Lives for many years now. They have had a number of apprentices over the years and always engage well with the PT and OM. They have supported 8 learners to fully achieve and currently have 8 learners on programme, one in EPA. Most recently, Limara, the manager, has been supporting Shaping Lives with an apprentice that has not bee engaging as well. Additional time and support has been provided to help us, help them, and communication has been great. A fabulous employer to work alongside!

Laura Castro

Jumping Jac's Day Nursery

Learner of the month

For showing commitment and determination to complete work.  An absolute superstar.

Tiny Steps- Gorton

Employer of the month

This nursery is outstanding! The manager significantly eases my role by consistently ensuring that staff are able to attend their workshops and training sessions. She reminds them about upcoming sessions with me, supports them in their work, and actively models best practice in the rooms. She even assists by invigilating exams when needed.

Kia Riddell

Tiny Steps- Gorton

Learner of the month

This learner has fully embraced the Elevate program, demonstrating enthusiasm for the workshops and recognizing the value of e-learning and consolidation work in supporting their role. They consistently book workshops in a timely manner and produce work with incredible attention to detail, showcasing their dedication to growth and excellence.

Shardlow Hall Day Nursery

Employer of the month

This employer is incredibly hands-on and consistently supportive of all learners. She’s always quick to respond to any requests from our side, making collaboration smooth and efficient. She’s a true advocate for our work, regularly praising us and even recently started organising events where she’s recommended us as a provider, as well as promoting Derbyshire County Council for funding.  I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this nomination. I’m really looking forward to attending the next event.

Sophie Skelton

Shardlow Hall Day Nursery

Learner of the month

I would like to nominate this learner because they have continuously worked hard throughout their qualification and given it their all. This learner has faced a number of adversities during their qualification within their personal life that have been very difficult, but this has never impacted on their progress, or their work with the children. They have grown so much in confidence throughout their learner journey, which has been demonstrated during their observations and through their detailed discussions.

This learner is extremely valued within the setting, and their manager has told me that parents often comment how much they love this learner working with their children.

The Mulberry Bush

Employer of the month

The Mulberry Bush Nursery group and Shaping Lives have recently come together to work in partnership.

Since engagement The Mulberry Bush has worked collaboratively with us at every step to create a brilliant beginning for all involved, executing every request across all settings to onboard 6 learners without any delay.

The Mulberry Bush has shown great dedication to supporting apprenticeships, whilst working together to build a strong partnership for the future.

Louise Wilson

The Mulberry Bush

Learner of the month

This learner is new to the level 5 qualification and despite having not studied for a number of years she has grasped essay writing and is already excelling in this area.  Following guidance and teaching, the learner has applied everything she has to ensure that the evidence being submitted is to a top standard and this is difficult at this level.  The learner is fully committed to learning and her own personal and professional development.  This person regularly evidences OTJH which she has gone above and beyond to arrange and learn from- every activity highlights how driven to learn this learner is. Recognition is much deserved for hitting the ground running on this new journey!

Readwell Care Ltd

Employer of the month

This employer runs a small nursery that is at the centre of a wider community, ensuring high quality care and education to the children and families.

This employer has a number of learners completing their apprenticeships with us and always ensures her staff attend meetings (juggling her diary to accommodate everyone), completes the many reviews and also completes her own Level 5 apprenticeship.

This employer is supportive and provides the opportunity for her staff to develop knowledge and skills to be the best educators for the children in the Nursery.

Alicia Murwald

Readwell Care Ltd

Learner of the month

This learner has overcome many health challenges during her apprenticeship as well as a take over of ownership at her setting.

Throughout all this this learner has never wavered her determination and effort with regards to completing her work, she has been in regular contact making sure she is up to date with what is needed to be completed and the work she completes is of an excellent standard showing she really has some great knowledge and skills.

This learner has undertaken training outside of work hours to ensure she has the highest level of skills

Rock Cottage Childcare

Employer of the month

Tracy is a highly experienced early years manger always looking at developing her team by looking at their full potential and ensuring they are enrolled onto qualifications to ensure her team are always trained at the highest quality standard.

She always looking at gaps in learning and very supportive giving her apprentices protected apprenticeship time to learn, she believes this also benefits the setting in a huge way in in preparation for Ofsted inspections and her team having current and a lot of knowledge and understanding.

Nichola Dennon

Rock Cottage Childcare

Learner of the month

I nominate this learner as over the last 6 months I have seen this learner’s confidence grow considerably. She works extremely hard and produces excellent work. I have recently completed her EPA observations where she has demonstrated fantastic practice with the children she works with.

She has recently moved from working with preschool to working with children aged 2-3, she wasn’t feeling confident about this to begin with, but she has shown dedication to putting time and effort into building positive relationships with the children. This was really shown during her final observations, where children are motivated to learn through her passion and enthusiasm.

Clandon Park Nursery

Employer of the month

The apprenticeship lead here ensures she is always trying to upskills her team with a number of apprentices now with Shaping Lives, ensuring they are the right learners on the correct programmes to meet their needs. She takes advantage of ensuring her staff are updating their CPD and gaining the correct qualification they require. She will wait until its the right time for the candidate to enrol and not rush the enrolment process.

Katie Sheard

Clandon Park Nursery

Learner of the month

Katie demonstrates energy in practice and within her work on a consistent basis. When Katie discusses the setting she is in, the people she works with and the children she supports (maintaining anonymity), Katie exudes passion and commitment every time. It’s hard not to be impressed by Katie’s energy and leaves me feeling energised after our calls.

Building Blocks Christian Day Nursery

Employer of the month

This learner is very passionate about Early years. She is almost completed on her Leve 5 and has grown so much in her knowledge and skills and her energy to continue to develop and support her Nursery is amazing. She has implemented new ideas into the Nursery, is supporting her colleagues with her new knowledge from the apprenticeship and it’s a pleasure to see how much impact the apprenticeship has had on her role and nursery.

Kathryne Rance

Building Blocks Christian Day Nursery

Learner of the month

This learner is very passionate about Early years. She is almost completed on her Leve 5 and has grown so much in her knowledge and skills and her energy to continue to develop and support her Nursery is amazing. She has implemented new ideas into the Nursery, is supporting her colleagues with her new knowledge from the apprenticeship and it’s a pleasure to see how much impact the apprenticeship has had on her role and nursery.

Contact us to start your journey with Shaping Lives.