Our favourite 'teacher competition' has delivered some wonderful entries as always, take a read below:
Ann Marie
** WINNING NOMINATION** She always makes the lessons fun and knows how to get the best outcome from my Dipper. She is patient and understanding and doesn’t make you feel stupid. Sometimes I get upset when Lillie won’t do something or starts crying but Anne Marie just knows what to say to put it right. Much improvement in swimming since taking on the lesson. And she always has a big smile throughout the lesson. Deean & Lillie
She gives me, and therefore Thomas confidence during our lessons. Thank you x Rebecca & Thomas
Every class ran so well felt very safe in Classes , very welcoming , so lovely with children , very approachable . I started in class with Jackson when he was tiny and Ann-Marie was a super star with us both . We both learnt lots and have carried it through , everything was very clear and delivered to us all with lots of patience. Will never forget Ann-Marie. Emma & Jackson
William has swam with Ann-Marie for 3 years now and looks forward to every swimming lesson, seeing his confidence and swimming ability in the water progress has been a amazing, we had a difficult last term with William not wanting to do much in the pool, Ann-Marie was brilliant helping and encouraging him through this and told us not to give up, I’m so glad we didn’t as a few weeks back he fell in a icy pond and didn’t panic one bit and confidently reached for the side!!! Ann-Marie is a great teacher and makes the lessons enjoyable for both parent and child. Beth & William
We love Ann-Marie! Bertie has gone from screaming through his lessons to laughing & absolutely loving it. Can’t believe how far he’s come & that’s all thanks to Ann-Marie. We recently had an underwater photo shoot, something I never thought we’d be able to do. Amy & Bertie
She is just brilliant. I could go on with a long list of superlatives but she just is brilliant: at her job, with the children, with the grown ups! Charlotte & Martha
Meredyth is always excited every week to go swimming and to see Ann Marie, so much so that she won't swim with anyone else. Ann Marie is always so patient with her, even when Meredyth is having a 'moment'. Can't imagine swimming with anyone else. Corinne & Meredyth
Charlie loves his swimming lessons and has been swimming with Ann Marie for nearly all of his puddle duck journey from a little baby to a swim academy student now. He feels safe with Ann Marie and she always knows just what to say to motivate him. Corinne & Charlie
Ann Marie has just been amazing!! she is always enthusiastic when we arrive at the pool! she notices every child’s individual abilities and will push each child to achieve the best they can! Sophie has become more and more confident with the encouragement and support from Ann Marie and there really isn’t any words to express how grateful i am for Ann Marie providing this important life skill!! Thanks again :) Reanne & Sophie
Harriet has been swimming with Ann Marie since Floaties and is now a Kicker. She adores her swimming lessons and every week can’t wait to get in the pool and this is all due to Ann Marie’s enthusiasm and excellent teaching. Harriet has learnt so much and Ann-Marie has persevered through times when Harriet has been teething or under the weather and has not wanted to do certain activities, she then finds a way round it so Harriet happily participates again. I can’t believe how Harriet confidently jumps in, turns under water and knows how to hold on and reach and kick as asked too. Swimming is the highlight of her week and has meant she has a love of water. With a new baby on the way they will definitely learn to swim with Ann Marie too. Thank you for being such a brilliant teacher! Amy & Harriet
Jane
Jane is a remarkable teacher who is amazing at getting my 3 year old to do things she is reluctant to try - she really brings out her potential. My 8 month old also loves Jane - she is a true water baby! Jane always pays special attention to those who need that bit of extra encouragement and support and is able to mix fun with the more serious side of learning such a life saving skill as swimming. She deserves the teacher of the term award, especially given her perseverance in the freezing at Choices, Raynesway! Alison, Sophie & Ellie
Jane always makes everyone feel so welcome to the class and has so much patience with parents as well as our children. Jane is also very empathetic towards the different stages that children go through. Eve & Jonah
