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Lauren Whale

Lauren Whale BA Hons, MA,PGCE, FHEA

Senior Lecturer in Early Years

Lauren is a Senior lecturer (Early years) and has worked at the Çï¿ûÊÓƵ since 2015. Lauren is the phase lead for the Early Teacher Status, Initial Teacher Education (EYTS ITE) and teaches on the early years BA programme. She is currently the joint tutor for the first years.

Lauren has a professional background in Early years, working and leading in settings for over 20 years within the private, voluntary and independent sector.  Her last position within the Early Years sector was as a manager in a nursery for funded two-year-olds in a deprived area of Kent. Lauren has also worked for a local authority as a moderator for children’s development.

Lauren is passionate about the benefits of developing reflective practice in Early Years students and trainees and believes this strategy is a step towards bridging the gap between theory and practice. Lauren has a reflective, social pedagogy that involves working with families, not just the children, to make a positive impact on well-being, developing resilience and quality practice. Her areas of interest are developing practitioners’ leadership skills through a variety of strategies and supporting students to achieve high-quality practice through a triangulation of communication.

Lauren is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an accredited mentor for the Early Years Teacher Status ITE.

Posts previously held

  • 2019-2023- Teaching fellow (Çï¿ûÊÓƵ)
  • 2015-2019- EYTS ITE Mentor (Çï¿ûÊÓƵ)
  • 2014-2015 Nursery Manager
  • 2014-2015 Local Authority Moderator for children’s development.
  • 2013-2014 Head of Preschool
  • 2012-2013 Senior Nursery Nurse
  • 2005-2012 Foundation Stage Teaching Assistant
  • 2009-2012 Leader of breakfast and after-school club
  • 2010-2011 Childminder
  • 2003-2005 Toddler Room Leader
  • 1999-2000 Deputy Supervisor of Nursery
  • 1999-2000 Coordinator of After School/Holiday Club
  • 1995-1999 Nursery nurse, promoted to Deputy

Early years studies

Responsibilities within the university
  • Phase lead for EYTS ITE- Developing and delivering the curriculum for the Early Years Teacher Status programme. Quality assuring and training mentors affiliated with the programme. Tutor to all trainees
  • Senior Lecturer- Teaching a range of modules across the BA (Early Years), supervising dissertations and tutor to first-year students
  • MA dissertation supervisor
  • Safeguarding Trainer- Delivering training sessions at levels 1, 2 and 3

Recognition
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • An accredited mentor for the Early Years Teacher Status ITE

Research / Scholarly interests

Currently writing a collaborative book on developing a creative curriculum, to be published by Sage.

Key funded projects

  • 2015, London Providers, Best Practice Guide: Supporting Early Years Teachers Status (Initial Teachers Training) MENTORING

Recent publications
  • Books:   Harrison, J., Munn, H., Thistle, R., Atkins, L. and Whale, L (2022) Leadership in early childhood Challenges and complexities London, Sage.

Presentations
  • ‘Play and our changing world’ – ‘Building on play’ 28th September 2023 Maritime Museum Greenwich
  • Wandsworth Early Years Conference ‘Embracing best practice’ 31st October 2023