Natasha Paling from
Balfour Primary School in Brighton has been crowned as Teacher of the Year in
recognition of her work to support her pupils, school and community.
Training as a teacher after a career break to have her family, Natasha first set up The Pantry at Balfour Primary School in the pandemic and continues to run it as a resource for families across Brighton and Hove. Natasha said:
"I've always done a bit of volunteering because I want to give back to the community.
"In the pandemic, I saw there was a need for a food bank. I spoke to our headteacher who agreed to opening it at the school and we delivered to families across Brighton and Hove, no referral needed.
"When the school re-opened, we changed the name to The Pantry to try and remove the stigma attached to food banks and encourage people to access help.
"Post pandemic and the idea was that The Pantry would close but families said they still needed the support with the cost of living. In fact, we"re seeing even more families needing help.
"The Pantry stocks food but also other things families need like coats and wellies, including a seasonable table like the 'middle of Lidl' with items for Halloween, Christmas or sports. We were lucky to get lottery funding and are well supported by our community, who donate items, if they can and want to.
"One thing I remember from my teacher training is my tutor saying that being a teacher puts you in a position of trust, which means being an ally for others. And that really stuck with me.
"I'm passionate about all children getting the best start in life, and if initiatives like The Pantry help, then it"' worthwhile."
Natasha who worked in financial services before transitioning to teaching said her experience as a mum helps her as a teacher:
"My children are 20 and 17 now but when they were young I volunteered at their school, Balfour Primary School, going on to become a teaching assistant, then doing my degree over 4 years part time.
"It was a mad time, the boys were growing up and I was looking after my nan too.
"After my degree, I was lucky that Balfour agreed to me doing my apprenticeship teaching programme at the school so I could gain my qualified teacher status
"I'm a teacher but I'm also a mum. I have personal experience of neurodiverse children and school was challenging for my son.
"I definitely take this experience into my role as a teacher, to try and be the kind of teacher that I needed as a parent and the kind of teacher that children need. All children are different and have different needs and personalities.
"Children's needs are also changing, particularly following the pandemic, so we have to adapt to their needs.
"I now work with reception children and I love the job and I love the children. Our motto in Bumblebee class is that no-one gets left behind, we"re a team! I have a song for everything.
"Again, I'm able to take my experience as a parent into my role as a teacher. Parents can be anxious when their child starts school, which I know because I've been that parent.
"In the past, I worked for Relate and this helps me with building relationships with families. I think if you can get that relationship right, everything else really follows."
Natasha, who wins a £500 Brighton Gift Card for herself and £500 Brighton Gift Card for Balfour Primary School, says winning Teacher of the Year is overwhelming.
"I really love my job and winning Teacher of the Year feels completely overwhelming," adds Natasha.