Canterbury Prep Teacher named NEiTA Exceptional Early Childhood Educator

Canterbury’s Junior School teacher Clair Goodall has this week been awarded the Futurity Parents Award for the best early childhood teacher in the National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA).

In these number one teaching awards for Australia and New Zealand, 23 teachers across both countries were named as “exceptional educators in exceptional times” for their work this year during the COVID-19 lockdown and periods of online learning. Only two Early Childhood educators were recognised in the list.

Clair teaches Prep but is also the Academic Care Coordinator for the Early Learning Centre and Prep.

“Clair is a dedicated and passionate early years teacher who has an incredible knowledge of the way young children learn,” says Head of Junior School Bill Garland.

“This is evident from the moment you enter her classroom, where you can see the kind and nurturing relationships she has with her students. I receive many requests each year from parents to be in Clair’s class as the learning environment she creates allows all children to flourish.”

Clair has led the implementation of a play-based curriculum at Canterbury called iTime (Investigation Time) in Prep and Year 1. The program has had a very positive impact on early years student learning outcomes and literacy development.

During the COVID lockdown period, Clair implemented online teaching that included providing her students with videos to ensure they maintained a connection to her and fellow students.