Nestled in the Northamptonshire countryside, Glendon Farm Montessori & Forest School Nursery offers children a unique learning experience that blends the Montessori ethos with the joy of outdoor exploration. For owner Grace Siddington, nurturing curiosity and confidence in children goes hand in hand with supporting the professional growth of her staff — and that’s where Heart of England Training (HOET) has played a key role.
A Passion for Developing People
Grace has always been passionate about offering development opportunities to her team, but after some disappointing experiences with other providers, she wanted a training partner who shared her commitment to quality and communication. “We had previously used other providers and been put off the process,” Grace explains. “But one of our new team members had trained with HOET and highly recommended them — and we’ve never looked back.”
Partnership That Makes Training Simple
Since partnering with Heart of England Training, Glendon Farm Montessori has successfully trained two apprentices through the Early Years Apprenticeship Programme, and Grace describes the experience as “so easy.” From onboarding to ongoing support, she highlights HOET’s professionalism, efficiency and personal approach.
“With HOET there are just no delays,” Grace says. “The communication from start to finish has been excellent. The learners enjoy their sessions, feel the training is tailored to them, and are constantly making progress and meeting targets.”
Real Impact in Early Years Education
The Early Years Apprenticeship at HOET provides learners with the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours to support children’s learning and development — both in the classroom and through hands-on experiences like those offered at Glendon Farm Montessori. Apprentices are encouraged to reflect on their practice and link theory to real-world application, making it an ideal route for settings that value experiential learning and child-led approaches.
For Grace, this alignment between her nursery’s values and the apprenticeship framework has been a real strength. “The apprenticeship gives a strong framework for developing general skills,” she explains. “But what I love most is that I can make sure the training reflects my own approach to working with children. It’s a brilliant way to help staff share my passion for what we do — especially our focus on Forest School learning.”
Apprenticeships have also brought practical benefits for her setting. With recent rule changes allowing apprentices undertaking Early Years qualifications to count in staff ratios, Grace has found the model even more valuable. “Apprenticeships with the right guidance and support allow learners to link their learning to development in a practical environment,” she says. “It’s a great way to learn and ensures staff really understand how important their role is in developing the children they work with.”
Beyond the impact on children’s learning, Grace finds real joy in mentoring her apprentices and seeing their growth first-hand. The regular reviews and progress updates provided by HOET help her stay involved and informed throughout the journey. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see their progress,” she adds. “With the support of HOET, our apprentices are developing into confident, capable and caring practitioners.”
Grace’s message to other schools and nurseries is clear:
“I would absolutely recommend Heart of England Training as an Early Years provider. They’ve been easy to work with, supportive, and most importantly, the learners are enjoying their course and growing into wonderful members of staff.”
Are you a school or nursery looking to grow your team through apprenticeships?
Find out how Heart of England Training can support you in developing the next generation of Early Years professionals.
