Each month or so we will feature one of our TACTYC members who will give you information about themselves and why they are members of TACTYC.

We hope you will enjoy reading about other people who are involved as members of TACTYC. If you would like to contribute your own profile, then please get in touch with j.moyles@ntlworld.com, sending brief information and a photograph.

Margaret Simms | Trisha Maynard | Kevin Kelman | Jan Georgeson | Estelle Martin | Pat Beckley | Wendy Scott | Anita Soni | Janet Moyles | Pat Broadhead | Maulfry Worthington | Jane Payler | Avril Brock | Claire Mould

My name is Margaret Simms. I am Head of Consultancy at ProCEEd - the Early Years Consultancy in Nottinghamshire. My consultancy work is born out of a long and happy relationship with the early years and childcare sector. This relationship began in 1986 when I was a childminder. By 1989 I was intent on improving childcare facilities in my local village, Bilsthorpe. Together with a small committee of dedicated women, I acquired a school classroom and set up a toddler group, playgroup and 'bumps and babes'. Training was key to success of these facilities and to our personal and professional growth. I returned to education with the hope of building on my three GCEs.

I took up my first lecturing post in 1992 at South Nottingham College. I taught childcare to students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and they taught me how to become a successful lecturer. Over the next twenty years I designed, delivered and moderated early years, childcare and parenting programmes, led a high profile childcare recruitment for Nottingham City Council, worked in Higher Education and set up the consultancy business to which I referred earlier.

Now, in the final stages of my PhD, I look forward to beginning to disseminate my work on retention of early years practitioners in day nurseries. This professional and academic learning journey has opened the door to publication and presentation at national and international conferences. Joining TACTYC is the icing on the cake! It is a huge privilege to be working alongside so many 'big names' in our field.

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My name is Trisha Maynard and I am currently a Professor of Early Childhood Studies at Swansea University. I am delighted to have been asked to take on the role of Chair of TACTYC (2009 to 2012) and hope to build on Pat Broadhead's excellent work over the last six years. These are big shoes to fill and I am relying on the support and guidance of the TACTYC Executive and indeed on all members of TACTYC to point me in the right direction! If you have any ideas of how we could further improve the organization then please let me know (t.maynard@swansea.ac.uk).

How did I get here? Having been an infant school teacher for five years, I made the leap into academia in 1991, initially working as a part-time research assistant and part-time tutor on the Primary PGCE. Within a year I decided to study for a PhD; it was a great relief to my family, and to my supervisor, when this was completed in 1998! Since that time I have been a lecturer and then a senior lecturer, before being appointed as Professor in 2007.

I am proud to have been involved in the establishment of the BSc in Early Childhood Studies at Swansea University - the first degree of its kind in Wales - and in building, and for many years in running, a successful Department of (Early) Childhood Studies. As for my research interests, these have included student teachers' school-based learning and the role of the mentor; boys and literacy; and more recently, Reggio-inspired pedagogies, the Foundation Phase for Wales, outdoor play and learning and young children's well-being.

Other than my new role in TACTYC, I have numerous external activities that keep me busy: for example, I am Trustee for 'Children in Wales' and 'Play Wales' and sit on the Editorial Advisory Board for BBC Children's Magazines. Last year, I was education consultant for 'Harry and Toto' a series of animated cartoons currently showing on CBeebies - this greatly boosted my 'street cred' with my five wonderful grandchildren!

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My name is Kevin Kelman. I am currently on secondment at the University of Glasgow from my substantive post as Head Teacher at Burnside Primary in South Lanarkshire, a large primary on the outskirts of Glasgow. My previous roles have included: Headship of an inner-city school, working with mainly BME pupils; Depute Head Teacher; Assistant Head Teacher; P6-S2 Raising Achievement Co-ordinator across the transition from primary to secondary; Early Years Lecturer in Further Education; class teacher and counselling supervisor at ChildLine.

I am the Programme Leader for the B.A. Childhood Practice, a new degree at the University of Glasgow. This has been a really exciting venture which was developed in response to the Scottish Government's drive to support early years and child care workers follow a skilled career path within the sector and help practitioners to be recognised as professionals. In the longer term in Scotland, all early years and child care managers will be required to have a B.A. in Childhood Practice, Post-graduate in Childhood Practice, or equivalent. In tandem with this development, I am also delivering CPD to practitioners on Curriculum for Excellence developments. Curriculum for Excellence has created a unified set of purposes and principles for the whole curriculum in Scotland, for 3-18 year olds throughout the early years, primary school and secondary school. A significant aspect of Curriculum for Excellence is the fusion of the learning experiences of 3-5 years olds in nursery with those of 5 year olds in Primary One. This has ensured staff at the earliest stages of primary school revisit their methodologies and provide more play based experiences in primary school again - how exciting!