Jane has always been brilliant with Charlie, always has time for him and has been instrumental in filling him with confidence. Charlie never complains about going to swimming because he loves it so much. All due to Jane’s tutelage. Philip & Charlie
Jane is an amazing teacher. My little boy loves his lessons with Jane, when 1 lesson has finished he can’t wait for the next lesson. She is so encouraging and patient. Every lesson she is enthusiastic and gives each little swimmer time to develop and progress. Michelle & Oscar
After a lot of determination Thomas now requests to duckling dive and is unhappy getting out the pool without a dive. 17 months of hard work has paid off. Thank you Jane! Beth & Thomas
Just because Sammy can’t wait to get to swim lesson just to see ‘his Jane’ - whom gets him to do what he’s told! Amazing lady, amazing teacher - wouldn’t want anyone else. Zoe & Sammy
Exceptional at building Ella's confidence. Jo & Ella
So supportive and informative! Week in week out she makes classes fun and exciting whilst making them developmental. What more could you want from such a jolly teacher. Clare & Lylah
Jane is simply super! Both of my girls adore her. My eldest can be a tricky customer and lacks confidence in the water. Jane has an endless amount of patience and is so encouraging. Claire, Amelia & Phoebe
Jane is so patient and always gets my boys to do things in class that they just won’t do for mummy and daddy because she is such a good teacher and because they trust her which can never be underestimated. When my 3rd boys arrives Jane will be my go to teacher for him too. Jenna, Thomas & Zachary
Jane is just an amazing teacher. My 3 girls love her and she has taught them so much and gave them so much confidence in the water. Stevie & Lillie-Rose
Jane is amazing!!! Jane is always calm and teaches the children in a fun way. I love when we get home and people ask Benjamin about his swimming and he talks so passionately about what he’s learnt and I don’t think he would be half as confident or passionate without Jane’s teaching, she is a star 🌟 Thank you Jane x Christina & Benjamin
Julie
I like the swimming that you do with me. Melanie & Caitlin
Fred has excelled since being in swim academy with Julie - she is very good with him but firm in a great way. He does as she asks as he respects her. She always encourages and gives praise as well as areas for improvement. Laura & Fred
Julie is always pleasant and kind and believes in Ava and her ability to do things, even when Ava does not believe in herself! She has made a massive difference to Ava’s confidence levels in the pool and is a huge part of the reason Ava loves swimming and her lessons so much! Ava says - Julie makes all the lessons fun, even when we’re doing hard stuff! Clare & Ava
Louise
Lou has given Joey so much confidence. He loves his swimming lessons and Lou brings the best out of my little boy. I am returning to work soon and although I need to change our swimming day, we will be remaining with our number 1 teacher. Nadine & Joseph
Louise is supportive, caring and knows the children she teaches very well. She ensures that the children can succeed in the lesson plans and adapts to their needs when required. I think she's fantastic. Sophie & Lucy
Louise seems to have a gift for remembering all the children as individuals and encouraging each of them to the best of their ability taking into account their personalities including mood on the day(!), likes and dislikes. Thank you Louise. Hannah & Caitlyn
Louise is simply the best! She works so hard, remembers so much about the babies and is generally amazing! Emma & Emmeline
The same reason I always nominate her. Both my children are very different in the water and she is brilliant with them both. Patient with Ollie, and allows Jack to excel. Lovely with every child she teaches- and I’ve seen her teach a lot! Carrie, Ollie & Jack
This teacher deserves this nomination for her outstanding dedication to her job and the passion you see in every lesson. After three weeks of a very upset daughter not liking the water I was ready to give in but Lou showed us both how to love the water and thanks to her hard work I now have a water baby that I can't get out the pool! She's a credit to the Puddle Ducks team! Jessica & Rose
Rachael
Rachael is an amazing teacher, always makes Aston feel very comfortable in the water even when he’s having an off day, she was also very supportive when I was heavily pregnant doing any activities that involved lifting Aston herself, she’s brilliant couldn’t ask for a better teacher x Abbie & Aston
