Ms Gemma M Ryder

My passion for working in early childhood began when I qualified as an NNEB trained Nursery Nurse, working in a private day nursery and progressing into the role of a Senior Nursery Nurse with the 0-5 years age group. My experience led me to work in Further Education as an Early Years Work Placement Coordinator for students studying on the CACHE childcare and education courses. I have worked in Higher Education for 5 years as an assessor, mentor and Programme Leader on the Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) pathways and as an early childhood lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University and the University of East London. I have worked with private and not-for-profit day nurseries, private and state schools and families and have also gained practical experience shadowing and supporting staff at Head Start / Early Head Start organisations and a paediatric centre for children with special educational needs and disabilities in Chicago and Joliet, Illinois. My first degree is a BSc (Hons) in Health Sciences and I have a Masters in Early Years Professional Practice. I have additionally completed the Early Years Professional Status (EYPS) training and have PG Cert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. I am currently studying for a Professional Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) and am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. 

I am particularly passionate about workforce development and early childhood leadership, reflective practice, developing communities of practice and the development of prosocial skills in the under-3s age group. My experiences teaching on the EYPS / EYITT programmes have allowed me to specialise in understanding the needs of undergraduate and postgraduate early childhood professionals and the impact higher level learning has within the sector.