University of Sunderland

Margaret Stephenson currently works in the Faculty of Education and Society at the University of Sunderland, where she is the Associate Dean for Student Experience and Quality.  She has worked in Education throughout her career as a primary school teacher, working with young children and later as a teacher trainer with a particular interest in early years education.  Whilst at the University she has worked as Programme Leader for an Undergraduate Primary Programme and an Early Childhood Studies Programme and prior to taking up her current post, she was Team Leader for Childhood Studies Area before taking responsibility for the Education Department in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning at the University.

Her research interests focus on investigating what constitutes effective teaching and professional behaviour in early years.  She has published work in this area and presented at national and international conferences.  Current research interests include enhancing professional patterns of behaviour for emerging and established early years professionals and a Hefce/Paul Hamlyn Foundation research project @what works; student retention and good practice'.  She has been involved in the professional development of teachers and acted as an advisor to Head Teachers and governing bodies.  She serves as University representative on a Local Authoroty Chgildren's Trust and is a member of a Local Authority Safeguarding Children Board.  She is also a member of the HEI Early Childhood Network Strategy gp.