I am currently Lecturer (Teaching) on the Primary PGCE and Primary Teach First programmes. In this role I lead the English Primary Professional Practice module on the PGCE and the English component on the  Teach First primary programme. I teach also on the Learning and Teaching Module (PGCE) and on Module 2, 3 and 4 of the Teach First Primary programme. Previously, I was a  primary school teacher. I have taught all primary year groups: Reception to Year 6. My background is in Primary English. I was a Literacy Consultant for Greenwich Council 1998- 2004. I was a school  Literacy Co Ordinator,( 1994- 1998), Assistant Headteacher (2005 – 2011) and Specialist Leader in Education (2013). I have an MA in Children’s Literature (2014) .I am a member of the editorial board for UKLA English 4 – 11 and co run the UCL IOE Teachers Reading group which is part of the OU/ UKLA Network of reading groups. I have particular expertise in Primary English, in particular reading.  I am interested in how student teachers and trainees develop their understanding of reading practices via the different training routes they take. I am also interested in Philosophy for Children (P4C), having undertaken level 1-3 of the SAPERE training and am on the pathway to become a SAPERE accredited trainer.   I teach P4C to our Primary PGCE students. I am currently in my third year of the  EdD programme at UCL IOE.