Who Am I?

Rebecca Martland
Early Years trainer, consultant and author
Registered Childminder
4-times consecutive Ofsted Outstanding grading (2020 most recent)

My background
I originally qualified as a primary school teacher, graduating with a B.Ed from Newman University (Birmingham) but got married and became a Bookseller instead. I stayed in bookselling for thirteen years. I was a children's specialist, working my way up through the ranks, eventually managing a large bookshop. I moved south with my husband for his work but following our divorce I decided to stay in the area. I was manager of Hammicks Bookshop in Chichester for five years during which time I married again and left the bookselling world to start a family.
​I became a registered Childminder in 2000, when my son was six months old, with my daughter arriving three years later.  

My philosophy

I am a staunch advocate of play based, child-centred early years education and childcare. This philosophy is central to my pedagogy and a message I share widely as an active contributor to Social Media forums and through my writing, as well as in any training I deliver and in my childcare practice

Professional background
​I have been working in the Early Years sector since 2000, during which time, in addition to Childminding, I have also been a Childminding Network Coordinator and creche supervisor. I am the co-founder of a successful childminding association in Worthing, 'Magic Minders'.
In 2006 I achieved Early Years Professional Status and subsequently became a mentor to EYP candidates at the University of Chichester and the Open University.
​Since then I have become an associate trainer for the National Day Nurseries Association and I deliver Early Years training, the Solihull Approach training, safeguarding and other topics on behalf of my local authority, West Sussex.
As a Registered Childminder I have been awarded an Outstanding grade by Ofsted at my last 4 inspections, most recently in February 2020, under the new Education Inspection framework. 

BREWEDEY
In 2019 I became part of the BrewEdEYSussex team, organising Sussex-based professional development days at an affordable price, under the #brewedey banner. ​

​Professional profile
I run an independent training and consultancy service providing specialist support, advice and training for Childminders and the wider Early Years sector. 
 I have been involved in various research projects, including the 'Supporting Vulnerable Children' project led by the University of Chichester and the West Sussex County Council Early Childhood Service, and the '2-year-olds in Three Counties' project led by Canterbury Christchurch University in association with West Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey County Councils. I was also part of the West Sussex Early Innovator team, exploring ways in which the 30 hours childcare policy might be effectively implemented.
​I have been a frequent writer for Child Care Magazine, a supplement of Practical Pre-school Magazine, dedicated to home-based childcare settings. I am also a writer and contributor to Early Years Educator (EYE) magazine, PACEY's Childcare Professional and the Kinderly Blog.
In 2017 I joined forces with Alison Featherbe to create a new Early Years conference at the University of Brighton, called Minding the Gap. Alison and I were nominated as Trainer of the Year at the 2017 Nursery World Awards, receiving a Highly Commended award. We successfully repeated MTG in 2018 .
I was delighted to be invited to join the Nursery World Awards judging panel in 2018, and continue to enjoy being involved in this process as a judge, celebrating the best of the Early Years sector.  

I am a founder member of ‘Magic Minders’, the Worthing Childminding Association (WCMA) where I helped to set up and run a toddler group especially for Childminders, which is still going strong and also organises regular outings to local parks, events, nursing homes and other attractions.
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I am a member of PACEY: the Professional Association for Childcare & Early Years (formerly the National Childminding Association, NCMA), the Early Years Alliance (formerly the Pre-school Learning Alliance and Early Education. 

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