Miss Helen Sutherland

Over the past 17 years I have taught, led, developed, and designed a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and modules.  I have worked collaboratively across the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education, working with different departments within the School of Education, Social Work and Midwifery including School Centred Initial Teacher Training partners. 

I have shared my knowledge of early years including international perspectives and wellbeing on a range of inter-professional courses including BA Primary, BA Working with Children and Young People, BA Early Years and BA Child Centred Interprofessional Practice. Using the research and innovative resources created by the EU grant projects (TODDLER, ToWe and ETEIP) I ensure my teaching is research-led and research-informed. 

I have also disseminated my knowledge to Kingston University's Bi-Lateral partners including Thomas More, Mechelen, Belgium, Högskolan i Gävle, Sweden, Blanquerna,  Univesitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain, and Kirchliche Pädagogische Hochschule, Vienna, Austria.  This has led to innovative teaching and learning opportunities influencing students' educational provision and practice.

I am currently the Course Leader for the PGCE Birth to Five with Early Years Teacher Status where I have designed, developed, and implemented a phased curriculum and range of assessment opportunities to support the students' attainment of the Early Years Teacher Status.  One being an enrichment activity of short-term international visits to Sweden to provide students with an alternative international perspective on early years provision.

Through my role as an External Examiner, I have worked with a number of universities to support the development of their early years programmes using my early years knowledge and practice.

Course director

• Early Years Teacher Birth to 5 leading to Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) PGCE

Courses taught

• Primary Teaching leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) PGCE
• Primary Education (QTS) BA (Hons)

I have been involved in the writing of a number of EU bids, the ToWe and ETEIP Project both having research aspects built within them.  The ToWe Project involved my leadership in ensuring that the ethical materials and guidelines produced were adhered to.  I was involved in the design, implementation, data gathering and analysis of the research contributing to the ToWe Projects Case Study Impact Report.  This has led to opportunities to present and publish the results. 

I have engaged with and supported the Principal Investigator in the Hedge Fun(d) commissioned research and Impact Report, trialing the FAB APP for 3-6 years with Kingston University's Alumni.

Grants and Funding:

• ETEIP Project (2019-2021[2022]) Education and Teaching in Early Years from International Perspectives. ERASMUS +, Key Action 2, School Education Strategic Partnership Project. [2019-SE01-KA201-060552] https://internationalearlyyearshub.eu
• ToWe Project (2015-2018) Enhancing the Education and Wellbeing of Disadvantaged Toddlers through the Development of Training and Materials to Support Early Years Practitioners. ERASMUS +, Key Action 2, School Education Strategic Partnership Project. [2015-1-UK01-13431] https://www.toddlerswellbeing.co.uk

• TODDLER Project (2010 - 2013) Towards Opportunities for Disadvantages and Diverse Learners on the Early-childhood Road.  Lifelong Learning Programme Comenius, [61609-LLP-I-2010-NO-COMENIUS-CMP]   http://www.toddlerineurope.eu (website no longer active)

Qualifications

• MA in Professional Studies in Education (Management and Leadership)
• Principal Investigator for ToWe Project
• Lead Investigator for Kingston University for ETEIP Project
• Lead Investigator for Kingston University for TODDLER Project

Specialisms

• Early Years: Birth to five
• Toddler Wellbeing

Since 2009, I have been involved in the writing and collaborative partnerships of 3 international strategic partnerships for the European Commission and British Council. These successful grant bids have provided opportunities to develop pedagogical approaches and materials to support students, practitioners and teachers working within early years across Europe.  As well as providing Continuing Professional Development opportunities through course materials, manuals, mobility visits and job shadowing.  These have led to successful knowledge transfer and exchange with students, practitioners and teachers developing and improving their provision and practice through the use of the training, materials and strategies provided.  I have also had the pleasure of leading the ToWe Project, working collaboratively with HEI and early years setting partners, ensuring that the outcomes of the project were met, reporting to the European Commission and British Council (including progress, interim, final, and financial reports) and managing the ToWe Project International Conference held at Kingston University in March 2018.

These international development projects have led to some consultancy roles and involvement in professional and academic networks.  The most significant consultancy role to date is with the Hedge Fun Educational Team, a Start-up Venture Capital and Private Equity Company with Headquarters in Bangkok.  This consultancy involves developing a birth to three framework to support parents in understanding, engaging, and learning with their baby and/or toddler. We are designing an approach to support parents in recognising their child's voice and providing ways of identifying, supporting, and extending patterns of learning within a flexible framework to co-learn, co-create, and co-explore possibilities and spaces with their baby and toddler facilitating their unique patterns for learning.  There hopefully will be video-clips, activities, information, materials, resources to help support engagement with their baby and/or toddler in playful learning - actively engaging in unique ways of feeling, thinking, and doing. https://fabapp.co.uk/

Qualifications and Professional expertise

• MA in Professional Studies in Education (Management and Leadership)
• Principle Investigator - Pingu's English Research - Evaluation and Scoping Review Report (September to December 2023)
• Lead Investigator for Kingston University - ETEIP Project (2019-2021[2022]) Education and Teaching in Early Years from International Perspectives. ERASMUS +, Key Action 2, School Education Strategic Partnership Project. [2019-SE01-KA201-060552]
• Lead Investigator for Kingston University - TODDLER Project (2010-2013) Towards Opportunities for Disadvantaged and Diverse Learners on the Early-childhood Road. European Union, Lifelong Learning Programme, Comenius, [61609-LLP-I-2010-NO-COMENIUS-CMP]
• Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Post Compulsory Education and Training)

