MICRO-BIO

• Throughout my career, I have had two professional quests: to develop creative approaches to teaching inclusively using drama and the arts wtih learners with special educational needs and disability (SEND), and to demystify these through forging a fr...More

  Throughout my career, I have had two professional quests: to develop creative approaches to teaching inclusively using drama and the arts wtih learners with special educational needs and disability (SEND), and to demystify these through forging a framework for professional development. My early working experiences as a creative therapy aide in long-stay institutions instilled in me a holistic regard for the individual, and I subsequently trained to teach children with SEND at a time when highly structured Behaviourist approaches were rife. I quickly set about extending drama-in-education as a learning medium and narrative pedagogy for my pupils, which I researched at Masters level and subsequently for my PhD. After a few years working chiefly in special schools, I became a local education authority Advisory Teacher for the arts, SEND and the early years, before entering higher education. I am currently Senior Lecturer in Education at Anglia Ruskin University, and until recently was an Associate Tutor on Autism for the University of Birmingham. I have become widely known for my developmental approaches for the arts and SEND, an area in which I am a published authority, having written a number of books (David Fulton Publishers), chapters for edited texts, journal articles and curriculum materials, particularly on drama and dance. I was the education consultant for CBBC's BAFTA-winning early years dance show 'Boogie Beebies', and have recently authored the 'My Creativity' schemes of work in Drama and Dance for the Equals semi-formal curriculum for students with severe learning difficulties. My post-doctoral research has focused on professional development for SEND: I have advised government on teacher training generally for SEND (Peter 2013) and have contributed to government policy documents (including on Drama for the 'Speaking, Listening, Learning Strategy', and for Eire - NCCA), and a module for the acclaimed DfE (2012) on-line resource of training materials for teachers of learners with profound, severe and complex learning difficulties (www.complexneeds.org.uk). I am currently researching whole-school professional development to innovate more creative, interactive teaching approaches in a special school. I am also involved in advocacy work - my middle son, now a young man, has autism and severe learning difficulties.

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EXPERIENCE

• Anglia Ruskin University

  • Senior Lecturer in Education
  • Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care
  • Present

EDUCATION

• University of East Anglia

  • PhD
  • September 2001 to June 2004

  I was awarded a PhD by publication for my body of work in drama with learners with special educational needs and disability - thesis entitled 'Aesthetic of Anaesthetic? Drama as Pedagogy for Socially Challenged Children'. This embraced publications emerging from four action research cycles: exploring drama as a learning medium for SEND, professional development in drama (MEd - University of Cambridge, 1995), creativity and SEND, and drama as a narrative intervention for autism. My first degree was from the University of Cambridge (MA Cantab 1980, 1984).

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