Shamim Ashraf

Profile

Biography

My interest and passion in Early Years across a 38 year career, began with gaining a Nursery Nursing qualification ( N.N.E.B)  B.A in Education and qualified teacher status, enabled further developments in expertise in this area. A post graduate certificate in Early Years Specialism allowed further research based knowledge into how children learn and develop. As a Lead Teacher in early years for a local authority, I was able to support Reception Class Teachers in schools to develop their Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and environment. Following on from this my post of Area Team Leader for the Early Years Foundation Stage Consultants gave me the opportunity to train and support early years practitioners in over 300 Private, Voluntary and Independent early years settings in a large local authority. As an EAL Advisory Teacher I developed strategies to support children who have EAL and support teachers who work with newly arrived pupils in schools. My recent post of Head Teacher in a maintained nursery school saw school improvements across a ten year period and resulting in sustained improvements in progress and attainment, and in particular the development of an enabling high quality environment. 

Following semi retirement from this post, my aim is to continue to make a difference to children’s outcomes through my work as an Early Years Lecturer, so that I can continue to share my knowledge and experience, inspire and support future teachers. 

Research Interests

As a Specialist Leader in Cultural Education I have been involved with Curious Minds.Org in research in partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University. This resulted in a research paper being published. 

The research question is as follows:

Teaching

I currently teach across a number of programmes within the Early Years department at the Faculty of Education – Currently I teach on the Foundation Degree in Early Years and the BA (Hons) Early Years Leadership and Education. I keep my practice current in my capacity as a Link Tutor visiting PGCE and UG QTS students who are out on professional practice in schools and settings throughout the North West. As a governor for a Special School I ensure that I remain up to date with legislation and curriculum.