I have been involved in early years education for over 40 years, initially starting out as a volunteer at a summer playscheme at the tender age of 16 years before going on to complete my teacher training. As an Early Years lead, I taught in a range of schools in Birmingham including a special school and a community day nursery. I am passionate about giving all of our young children the best start in life and providing a stimulating and challenging environment. My particular areas of expertise within early years are effective pedagogy, special needs and safeguarding.
Following a successful teaching career I took a secondment, firstly to the local authority’s specialist under-five team, working with settings and families to support children under five years with special educational needs, then moved into advisory teaching and an Area SENCo role. In 2001, I began working at Solihull Council as an Area Inclusion Coordinator, before taking on a role as an Early Years and School Improvement Adviser supporting schools and settings, including childminders, with all aspects of early years provision. I developed and delivered an extensive range of training courses which were very well received by practitioners.
I felt it was time for a change, and I left Solihull at the end of 2017, to take a short break and recharge my batteries. I then took up a temporary position as an Early Years and Safeguarding Adviser with a charity in Birmingham before applying for the Early Years adviser post in Warwickshire.
I look forward to getting to know Warwickshire, meeting colleagues and practitioners, and working together to ensure achievement of Warwickshire’s new Education Strategy.