A North London schoolteacher has been nominated for Collection Pot’s Teacher of the Year competition after helping an anxious 4-year-old settle into school.

Miss Fagan teaches the nursery class at Millbrook Park School in Barnet and has been nominated by parent, Kay Pang. Kay was moved to put Miss Fagan forward after witnessing her completely change her daughter's attitude to school.

“My daughter suffers from anxiety, and for the first week of school, she cried every morning and refused to go in. But Miss Fagan didn’t brush it off or push her aside. She gave her time, introduced her to friends, and created a space where she felt safe.” Kay said.

She highlighted how Miss Fagan went the extra mile and sat with her daughter every everyday and slowly integrated her with the rest of the class.

“When my daughter finally walked in without crying, Miss Fagan and her team celebrated her like it was the biggest victory, and for us, it was.” Kay said.

“It’s those thoughtful touches that show how deeply she cares, not just for the class as a whole, but for each individual child. Every time I speak to her, she knows exactly how my daughter is doing, not just in learning, but emotionally, socially, and with genuine insight.” She continued.

Collection Pot’s Teacher of the Year competition 2025 aims to celebrate the exceptional dedication of teachers, teaching assistants, support staff, and headteachers in schools across the nation.

Nominations are open until June 22nd, and the winner will be announced on July 4th.