About

I am a the Assistant Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies and a Senior Lecturer lecture here at the University of Derby.

I am the lead for the practitioner pathways of our degree including the lead for the L6 Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies.

Teaching responsibilities

I teach across all three stages of the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies 

Stage 1

•  I am the stage 1 lead and placement lead
• I am the module leader for Emerging Practitioner module and the Play and Creativity module

Stage 2

• I am the module leader for the Creative Approaches to the Curriculum 0-8yrs module
• I teach on the Child Protection module and the Early Years Researcher module 

Stage 3

• I am the module leader for the ISEND module 
• I teach on the Critical Reflective Practitioner module 

Personal Tutor

• I have a small group of tutees at each stage of the degree. I support their professional development and placement experience

Independent Study Supervisor

• I support a number of students during their dissertation

Professional interests

My professional interests include

• Outdoor learning within early years
• Inclusion / SEND
• Play and Creativity
• Child Protection and Safeguarding

Research interests

PhD

I am currently researching 'Children's Relationships with Nature' as part of my PHD

Research

I am working in partnership with Northampton University and Roehampton University in a joint research project:

* 'Exploring practitioner, academics and student experiences and perspectives of Early Childhood Studies Graduate Practitioner Competencies in Building Professional Identities and Relationships'.

Membership of professional bodies

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Qualifications

• MA Education - Early Years Pathway
• BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies
• Postgraduate Certificate in Management Studies
• EYPS
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• NNEB

Recent conferences

Recent Conferences 2022:

• Keynote speaker at the Nursery World Conference April 22
• Keynote speaker at the Early Childhood Studies Conference Feb 22
• Keynote speaker at the ECSDN national conference Jan 22

Experience in industry

I have been working in Early Years and Childhood since I left full time Education. I qualified as a Nursery Nurse completing my NNEB and then studied part time to post graduate level. I have worked in Early Years for over 25 years, with children and their families aged 0-8yrs within a variety of roles including:

• 5 years as a Nominee of a Forest School Nursery
• 4 years as a collaborate partner for FdA in CYPS and SEND
• 5 years as a Curriculum Manager in FE
• 10 years as a Local Authority Advisor for Early Years
• 10 years working within the Early Childhood Sector 

Recent publications

* Wall, S. & Owen, K. (2021). Play in the Great Outdoors.  In Owen, K. (2021) Play in the Early Years. London, Sage