Anne is a first year student on the Foundation Degree in Early Childhood at the University of Chichester. She runs her own nursery , the Woodstock Day Nursery in Farncombe Road, Worthing and has been involved in professional child care for many years. Originally trained in hotel management, she changed career after having her own children which led her into setting up her own play group, and she hasn’t looked back!

The Foundation Degree will give Anne the qualification and background that she needs to go on to a third year, which will give her the Government benchmark qualification - the Early Years Professional Status. Anne says the course has been beneficial and that the tutors have been very supportive. She says ‘Its nice to know that a lot of what were already doing at work is right and the course has helped to make us more reflective and critical of what we do, which helps us to continue to raise standards in the nursery’.

Anne Colbourne was also the lucky winner of an iPod Touch, after her name was selected from all those completing a questionnaire as part of the Sussex Learning Network student study. The study, being carried out on behalf of the SLN by Paul Mitchell Consultancy Ltd, will look at the profile and experiences of learners studying across Sussex on courses that have been supported by the SLN.

The SLN student study can be found on the Sussex Learning Network’s publications page.