Who are Early Years Teachers in Scotland?

About Me

I love working in the early years, and enjoy my role in supporting the work of a wide range of early learning and childcare establishments and colleagues. I have always felt extremely passionate about the importance of children’s earliest experiences.

Through times of expansion, as has taken place with children’s increased 1140 hours of ELC entitlement, a diverse and highly skilled workforce should not only be an expectation for our children, but a right.

Over the past few years, however, I’ve noticed that despite massive expansion, the decline of teachers employed within ELC services in Scotland has continued. As I am a huge advocate for the strengh of our sector being in the diversity of qualifications and staff experience, I feel that now is the time to learn more about the experience of being an early years (nursery) teacher.

What is the study about?

In order to develop knowledge of teachers within the sector, I am undertaking research which will seek to:

• Contribute positively to knowledge and understanding of GTCS-registered teachers within the early years (nursery) sector in Scotland.
• Explore the wider experience of being an early years teacher across the whole of Scotland.
• Explore personalised, individual, experiences of early years teachers.
• Better understand the systems around early years teachers which most influence the role.

Who is doing the study?

Researcher: Laura Gilbertson, Early Years Principal Teacher and EdD student at the School of Education at the University of Strathclyde. Email – laura.gilbertson@strath.ac.uk

Supervisors:

Professor Kate Wall. Email – kate.wall@strath.ac.uk

Dr Rebekah Sims. Email – rebekah.sims@strath.ac.uk