Early Childhood in Society (Graduate Practitioner) BA (Hons)

Nicola Stobbs

Nicola began her professional life as a primary school teacher. She undertook various leadership positions during this time, including assuming responsibility for creative play.

Nicola developed an interest in early years and managed a pre-school setting for many years. During this time, she wrote articles for “Practical Pre-school” magazine, joined Local Authority working parties, ran courses and was invited to contribute to the “National Primary Strategies”.  Nicola undertook her MA in Early Childhood and researched ways of supporting children who are socially withdrawn.   Her research included gathering evidence on comparative approaches to early years education and care.  A visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy, inspired her to consider the importance of the environment on learning. 

In September 2012 Nicola took up a post within the School of Education with professional expertise in the field of parenting and families. She became a Fellow of The Higher Education Academy in 2014.

In 2017 Nicola became a Course Leader in the Department for Children and Families. She is committed to ensuring that students have a fulfilling experience as they prepare for work with children and families.          

Dr Carla Solvason

In Carla's current role as senior lecturer at the University of Worcester her key area of responsibility is around the area of research. This involves ensuring that student practitioners are given the support that they need to carry out worthwhile research projects, but also encouraging colleagues to reach their full research potential. Her key research interest is the topic of ethicality and how we can embed this within professional development and caring research. With her colleague, Rosie Walker, she has co-authored a book to support Early Years practitioners in their research projects, which is now the key text for students on the course.

Stuart Gallagher

Stuart’s interests lie in the development of change-makers in children's services through higher education. His work aims to support students and colleagues to integrate personal development with practice change.

Previously, Stuart was a School Lead at an independent Steiner Waldorf school, Education Welfare Officer in two English local authorities, and an informal and non-formal educator.

Michelle Rogers

Michelle has worked in Higher Education for the past fourteen years, both in an FE college and as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Worcester. During her time at University Michelle has been involved with curriculum development and designing online learning environment. More recently she lead the development of a flexible and distributed pathway for a Foundation Degree.

Prior to working in Higher Education Michelle's interests were in autism in early years, behaviour conduct disorders, early development psychology and enhancing the learning environment. Her current research interests revolve around teaching and learning, online learning, the student experience, online curriculum development and online communities of practice.

Nicola Watson

Having majored in Philosophy in her first degree, Nicola went on to train as a solicitor working predominantly in the area of family law and mental health. During this period Nicola became interested in Alternative Dispute Resolution and trained as a Lawyer Mediator working for many years with separating couples; enabling and facilitating them to reach agreements themselves rather than resorting to court proceedings.

In 2001 Nicola returned to teaching working mainly in Early Years but also in the primary sector. As a teacher, Nicola drew upon her experiences as a mediator to support children to manage conflicts and social relationships This formed the basis of her dissertation during her M.A. studies.

Nicola feels passionately about promoting the interests of the least powerful in society, protecting the environment and non-human animals.

Alison Prowle

Alison has extensive experience of early years provision and family intervention (including the role of parenting), as an academic,a front-line practitioner and as a senior manager in local government.

Following several years teaching in primary and secondary phases, she became Head of Department in a large urban comprehensive school. Subsequently, she worked for a number of years in various community development roles and as a Development Manager for SureStart. In 2007, she was appointed as Integrated Services Manager for Children, Young People and Families within the education department of a Welsh Local Authority. Within this role, Alison had responsibility for a range of programmes including early years services, parenting and family support, integrated children's centres , play provision, pupil referral units and the education welfare service. During this time, she worked closely with Welsh Government in the development and roll out of the Flying Start Programme and Families First Initiative.

Since joining the Department for Children & Families in 2012, Alison has enjoyed teaching across a number of programmes, retaining specific interests in parenting, integrated working, leadership and childhood adversity.

Michelle Malomo

Michelle Malomo is a Senior Lecturer in the Department for Children and Families within the School of Education. Michelle lectures on a number of courses within the Department for Children and Families. She is the Partnership Co-ordinator for the Foundation Degree in Early Years. 

Michelle is a qualified Early Years and Playwork Practitioner with experience in both the private and voluntary sector. Her experience includes management with the Early Years sector youth and children’s development work within the voluntary sector. Michelle has worked in a range of settings and has been responsible for the development of social action projects with children, young people and families.

Sue Baylis

Sue has worked with children and their families or carers in a range of statutory and private organisations in education and social care over the last 25 years. Her career in early years work began in an early years setting for 60 children in rural Worcestershire and developed over the years as she learned more about children with disabilities, child protection and family support. In later years, her role as a practitioner expanded to include work with children with moderate to severe disability and others who had a diagnosis of autism. Her interest in children with autism grew and she worked for 6 years specialising in supporting children with ASD at a nursery assessment unit in Worcester City Centre. Sue's values and beliefs are grounded in giving children positive experiences, a sense of self-worth and valuing their contribution.

Thomas Weaver

Tom works as a Senior Lecturer across two Departments in the University of Worcester,  the Department for Children and Families and the Department for Primary Initial Teacher Education. 

Tom’s research interests include transpersonal psychology and transpersonal education and how these relate to work with children and families in different contexts; student engagement and student voice and the balance between support and challenge in a Higher Education context; and the teaching of mathematics, particularly approaches that reduce potential anxiety.

In a wider context, Tom is the School of Education Student Survey co-ordinator with responsibility to supporting students and staff in engaging with the surveys and making use of the outcomes. He also Chairs the Department for Children and Families Steering Group which explores ways for the University to engage with the Children and Families sector.