Early Childhood Studies graduates: An insight into their journeys

This Spring, we are sharing the inspiring stories of some of our Early Childhood Studies (ECS) graduates.

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From post graduate study to a career in higher education, teaching in the UK and beyond, our ECS degree opens up a world of opportunities for our students, with the influence of our graduates spanning as far as Australia!

Samantha Hoyes, Senior Lecturer in ECS at BGU, is currently working with the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network (ECSDN) to highlight the achievements of ECS graduates. Through these conversations, we have been reflecting on the significant impact our graduates make and the diverse roles they have pursued.

Ms Anders, Managing Director of Tingers Childcare, first graduated from BGU’s ECS undergraduate degree in 2013. After working in a variety of early years settings and completing a master’s in education, Ms Anders reflects on her journey:

“My journey was not easy, I came from a troubled background, have my own diagnoses and statistically I should not be able to achieve what I have, but that is the beauty of it.

“I feel that early years is all about breaking down barriers, challenging things and making them better for the outcomes of those children. I broke down my own barriers to get where I am, and I do attribute part of that to BGU and the knowledge I gained whilst studying there.

“ECS at BGU really embedded my knowledge. The course gave me skills that I now use when communicating with families, especially when having difficult conversations, to strike the careful balance of understanding child development but supporting families and their children to thrive.”

Since graduating, Rachael Beighton, worked in teaching positions across Europe before moving to become an Early Childhood Teacher and Assistant Centre Manager in Australia.

Rachel said: “The ECS degree at BGU helped me to underpin my knowledge of early childhood development and the theories behind them, which I have then applied to relevant positions throughout my career.

“The course was led by inspiring lecturers who gave me the drive and ambition to want to do well for myself and hearing everything they had achieved made the possibilities sound exciting.”

To find out about Rachel’s story, click here to listen to her episode on BGU’s Early Childhood Studies podcast!

Sophie Cribb, Key Stage Two Primary School Teacher, comments on the ECS degree at BGU: “As a primary school teacher, the Early Childhood Studies degree has been invaluable in providing me with a deep understanding of the foundations of childhood.

“I have taught across both Key Stage 1 and 2, and the knowledge that I have gained through this course has supported me in my practice with children of all ages, enabling me to understand their prior development and experiences, and to support children who may not have had the best start in life.

“The vast range of modules covered on the course prepared me to enter my teaching career feeling equipped with a range of knowledge, from education policies, safeguarding and SEND, to theories of learning, the importance of play and communication and language.

One of our BGU colleagues, Gemma Gazi, who works in our Student Recruitment team as a Widening Participation Officer, started her journey at BGU as an undergraduate student of ECS.

She discusses her transition from student, to ambassador, to staff member: “Whilst studying my ECS course at BGU I began helping out as a Student Ambassador on open days and similar events. As I was approaching graduation a position of Schools and Colleges Liaison Assistant became available.

“I have since worked a few different roles in the team and now work as a Widening Participation Officer, where I run programmes of activity to support young people with their Higher Education decisions.

“When I started at BGU I had no idea that I could move into this type of role. My ECS degree helped me to develop a range of different skills that help me in my current career, from networking with teachers in schools on placements, to delivering presentations and running activities.

To find out more about Early Childhood Studies at BGU, please click here!

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