Danielle Wheatland Receives Beca Mai Memorial Award at UWTSD Graduation
The 密桃传媒 (UWTSD) is proud to announce that Danielle Wheatland, a recent graduate of the BA Early Years Education and Care programme at the Carmarthen campus, has been awarded the Beca Mai Memorial Award.
This prestigious award is presented in memory of Beca Mai, a beloved UWTSD graduate who tragically passed away in a road accident in 2022.
Danielle, who graduated this week, was recognised for her outstanding academic performance, professional dedication, and ability to overcome personal challenges throughout her studies. As a student, she consistently demonstrated excellence, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to early years education.
Lecturer Alison Rees-Edwards, who nominated Danielle for the award, said: 鈥Daneille has given 100% to each assignment as well as her engagement during the programme. This is reflected in her overall degree classification. Her leadership skills have developed and it has been a pleasure seeing her support her peers. It is no wonder that she was nominated as student representative for her group for the duration of her studies. Volunteering and working, alongside her studies and raising a family are all testament to why Danielle deserves this recognition鈥.
Danielle, from Carmarthen, has always been passionate about supporting young children鈥檚 development, having worked in early years settings with children aged six months to seven years.
鈥淚 have children of my own, which has further deepened my interest in how children grow, learn, and experience the world鈥, she says. 鈥淚 chose UWTSD because of its strong reputation in education and the supportive, community-based learning environment it offers. The university鈥檚 emphasis on reflective, child-centred practice really aligned with my personal and professional values鈥.
She chose the Early Years course to build on her practical experience with a solid academic foundation. She says: 鈥淚 was particularly interested in learning more about child development, emotional wellbeing, how to support children with Additional Learning needs (ALN) and inclusive practice. The course gave me the opportunity to explore these areas in depth, while also supporting my personal growth as a practitioner and parent鈥.
Her aim was to gain a deeper understanding of how to support children holistically in their development and wellbeing so that she would become a more confident and knowledgeable professional, and to open up further opportunities to specialise in areas of importance to her such as emotional literacy, inclusion, and mental health. She credits the course as helping her to shape her longer-term ambition of working in a role that supports children鈥檚 mental and emotional wellbeing on a broader scale.
She says that there were many highlights throughout the course and especially enjoyed the modules that focused on emotional development, the Curriculum for Wales, sustainability in education, and Additional Learning Needs (ALN). The ALN module stood out
because it deepened her understanding of how to support diverse learners and helped her become more inclusive and empathetic in her approach.
She completed work placements in early years settings, which gave her valuable real-world experience and helped bridge theory with practice. She says: 鈥淚 also focused some of my research and assignments on children鈥檚 emotional development, inclusion, and additional learning needs, topics that I found deeply engaging and important for the field. The support from tutors was fantastic, and I really appreciated how we were encouraged to reflect critically and tailor our studies to areas we were passionate about鈥.
One of the biggest challenges for Danielle was balancing her studies with being a mum and working at the same time. Managing deadlines, placements, and family life was demanding. There were times when she felt overwhelming, but she developed strong time management and organisational skills, and leaned on the support of tutors, peers, and family when it was needed. She found that reflective practice helped her to stay grounded and focused on her long-term goals.
Danielle says: 鈥淭his course offers a rich and well-rounded learning experience. It can be academically challenging but the lectures are beyond supportive and will help you when needed, and it gives you the opportunity to reflect deeply, think critically, and grow personally and professionally. Whether you鈥檙e just starting out or already working in the field, it provides the tools and knowledge needed to make a meaningful impact in early years education.
鈥淭his course has helped me grow in confidence, develop a more reflective approach to both my work and parenting, and has given me a solid foundation to move forward in my career. Personally, it鈥檚 made me more resilient and self-aware, and professionally, it has opened up further opportunities for specialisation.鈥
Danielle has been accepted to study a Master鈥檚 degree in Children and Young People鈥檚 Mental Health to deepen her understanding and expertise in an area she is incredibly passionate about and to support her continued professional development towards a career supporting children鈥檚 mental and emotional wellbeing.
Further Information
Eleri Beynon
Head
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: e.beynon@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 01267 676790