This gives you a flavour of the unprecedented amount of development in early years in Scotland, at the moment. I am delighted to have been co-opted onto the TACTYC Committee and look forward to learning from the experiences of the other members. I am keen to engender interest in TACTYC in Scotland and would welcome anyone in Scotland who is interested in the work of TACTYC to contact me.

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My name is Jan Georgeson and I am Senior Lecturer in Early Years Professional Status at the University of Chichester, and also an Associate Lecturer on Open University M.Ed. courses. I taught in the early years sector from 1984, mainly working with children with special educational needs, and started the long journey towards an Ed.D in Educational Disadvantage and Special Educational Needs in 1998, researching in day nurseries and preschool playgroups. I finally got there in 2006. Doing a doctorate part-time can be a lonely business, and meeting up with people at TACTYC events was very important, especially as there was no-one else working in early years on my course.

I've also been involved in several research projects on disability and children's voice, and supporting parents as educators of very young children. I have a particular interest in practitioners taking vocational pathways into work in early years settings and am also interested in using Activity Theory and Functional Linguistics to analyse organisation and interaction.

I found out about TACTYC from a colleague who told me about the friendly conferences that it organised. I then made the connection between TACTYC with its respected journal, Early Years. I applied to become an Assistant Editor, helping the main editors of Early Years with administrative tasks. In the process, I found out more about the whole process of how papers are reviewed and collated. In this capacity, I also attend TACTYC Executive meetings, which means I get to meet up regularly with committee members and find out about the important work TACTYC does in keeping early years issues at the forefront of policy and training decisions.

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My name is Estelle Martin. I have been a member of TACTYC for several years now and have always found the range of contributions and interests of the association to be representative of both contemporary early years practice but also an important voice in influencing policy and research interests shared and encouraged through the journal as well as at the conference level. I certainly have been inspired by the quality of member contributions in the organisation.

I have been involved as a professional in early years education and care for thirty years across the disciplines in nursery to higher education, social services, psychology service (CAMHS) and postgraduate studies. I have worked in a range of settings in inner and outer London and also in the counties/provinces.

I was formerly a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies in the Faculty of Education at Canterbury Christ Church University and I am currently an associate Tutor with University of East Anglia and an EYPS assessor and Lecturer at University Campus Suffolk. My own research interest is a focus on emotional processes and learning in the early childhood. I am currently working towards my Ph.D. in this subject area.

I am a new co-opted member of the Executive and my particular interest in joining the TACTYC committee at this time is that I feel I can contribute a range of insights relating to multi-agency contexts throughout my professional life. I have experience of sitting on steering groups - some examples are (EYE - formerly EYTARN) and developmental work (supervision procedures and guidelines), Equal Opportunities committee (education) and the Thomas Coram Listening To Young Children project. I continue to learn and engage with all aspects of teaching and learning with young children and their communities and have a real interest in the policy and practice issues that are current and emergent.

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My name is Pat Beckley. I am a Senior Lecturer at Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln, working in Initial Teacher Training, with responsibility for the co-ordination of Early Years issues on the course team. I began my career as a Key Stage 2 co-ordinator and became committed to Early Years practice when I helped to lead a play group while my children were young. I found taking Early Years qualifications stimulating and later enjoyed running a large early years unit for many years. As part of my work as an Advanced Skills Teacher for early years, I had the privilege of liaising with colleagues from a range of settings and backgrounds throughout the country.

My research has included a study of Early Years literacy in Hull, reflective action research and case studies to encourage the promotion of inclusion and diversity. I am currently engaged in research for my doctorate based on a comparative study between settings in Hedmark, Norway and Lincolnshire. I've endeavoured to keep fully up-to-date with initiatives and have sought to maintain links with colleagues which were established as part of Comenius projects and European Conferences.

I have been a member of TACTYC for a number of years and was co-opted to the Executive committee in 2006. I have enjoyed participating in discussions regarding relevant policies and practice on a National scale. I've found TACTYC Conferences inspiring, leaving me feeling eager to introduce the ideas and initiatives discussed, while re-affirming the crucial nature of early years practice.

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My name is Wendy Scott and I'm TACTYC's new President. I'm also a Froebel trained early years teacher with thirteen years experience of teaching in a range of settings, including inner city schools and the private and voluntary sectors. I have a first class honours degree in psychology, and I'm trained in counselling and Portage as well as extensive curriculum and management issues.

