Pedagogical professional and coach, Hilversum

Lotte started as an intern and grew to become an educational coach at Paddington 

Lotte wanted to do her second internship, just like her first, at Paddington Hilversum but her school didn’t allow it. Unless she would work there alongside her studies. “Well then, let’s do that,” she was told. Ten years later, she is still a familiar face as an Childcare professional in the group and for her colleagues, whom she now supports as an educational coach.

Ready for a new challenge

“Toward the end of last year I noticed I was ready for a new challenge something fresh, a new spark. I shared that with Hetty and Shanna, my managers. No formal hassle with a manager of a manager of a manager; I feel comfortable walking into their office about anything. They make that very clear too: ‘You tell us what you need, how can we support you?’ In a small organisation like Paddington, you truly matter. That’s also our goal: we want it to be a pleasant place for both children and team.”

Training to become an educational coach

In het verleden bleek tijdelijk minder werken een goede oplossing. Daar kreeg ik alle ruimte voor. En dus ook bij het vinden van mijn nieuwe uitdaging: dat bleek een zij-rol als pedagogisch coach, waarvoor ik inmiddels een verkorte opleiding heb gedaan. Afgelopen april behaalde ik mijn diploma!”, vertelt Lotte trots.

“My colleagues gave me all the space to step into that role”

Alongside her work as an Childcare professional in the 0–2 age group, Lotte now coaches her colleagues in their pedagogical practice and on policy. “At first that took some getting used to, because you have very different kinds of conversations. But my colleagues gave me all the space to step into that role, which feels very safe. They’re genuinely open to my advice.”

“If I look at who I was when my placement started and who I am now… I’ve grown enormously within this organisation. I feel very confident in my work and I truly stand behind the choices I make.”