My Story

"The earliest years in a child’s life make the biggest impact. Home-Start Hertfordshire makes sure those years count so that no child’s future is limited."

As the early career lead at the Alban Teaching School Hub, I've been involved in supporting numerous teachers and their mentors as they embark on their first years of teaching. Arguably, the earliest years in a teacher's career make the biggest impact on their future.   

Supporting our teachers in this way, who in turn support our local children and their families sparked the challenge I decided to conjure up. 

To run and/or cycle to every school we support with the Early Career Framework.

That's now (as of 01.02.24) 202 schools across the Home Start Hertfordshire region. See the map here

Wherever I finish one leg, is where I start the next one. I'll be starting and (eventually) finishing at Sandringham School, home of Alban TSH. I plan to visit each school in stages, completing as soon as I can. It'll be a few hundred miles and lots of logistics!

So why the target of £1601? (I've now had to up it to £1616 - as more have been added! - as of 01/02/24). That's how many early career teachers and mentors have trained with us since the ECF started. With your support, Home Start will continue to help families struggling with post-natal depression, isolation, physical health problems, and bereavement across our region, benefitting the many children who attend our schools. 

Follow my progress via:

Strava, LinkedIn, and X @MrDWSmith

Thanks in advance for your support and donations!