Following the headship of a demonstration nursery school, I was appointed Senior Lecturer in Early Years Education at Roehampton University, where I co-ordinated the original advanced diploma in multi-professional studies in the UK.

Following three years as an ILEA district inspector for the early years and then primary inspector in Kensington and Chelsea, I worked across England as an OfSTED Registered Inspector. I became chair - and then Chief Executive - of The British Association of Early Childhood Education and the first elected Chair of the national Early Childhood Forum. During this time, I worked on the identification and evaluation of Early Excellence Centres.

Following two years as a specialist adviser to the DfES, I then returned to consultancy, working abroad with the British Council and UNICEF as well as with local authorities across England.

As TACTYC's president, I look forward to supporting the work of TACTYC and to meeting members at conferences.

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My name is Anita Soni and I work part time as an Educational Psychologist for Worcestershire County Council. In addition, I also work for Open University as an Associate Lecturer on Foundation Degree courses, and deliver training on Birth to Three Matters and aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage. At times I feel I need to make a decision about what I want to be when I grow up! Having said this, my various jobs have the common thread of involving work with young children, their families and the practitioners who support them. I feel strongly that this is where my heart and soul lies.

I have been a member of TACTYC for two years, following a recommendation from Claire Mould. I had enjoyed reading articles from the Early Years journal for some time before this, both to support my own studies and also to share with other practitioners in schools and early years settings. I have found the Newsletters, journals and website are invaluable, and have provided a greater understanding of the developments and debate that surrounds those of us working in the field of early years at a time of great change.

I was co-opted on to the Executive Committee last year and have attended two meetings so far. It is a bit scary being with the 'big names', but stimulating to listen and participate in the passionate debate on policies and practices. It is definitely worth joining TACTYC, and even considering joining the Executive.

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My name is Janet Moyles. I am Professor Emeritus at Anglia Ruskin University, working part-time now to support early years research activities both at ARU and as a consultant.

At present, I'm the web-site and Newsletter editor for TACTYC, having previously been Chair of the Association for nearly seven years. I'm currently co-opted to the Exec for three years, having been a member for around 15 years now and have enjoyed (almost) every moment of it!

I originally became a member of TACTYC because I'd been to AGMs and other meetings for several years and really enjoyed the lively debates which took place and the interesting and motivated people I met. Informed discussion has always been at the heart of TACTYC and this has continued over the years. I find that the Executive meetings and conferences stimulate much really good thinking and ideas which sustain other work I do. The Executive Committee are all dedicated people and share a wealth of experiences and expertise from different backgrounds in the early years sector, which makes for lively meetings geared to promoting the work of TACTYC and to serving the needs of our members. I've always felt it would be great to have more responses from our members so that we have clear information about what is needed to sponsor their early years work.

With five grandchildren from two weeks old to nine-years of age, I'm still very much involved in my own immediate early years - and play - world as well as supporting practitioners through writing about, exploring and evaluating early years issues. My latest edited collection, due out soon, is Early Years Foundations: Meeting the Challenge (Open Uni Press) which aims to support practitioners in thinking through the many issues integral to the new EYFS. Wherever possible, I'm still dedicated to learning more about children's play and justifying it in an educational context, a passion which just won't go away!

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My name is Pat Broadhead. I am Professor of Playful Learning at Leeds Metropolitan University where I've been in post for just one year. Prior to that I was Professor of Early Years at Northumbria University. I have also worked at the University of York and at Leeds University. I began my career as a nursery helper, then a nursery nurse and then trained for teaching, working in early years and primary classrooms.

I am in my second term of office as Chair of TACTYC and feel I'm just about getting used to it all. The Executive are very supportive, everyone takes some responsibility for moving TACTYC forward and with their drive and energy, TACTYC has grown in size and stature in recent years. There's so much happening in early years that it's difficult to keep up at times but we do our best on behalf of our members.

My most long-standing research has been around how children become sociable and cooperative through play and links between cooperation and intellectual development. You can find out more about this here. I have always tried to sustain my research links with early years settings and engaged in joint research with practitioners over many years. I still feel that broadly speaking, play is undervalued in educational settings. I am also just completing a jointly authored book around a social justice agenda and children's centres which should be published in November 2007.

I look forward to meeting you and talking with you at our future conferences. If you have ideas for how TACTYC should be developing, don't hesitate to email me or any of the Executive members. We'll be pleased to hear from you.

