Jill Lakeman, Early Years Advisor for Southampton City Council and Head of Start Point Sholing Early Years Centre started teaching in Wiltshire in 1971, moving into the advisory service in 1991 and becoming Early Years Advisor in 1997. Whilst working in Wiltshire she wrote several publications on quality early years practice. In 2000 Jill moved to a post in Southampton which combined advisory work with the establishment of an Early Excellence Centre. Start Point Sholing opened in 2001, gaining Early Excellence Status in 2003. The Centre comprises a day nursery; sessional nursery; community play room; training facility and is now designated as a Children’s Centre. The Centre was judged ‘outstanding’ in all aspects in September 2010.

Jill leads a team of seven Advisory Teachers/Area SENCos and, with colleagues in Standards and the wider Early Years Team, has been successful in improving quality and standards in the EYFS. Jill has been Lead officer for ECaT for the past two years aiming to create sustainable improvements, build on existing effective practice and enhance capacity for early language expertise, throughout the early years workforce.

Tel: 023 8036 3309
E mail: [email protected]