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• BA in Early Years Education
• MA in Youth and Community Work
• Fluent Welsh speaker 
• ÃÜÌÒ´«Ã½ing for a PGCertHE

I play a part in the design and development process of module content within my current role of Early Years lecturer, planning for each individual module and communicating purposes and aspirations to students. 

My ongoing commitment to professional enhancement is evident through practice, by reviewing lesson plans and attending further training. I was fortunate to see firsthand the teaching methods used in Reggio Emilia, Italy. This experience helped me to develop my ability to better support the construction of meaning for children and young people.

Coming from Early Years practice (0–8 age range), I have always recognized the importance of a full and equal partnership with families, children, and other professionals. Collaborating with those professionals and the families involved allowed me to promote children’s learning and development, building upon their successful future.

I am flexible in terms of working on different campuses and have been travelling between both Carmarthen and Swansea since starting work at the University. I have also taught part-time flexi groups, with lectures being delivered in the evening and on occasional Saturdays. 

Playful pedagogies

My main interest is in play and its importance to child development. Alongside my colleague, I have started to explore external funding opportunities with Pembrokeshire council, as they identified that practitioners in their area would benefit from seeing the relevance of play to education. Participants are encouraged to engage in imaginative and collaborative activities, where the focus remains on exploration, fun, experimentation, and the freedom to explore new ways of thinking and interacting without the pressure of a structured outcome. 

Following on from the success of the training, we are now arranging follow-up sessions on observation and assessment for those delegates.

Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol

My past project work has also included learning workshops in partnership with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. These workshops had the objective of widening access for Welsh students, in the hope of increasing the number of young people entering higher education. This helped in giving a basis for my further research in promoting widening access and equality of opportunity in higher education.

Employability week

I also help in the running of our employability week which is aimed at enhancing students’ knowledge and confidence to increase their employability skills. Overall, our employability week prepares students for the job market and their future by bridging the gap between their academic studies and practical job-seeking skills. This area is of interest to me because I can help in enhancing student outcomes and get to see our students succeed. 

The event is also a great opportunity to interact with other professionals, the activity of which has often led to collaborations, guest lectures and insights that enrich my/and others’ understanding within the field. 

Unlocking creativity through play

A new workshop that a colleague and I are currently working on is unlocking creativity through play. The objectives are to understand the connection between play and creativity and to learn about techniques to incorporate play into daily routines or work environments to foster creativity.