Introducing Sam
Having worked in nurseries and school settings prior to her Early Years Teacher Training, Sam has since worked in adult education and apprenticeships for more than ten years. Since 2017, Sam has worked in awarding and End Point Assessment as an External Quality Assurance (EQA), Independent Assessor (IEPA), and qualification and product developer for some of the UK’s largest awarding organisations.
Sam have leveraged her experience in teaching, learning, assessment, and quality to demonstrate proven improvement to training providers, including removing risk-ratings to centres and ensuring quality journeys for learners. Additionally, she has developed full curriculum plans and associated resources for both standalone diploma and apprenticeship delivery for early years and teaching assistant qualifications. Sam is a digital instructional designer, having completed her Professional Diploma with the Digital Learning Institute and currently undertaking her Level 5 Apprenticeship in Digital Learning Design. Sam also holds a Master's degree in Digital Learning, Technology, and Education, and has vast experiences in working with tools such as Articulate 360 and Animaker.
While studying for one of her master’s degrees, Sam completed research with colleagues in the sector surrounding development opportunities for the Early Years Workforce. She found that barriers to professional development and progression opportunities (such as entry to EYITT programmes) included vocational qualifications ceasing at level 5. Furthermore, the vocational level 5 qualifications available are not always accepted by universities to enter top-up degrees, largely due to the number of credits the qualifications carry. The research findings led to the two-year development of the first Level 6 Ofqual regulated vocational programme in Early Childhood Pedagogy, approved by the DfE as full and relevant and by QAA as an Early Childhood Studies Degree equivalent, in February 2024.
Sam is committed to seeking equity in opportunity for the workforce and for vocational learners in the Early Years sector, and continues her research with her second Doctorate degree. Her research focuses on accessible learning opportunities for vocational learners undertaking early years qualifications.
Further areas of interest include play and pedagogy in the early years, and playful interventions within the education sector, working with parents and/or carers in a coaching capacity, and developing an understanding of children's regulation and responses. She has developed a range of certified programmes with both NCFE CACHE and TQUK in these areas. Sam is also Parent Coach and Therapeutic Play Practitioner, actively working in practice, and offers Coaching and Therapeutic training, accredited by the ACCPH and TQUK or CACHE. Part of Sam's current work is the design of the CalmPlay Method, a practical intervention methodology to implement within schools and other settings with children. CalmPlay is a method to support regulation through playful techniques, which is accessible for all children. Sam is also an ICF Certified Trauma Informed Coach.
In addition to independent development, research, and consultancy work, Sam is leading the 2024 Early Years Educator reforms for one of the largest Awarding and End Point Assessment organisations in the UK, in readiness for ‘first teach’ in September.
Sam lives in Derbyshire with her husband and two daughters. Away from work and research, Sam can be found in theme parks or at music venues.
Sam have leveraged her experience in teaching, learning, assessment, and quality to demonstrate proven improvement to training providers, including removing risk-ratings to centres and ensuring quality journeys for learners. Additionally, she has developed full curriculum plans and associated resources for both standalone diploma and apprenticeship delivery for early years and teaching assistant qualifications. Sam is a digital instructional designer, having completed her Professional Diploma with the Digital Learning Institute and currently undertaking her Level 5 Apprenticeship in Digital Learning Design. Sam also holds a Master's degree in Digital Learning, Technology, and Education, and has vast experiences in working with tools such as Articulate 360 and Animaker.
While studying for one of her master’s degrees, Sam completed research with colleagues in the sector surrounding development opportunities for the Early Years Workforce. She found that barriers to professional development and progression opportunities (such as entry to EYITT programmes) included vocational qualifications ceasing at level 5. Furthermore, the vocational level 5 qualifications available are not always accepted by universities to enter top-up degrees, largely due to the number of credits the qualifications carry. The research findings led to the two-year development of the first Level 6 Ofqual regulated vocational programme in Early Childhood Pedagogy, approved by the DfE as full and relevant and by QAA as an Early Childhood Studies Degree equivalent, in February 2024.
Sam is committed to seeking equity in opportunity for the workforce and for vocational learners in the Early Years sector, and continues her research with her second Doctorate degree. Her research focuses on accessible learning opportunities for vocational learners undertaking early years qualifications.
Further areas of interest include play and pedagogy in the early years, and playful interventions within the education sector, working with parents and/or carers in a coaching capacity, and developing an understanding of children's regulation and responses. She has developed a range of certified programmes with both NCFE CACHE and TQUK in these areas. Sam is also Parent Coach and Therapeutic Play Practitioner, actively working in practice, and offers Coaching and Therapeutic training, accredited by the ACCPH and TQUK or CACHE. Part of Sam's current work is the design of the CalmPlay Method, a practical intervention methodology to implement within schools and other settings with children. CalmPlay is a method to support regulation through playful techniques, which is accessible for all children. Sam is also an ICF Certified Trauma Informed Coach.
In addition to independent development, research, and consultancy work, Sam is leading the 2024 Early Years Educator reforms for one of the largest Awarding and End Point Assessment organisations in the UK, in readiness for ‘first teach’ in September.
Sam lives in Derbyshire with her husband and two daughters. Away from work and research, Sam can be found in theme parks or at music venues.