Jayne Hackett

I began my career in the children’s workforce as an early years practitioner in a day nursery. This is where my passion for working with the 0-7 age group was ignited.

My experience within a school-based setting across the Early Years Foundation and Key Stage 1 phases equipped me with the skills and knowledge required to establish and manage a community-based playgroup which had strong links to a local children’s centre. The group offered the children learning and development opportunities but also provided their families with additional support services.

My transition into higher education began with supporting a local college in co-writing and teaching on a BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies degree. I also had experience as an assessor on the Early Years Initial Teaching Programme and as a placement co-ordinator, both of which required liaising and securing strong links with industry.

After securing a full-time lecturing position here at University College Birmingham in 2014, I became the Childhood Studies foundation degree programme manager. In 2017 I won the first ever Spotlight on Great Teaching Award and feel extremely honoured that University College Birmingham students took the time to vote for me. I am now the programme manager for both the Level 4 and 5 Children, Young People and Families Apprenticeships and the first year Early Childhood Studies manager. I currently teach across a variety of full and part-time programmes within the school and my favourite place to be is in the classroom with our wonderful learners.

I am a director on a multi-academy trust with a specialism in early years, a qualified Designated Safeguarding Lead and am also the lead Special Educational Needs Trustee. I am excited about the prospect of beginning my doctoral study exploring professional identity and leadership within the early years workforce.

Although I now teach the next generation of early years professionals, my passion for making a difference to the lives of young children still burns as brightly as it did when my career first began.

Enhancing Employability for Professional Practice
Children’s Voice
Research project (face to face and online)
Research for Enquiry Creativity and play in the early years
Behaviour and Individual differences
Communication and language
The Early Years Framework Growth, learning and development
Maths and science in the Curriculum
Principles of learning
Safeguarding
Work in Partnership and managing inter-professional teams
Multi-agency working Supporting children's wellbeing and resilience

Widening participation and the development of the higher education student identity

Andragogic approaches to supporting student centred learning in Higher Education

Professional Identity and Leadership within the Early Years Workforce

Young children’s creativity and criticality

The Voice of the Child

Director on the Equitas Academies Trust Board

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Trustee Lead for Special Educational Needs

Member of the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network