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My name is Maulfry Worthington. I am currently engaged in research for my doctorate on children's multi-modal mathematical texts at the Free University, Amsterdam, and am joint founder of the Children's Mathematics Network. With a long career in Early Years education I'm determined to continue as an advocate for the best in young children's education: one valuable way of doing this is to join with others as a strong, shared 'voice' in an organization such as TACTYC. As a member of TACTYC for a number of years I have appreciated the professional role that TACTYC takes on a full range of aspects of early childhood education and training.

I was delighted to be elected to the Executive committee of TACTYC in 2004 and feel very privileged to be working alongside the other executive members and to contribute to the work of TACTYC. Consultations provide a sense of having a voice that will be heard and of being able to help shape policy. Long before I was a member, I sought out TACTYC's journal Early Years in the University library as one of the key research journals for this phase of education (but so much better to have my own copy!). The growing popularity of the website and the success of the newsletter are also markers of a very active and successful organization. I think most of all I enjoy the real 'buzz' from meetings with a group of friendly, like-minded people who are passionate about the things that matter; are willing to stand up and be counted and who bring such a range of expertise and experience!

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My name is Jane Payler and I am an Education Research Fellow and Early Years Professional Status Assessor at the University of Southampton. I first became aware of TACTYC about 8 years ago through its excellent journal, Early Years. Having taught early years care and education in further education colleges for years and having been closely involved with the running of a pre-school playgroup and crèche, I began early years research for an MPhil. It didn't take long to realise the value of the Early Years journal to my studies. I looked around for ways to network with others involved in early years practice, training and research and noticed the TACTYC details inside the journal.

Attendance at my first TACTYC conference confirmed that joining had been a very good decision. For me, TACTYC has always been a friendly, forward-thinking organisation with its roots firmly in early years practice and its face to the future. Its 'roll-your-sleeves-up' attitude towards working to influence early years policy for the benefit of young children means that it is very well connected and is helping to shape early years care and education across the country.

I was co-opted on to the Executive in 2005 and thoroughly enjoyed contributing to TACTYC's work. Now, as a full member of the Executive, I look forward to continuing to help the organisation in maintaining its important role. At the same time, as a researcher and lecturer, the benefits to me of being a member of TACTYC continue to be its great networking opportunities, its brilliant way of helping me to keep up-to-date and the chance to have a say in early years policy and practice. I look forward to meeting more of you at future conferences!

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My name is Avril Brock and I am a Senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education and Childhood Studies at Leeds Metropolitan University. It is indeed an exciting time for those of us who work in the field of early years and childhood. There is a plethora of recent important initiatives, including Every Child Matters, the new developments of the Children's Workforce Development Council; the forthcoming Early Years Foundation Stage and the early years professional qualification. It is difficult to keep informed, but it is also important to ensure that our voices are heard. All of us who work with young children across the varied disciplines in the statutory, voluntary and private-for-profit sectors must continue to be advocates for young children. That's where TACTYC comes in - it gives us a voice as our main professional body - working for us, responding to consultations and involved in discourse at policy level.

I have been a member of TACTYC for 10 years and have attended many of the conferences, to which I have often taken groups of students, headteachers, teachers and lecturers [taking advantage of TACTYC's excellent price incentive for groups of ten delegates!]. At these conferences we are all able to find our voices and know that we are being listened to - the field of early years is always special - it doesn't matter what your role or title is. We share ideology and collegiality.

I was delighted to be co-opted on to the TACTYC Executive and hope that I have something to offer colleagues and members. I look forward to meeting you at our conference in November. If you haven't joined TACTYC, do so now - it's really worth it!

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My name is Claire Mould and I am the Director of SCAlchemy Training and Development Ltd. I have been a member of TACTYC for several years but only took the step to stand for the Executive Committee in November 2005.

If I am completely honest I initially became a member of TACTYC because a number of 'big names' in early years were actively involved and I thought this would appear to be the place to get the genuine low-down on current early years issues! I wasn't disappointed. TACTYC provides a stimulating, non-threatening forum to discuss and debate points of both policy and practice with a group of passionate early years advocates.

The reason I decided to stand as an executive member was that it was obvious that these shared dialogues were not simply 'soap box banter'; the Executive has its collective ears and eyes open on behalf of its members and participates in campaigns and consultations as a result. I realised there was far more to TACTYC than initially meets the eye. After a long period receiving a great deal from the conferences and journals TACTYC provides, I felt it was time to support colleagues who are integral to the sustainability and success of TACTYC in the many and varied ways it promotes the highest quality development and learning of all young children and supports those individuals who are instrumental in facilitating this process. I should however add that I continue to get more out of TACTYC than I give!

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