Rachel's enthusiasm is exceptional. My son Jack has found the transition to little dippers really hard but her positive praise and differentiation of activities is excellent. He is now starting to enjoy swimming again and getting his confidence back again. He was beaming throughout most of the lesson this week and in the past he has been so upset we've had to leave. Thank you so much Rachel! Claire & Jack
Absolutely fantastic! We always leave the class with smiley toddlers and the twins have made so much progress with her, we just live our swimming lessons! Elodie & Elliott
Kerry
She’s so encouraging and friendly. Emma & Lottie
Kerry is so dedicated to her job, she shows amazing passion to all the children she teaches. Kerry has patience with the children and you can tell she loves what she does. My son adores Kerry and I firmly believe Kerry is one of the reasons he loves the water and Swimming so much!! Please let Kerry win!! Tracy & Cameron
I don't need 150 words...Kerry is fabulous! She has a great enthusiasm and fun nature which makes me and my son enjoy every lesson. Kerry most certainly deserves teacher of the term. Laura & Joe
Kerry expertly handles a class full of very wilful 2 year old boys all intent on trying to out roar and splash each other rather than learning to swim! Amy & Louis
Kerry deserves this award more than any other teacher we've had at Puddle Ducks because she is enthusiastic, approachable and always know her children in the class. she makes the classes fun and packed full of activities. Lauren & Jude
Kerry is a brilliant teacher. Her instructions are really clear. Jasmine is really nervous about going under water but Kerry is really supportive and understanding of her fear but also encouraging. She is really helping to build her confidence in the water. Jasmine really looks forward to her lessons with Kerry. Katie & Jasmine
I was a little worried at first about the change of teacher for Nancy this term but Kerry has welcomed her with open arms. Nancy has always been quite serious in her swimming lessons but now she's laughing and clapping her way through. Kerry's teaching style is friendly and focused. She's always "on it". Not a second of a session is wasted and i really feel that Nancy is getting the most out of all of her time in the water. Thank you Kerry! Lucy & Nancy
Yesterday was Olivia’s first ever swimming lesson and we couldn’t have asked for a teacher as wonderful as Kerry! Kerry was incredibly kind, patient and very understanding of Olivia’s ability. Kerry made Olivia feel happy, relaxed and comfortable in the water and ultimately, Olivia felt she could trust Kerry and not feel frightened despite it being Olivia’s first time. We can’t wait for next weeks lesson with Kerry! Sophie & Olivia
Rebecca
Amazing, supportive, encouraging, patient, enthusiastic. Just brilliant in every way, Rebecca is a fantastic teacher! Liana & Ava-Rose
We started the floaters class in the new year, Rebecca couldn't have been more welcoming. She's great with the babies, always happy and smiley and quick to praise the babies achievements in the pool. I feel at ease and in good hands and Darcie loves kicking and splashing in the pool and we will continue to enjoy our weekly swimming sessions with Rebecca as Darcie progresses through the stages. Kayleigh & Darcie
Beckie is consistently positive and creates an atmosphere of calm and fun. She is enthusiastic and has ensured my granddaughter receives positive feedback. Shirley & Willow
She is so patient and kind with the babies and a fantastic teacher. Vivienne & William
Fay
Although Fay has only been teaching our class for a short time she has settled in well with our group. She is enthusiastic and engaging with the children. Parker loves his lessons with Fay. Kerry & Parker
My husband and I have watched Fay grow in confidence as a new swim teacher. With her gentleness and compassion for every child in her lesson we've seen our sons break through barriers. Caleb has the confidence to put his face in the water and will tread with a woggle. Isaiah can't wait to get into his lessons where he confidently does his duckling dives and has come on so well with his kicking. Julie, Caleb & Isaiah
Fay has been really supportive and has built a good rapport with all three of our children, adapting the lesson to suit their individual abilities. We have found her to approachable and friendly at all times. Sophie & Chloe