Areas of interest

• Supporting early years practitioners and teachers in developing the wellbeing of disadvantaged toddlers'
• Developing and supporting students' reflective skills
• Developing students' experience of internationalisation

The EU grant Projects have enabled my research-led teaching and professional practice to be used to benefit and support a wide range of early years stakeholders.  I have developed Continuing Professional Development opportunities for early years practitioners and teachers through international job-shadowing and mobility visits in England, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.  I have led and organised an International Conference/Workshop disseminating the ToWe project results and creating knowledge exchange between HEI and Early Years Partners sharing experience and expertise.  I have led and organised a Local Conference on the ETEIP Project attended by Kingston University students, alumni and early years professionals from Kingston and Richmond Children's Services.   I have also contributed to knowledge exchange through my engagement in both professional and civic organisations, associations, networks, and communities of practice.  Through this work I have influenced educational early years provision and practice with practitioners and teachers developing shared pedagogic strategies in supporting toddlers' wellbeing and currently challenging early years values and perspectives through the use of reflection, internationalisation and shared practice. 

Qualifications and expertise

• Early Years Expert for the Department for Education Early Years Covid Recovery Programme (1st September 2022 to 31st July 2024)
• Consultancy on: Pingu's English Digitisation Project - Pingu's English Stage 1 Evaluation and Scoping Review Report for Linguaphone Group (12th September 2023 - 19th December 2023)
• External Examiner: University of Brighton for the Post Graduate Certificate in Education Early Years Education with Early Years Teacher Status (1st September 2022 - 30th September 2026)
• Co-opted Governor: Surbiton Hill Nursery School (14th October 2021 to present)
• Lead Investigator, Kingston University: ETEIP Project (2019-2021 [2022]) Education and Teaching in Early Years from International Perspectives. ERASMUS +, Key Action 2, School Education Strategic Partnership Project. [2019-SE01-KA201-060552]
• Consultancy for: Hedge Fun on Birth to Three APP for Parents (22nd March 2021 to 22nd May 2022) https://fabapp.co.uk/
• Consultancy on: international good practice in early years for Blanquerna (Univesitat Ramon Llull) on Early Years Jesuit Project (21st June 2021 to 8th December 2021)
• Lead Investigator for Kingston University: TODDLER Project (2010-2013) Towards Opportunities for Disadvantaged and Diverse Learners on the Early-childhood Road. European Union, Lifelong Learning Programme, Comenius, [61609-LLP-I-2010-NO-COMENIUS-CMP]

Professional and scholarly affiliations

• The Higher Education Academy: Senior Fellow
• Comenius Association: Member
• Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) Harmonisation Group
• Kingston University: Early Years Special Interest Group

I have contributed to the Leadership and Management of the School of Education, Midwifery and Social Work, Department of Teacher Education in my roles as Course Leader, Module Leader, International Study Abroad Tutor, Stage 1 Appeals and Complaints Investigator, Project Leader for TODDLER and ETEIP and Principal Investigator for the ToWe Project.

In my role as:

·         International Study Abroad Tutor for the Department of Education, I facilitate and support staff and student engagement in internationalisation. 

·         Stage 1 Appeals and Complaints Investigator for the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education,  I review students appeals and complaints in line with Kingston University regulations and respond accordingly liaising with the Faculty's Data, Quality and Reporting Coordinator. 

·         Course Leader for the PGCE Birth to Five with Early Years Teacher Status, I lead the successful programme by ensuring that the students are fully equipped to meet the Teachers' Standards (Early Years) through the programmes design and are compliant with Professional Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements.  To achieve this, I work collaboratively with colleagues, employers, and the students to create a personalised programme. I monitor the students' progress and achievements adapting the programme accordingly through the Course Evaluation Plan, Self-Evaluation Development plan (PSRB requirement) and create an Improvement Plan. 

·         Module Leader for the PGCE Birth to Five, Primary and Secondary Reflective Teacher (QI7000), I work in partnership with our four SCITT partners to ensure that the programme runs smoothly. Through the Module Evaluation Plan, I have worked collaboratively and in consultation with colleagues, SCITT partners and students (Module Evaluation Questionnaire, Student Voice Committee and student meetings) to develop this module to ensure that it supports students in becoming Reflective Teachers.

·       Principal Investigator for the ToWe Project, I have led this Pan-European EU funded project with seven partners from England, Norway and Spain.  I have managed this diverse team in successfully achieving the projects aims and objectives, with a comprehensive final report for the British Council.

Qualifications and expertise

• MA in Professional Studies in Education (Management and Leadership)
• Lead Investigator for the ToWe Project, EU ERASMUS+ Key Action 2 Strategic Partnership

University responsibilities

• Course Leader for the PGCE Birth to Five with Early Years Teacher Status
• International Study Abroad Tutor for the Department of Education
• Stage 1 Appeals Investigator for the Department of Education
• Module Leader for the PGCE Birth to Five, Primary and Secondary - Reflective Teacher Module
• Module Leader for the BA Primary Year 3 - Pedagogy and School Experience Module

Public and Civic roles

• Governor for Surbiton Hill Nursery School (14th October 2021 to present)
• External Examiner: University of Brighton for the Post Graduate Certificate in Education Early Years Education with Early Years Teacher Status (1st September 2022 - 30th September 2026)
• Advisory Board for North East Kingston Children's Centres – Achieving for Children Community Interest Company - Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Children's Services from 3rd December 2013 - 16th January 2019.
• External Examiner for Teesside University - Kirklees College from 1st November 2013 - 31st December 2018 for the Foundation Degree in Childhood Studies, Foundation Degree in Teaching Assistants, and the BA (Hons) in Childhood Studies (0-8 years).