Sarah John receives her BEM

SussexWorld

6 days ago

Sarah John receives her BEM from Lady Emma Barnard

Transcript

00:00...saturday 25th of October 2025, citation, for services to early years.

00:10Sarah John has over 25 years of experience in early years education

00:14and is currently the manager of Spandrews Preschool in Burgess Hill.

00:22Sarah's approach focuses on the holistic well-being of each child,

00:28prioritising their health, development and additional support needs.

00:33She works closely with parents, guiding them through processes that are often challenging.

00:40Sarah is committed to best practices in early childhood education

00:43and her efforts have ensured that hundreds of children

00:47have been able to continue their education with the support that they need.

00:53Sarah extends her support to parents when their children move on.

00:57Supporting their specific needs in their primary education.

01:01The most recent outstanding Hofstede report recognised Sarah's exceptional leadership,

01:09noting that under her guidance,

01:11St Andrews provides an environment where children flourish intellectually,

01:16emotionally and socially.

01:18They are happy and deeply engaged in their learning experiences.

01:21The dedication of the staff allows every child's developmental needs to be fully met.

01:28Sarah has also had to meet personal challenges in battling three auto-immune diseases,

01:35but still supporting children in their care.

01:39Sarah's resilience and determination have made her a pillar of strength for her family.

01:44For her exceptional leadership at St Andrews Pre-School

01:48and her profound impact on early years' education in Burgess Hill,

01:54Sarah John is awarded for the scholarship.

02:04I would just like to say, Sarah, that I am so pleased that this morning you were surrounded by so many of your friends,

02:21your supporters and those you love and in particular online I believe your son Ben is

02:28watching and indeed your niece Sarah and I think Mia Mia apologies Mia and also I think many other

02:38friends are probably watching as well so this is a really wonderful moment on a serious note

02:47here it is and on behalf of his majesty it gives me enormous joy to present you and to invest you

03:01in the British Empire

03:03good round

03:12good morning and thank you all for being here today I'm truly honoured to receive the British

03:40chern fund medal and I must say I was completely shocked when I first found out this is a moment

03:45of treasure forever thank you lady Emma and to all the local councillors who have taken the time to

03:51attend today the presence means so much to my mum and dad my brilliant siblings and my wonderful

03:57children thank you for not only your love but organising the celebrations and to make it today

04:04even more special also to remind my children they love that I'm waiting for support for the past 35

04:11years and I have had the privilege of working in early years in a variety of roles 24 of those I was

04:17part of the team at St Andrews preschool first as a key worker then as a Senko and for the last nine

04:22years as manager during that time receiving three outstanding offices and opening our second successful

04:28setting but what matches most to me over 2500 children came through our doors and I had the

04:36honour of helping them grow learn and become the very best they could be supporting children and their

04:42families especially those with additional needs has always been at the hold of what I do

04:46safeguarding was and always will be my highest priority I have always said no matter what the safety

04:54and well-being of child comes first

05:02St Andrews preschool will always hold a special place in my heart although I stepped down last

05:08November due to my own health I will forever be grateful to the wonderful committee I worked

05:13alongside especially with James and Hazel I must also mention Jill Dunn she was the first person when I

05:20brought my daughter Charlotte for her to the first day we worked side by side for 19 years and even

05:25after she left the team she stayed on as committee member she was there on my first day and on my

05:31last and I'll always be thankful to her thank you to Jill Thompson and her husband for always

05:36believing in me back in 2001 doing some extra training and then again in 2010 when I completed my

05:42degree even after leaving my role I continue to support families and children in any way I can

05:49whether that's through safeguarding form filling or simply being someone to turn to I'm also grateful

05:55to the team at Little It's Glorious who have worked with me so warmly and allowed me to continue to do the work I love

06:00finally my biggest thank you goes to my husband he may have had the Audemone when I was working at

06:0810pm or at the weekend but he never stopped supporting me he cooked dinners he could bind me for every

06:13health challenge and after every difficult safeguarding case he was there with chocolates and flowers

06:19thank you all once again for being here today to share this special moment with me

06:24thank you

06:28thank you

06:32thank you

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