Joanne Smith
Head of Department for Education and Inclusion
Senior Leadership Team
email: Joanne.smith@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 543715
Jo has worked at the University since 2014. She also owns a local children's day nursery and was in Primary Education for 15 years, with responsibility for Inclusion for the last 7 years.
Jo has taught both at undergraduate and postgraduate level programmes within the department. She is passionate about Inclusive Education and has a variety of experience and anecdotes to share. She believes in lifelong learning and values the contributions all students make to group discussions and activities.
Jo has co-authored a key textbook in SENDI with an UW colleague, and has published national journal articles.
She is currently undertaking her PhD in Education at the ÃÛÌÒÖ±²¥, researching transitions to HE and student identity. Jo is a member of the Research Centre for Transformative Change: Educational & Life Transitions (TCELT), an inter-disciplinary and cross-University research centre
Qualifications
- MA Special and Inclusive Education
- PGCE Primary
- PGCLTHE
- FHEA (November 2019)
- Currently undertaking PhD
Teaching & Research
Teaching Interests
- Special Educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion
- Early Years Education
- The role of the Adult in supporting education
- Multi-Agency Working
- Creative curriculum
Research Interests
- In the Moment Planning (EYFS)
- The Learning Environment
- The role of the SENCo in Multiagency Teams
- Student identity (HE)
Professional Bodies
- Fellowship with HEA
- Recipient of the UW Leading Teaching Award 2020
- LGBTQ+ Ally
Publications
Smith, J. (2023). A matter of choice? The implications of relaxed ratios in Early years provision . International Journal of Birth and Parent Education, 10 (2), pp.29-31
Sewell, A. and Smith, J. (2021) An Introduction to Special educational Needs, Disability and Inclusion: A student's guide. Available to order at:
Smith, J., Clifford, C. and Coppin, A. (2021), 'Incorporating student voice in course development', Student Engagement in Higher Education Journal, 3 (2) pp92-102, available at: .
Presented at UWs Teaching and Learning conference June 2021: Enhancing the student learning journey: Supporting Recruitment and Retention for SENDI and EDST students.
Presented at UWs Children & Families Conference June 2018: Beyond Ephgrave: A reflective discussion of the implementation of In The Moment Planning in a rural day nursery
Beyond Ephgrave: Reflection on the implementation of In the Moment Planning in a rural day nursery (2018)
External Roles
- External Assessor at Wrexham Glyndr University
- Owner of 'Little Squirrels @ Shrawley' Day Nursery