Gayle Victoria Blackburn

I joined the University in 2019. I have worked in education for almost 20 years and began my career as a Primary Teacher, specialising in Early Years, before heading into lecturing in the further education sector. I developed a love for supporting students towards their career goals. I have managed a range of courses and teams, with childhood and education being the main focus area.

Developing an effective and professional workforce in the Early Years sector is something I am passionate about, and I have spent my career working with students and settings developing this. Learners gain so much from being "hands on", and it is invaluable for them to complete work placements so they can make meaningful links to theory.

I lead the Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies route. This enables our students to experience a range of placements and develop their practical skills, and make links to their academic studies. The ECGPC have been very successful since their implementation as part of a pilot in 2018.