About

My first degree was a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies which I gained at Sheffield Hallam University in 1998. I completed my MSc in Psychology in 1999 and then worked on projects developing and delivering pre-entry learning programmes within the learning disability field.

I returned to Sheffield Hallam University in 2007 when I gained Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) alongside a Postgraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Studies. This led to a change in career direction and I became the manager and Early Years Professional of a newly developed private nursery setting. In 2008 I completed training to become an Early Years Professional Assessor.

I was appointed to the role as lecturer in Early Years in 2009 and initially taught on the Foundation degree in Early Years and on the routes to EYPS and later EYTS. I gained a Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education in 2010 and became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I completed training to become a Thrive practitioner and Thrive trainer in 2014.

I am currently a senior lecturer in Early Years and have the responsibility of the course leader role for the Foundation degree in Early Years and Foundation degree in Education and Learning Support. I teach on these and other degrees within the department. I am also the year leader for level five of Early Childhood Studies.

I am in the final stages of my PhD. My research explores discourses of creativity and curiosity within early years practice

Teaching

Department of Education, Childhood and Inclusion

College of Social Sciences and Arts

I teach on the Foundation degrees in Early Years and Education and Learning Support and am module leader for a range of modules concerned with enhancing and developing effective early years pedagogy and practice. I have a particular teaching interest in reflective and research informed practice, emotional intelligence, teamwork and leadership and ethical research with young children. In addition I teach on the Early Childhood Studies degree and on the Masters in Education.

FdA Early Years

FdA Education and Learning Support

BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies

MA Education

Publications

Other activities

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Author of the chapter ‘Creativity, Curiosity and Resilience’. In D. Fitzgerald & E. Maconichie (2018). Early Childhood Studies: A student's guide. London: Sage.