Mrs Sheila Nutkins

Biography

I have been teaching, since completion of my B.Ed. (Hons) Degree in 1983, across all age groups from Nursery to older adults.  Since joining the University of Aberdeen in 2005 I have been engaged in developing professional skills and knowledge of students across Primary and Secondary with a particular focus on early years for undergraduate and postgraduate students.  I have also had a focus on the development of online learning through developing and tutoring on two distance learning programmes, BA Childhood Practice and Masters in Early Education.  I completed my M. Ed. Advanced Professional Studies here at Aberdeen whilst teaching.

Prior to entering the teaching profession I worked at the House of Commons back in 1975 in a clerical position working in the Table Office where questions are received and dealt with, which was fascinating.  I worked in advertising selling and buying air time and spent a year selling property

Before coming to Aberdeen in 1992 I was Deputy Head in an Inner London Primary school where I also taught reception and had responsibility for language and literacy.  I continued to follow this interest in early years and specifically language and literacy development as I worked part-time whilst raising my own two children in Aberdeen. I lectured at Aberdeen College (now NESCOL) on a range of Childcare and Education courses. I developed new courses and piloted the first online course on child development. I also engaged in voluntary work with Adult Basic Education (ABE) which included some work with those learning English as a second language and a maths group as well as one to one teaching of literacy and numeracy and organised a women’s group within community education.

I have lived and worked in Aberdeen for nearly thirty years and love to travel, cook and garden.  I remain passionate about early childhood education and care and hope to find time to work on further publications around my research and teaching interests.

Research Overview

Early language acquisition and literacy.  Professional identity and status of early childhood education and care professionals; impact of continuing professional development in terms of outcomes for children; assessment of students engaged in ITE; joint training towards better inter-disciplinary/professional practice.

Current Research

Engaged in an Erasmus+ funded project ' The kindergarten as a factor of inclusion for migrant children and their families', KINDINMI, with Uppsala University, Sweden and two other partners in Olomouc, Czech Republic and Vienna, Austria.  This 2 year project completed in February 2020.

Collaborations

Joint training with Robert Gordon University, School of Social and Health care.  Erasmus + project and ongoing collaboration around early years courses (particularly EYPG) with Uppsala University Sweden.

External Examiner PGCE (P) University of Sussex

Teaching Responsibilities

Programme Director MA (Hons) in Education

Also teaching on PGDE and PGDE (DLITE) programmes.

Tutor on BA Childhood Practice (distance, online degree programme) and M.Ed Early Education .