Lorna Williams

Lorna Williams

Senior Lecturer in Primary Education, PGCE Early Years cohort and subject lead

Primary Education

Contact Details

email: lorna.williams@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 542081

Lorna is the PGCE Early Years (3-7) cohort lead and the Early Years subject lead, supporting the development of Early Years in Primary initial teacher education at the University of Worcester.

Lorna teaches Primary Design and Technology across undergraduate and postgraduate pathways. Lorna also teaches on the PGCE ‘Developing Teacher’ module, as well as the Undergraduate ‘Teachers as Researcher independent study’ module specialising in Early Years and the ‘Foundation subjects: Diversity and Inclusion’ module.

Lorna has worked in primary schools in Solihull and Worcestershire coordinating the Creative Arts including Design and Technology. She is passionate about developing a creative curriculum that inspires and supports all learners to achieve. Lorna has 17 years’ experience as an Early Years Foundation Stage teacher, alongside her role as Early Years coordinator and Phase Leader in a Pre-school and Reception setting. During her time as a practitioner, Lorna supported and mentored students from University of Worcester on ITE Graduate and Undergraduate pathways and Early Childhood Degrees. Her role within the School of Education, as a school experience tutor, enables Lorna to support trainees to develop as professionals throughout their placements and into their early career.

Qualifications

  • MA in Education (University of Worcester) (currently completing)
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2019)
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (University of Worcester) (2019)
  • BA (Hons) in Art and Design with QTS (University College Worcester) (1998)

Learn Upon Training completed

  • Safer Recruitment
  • Introduction to the Prevent Duty as it affects Higher Education
  • Safeguarding Essentials

Teaching & Research

Teaching Interests

  • Design & Technology – PITE1105, PITE2105, PGPR4002: The Learning Child
  • Foundation Subjects – PITE2105 module lead
  • Foundation Subjects: Diversity and Inclusion – PITE3105
  • Teachers as Researchers independent study – PITE3102
  • Early Years Foundation Stage – across PG and UG pathways
  • Creative Approaches to teaching and Learning
  • The Broad and Balanced Curriculum

Research Interests

  • Currently completing an MA in Education, ‘Choosing an Early Years PGCE pathway: What are students’ influences and motivations?’
  • Bespoke intervention to support Early Years trainee teachers
  • Physical literacy to improve fine motor control in Early Years and KS1 
  • The Broad and Balanced Curriculum
  • Planning inspirational learning environments with children 
  • The power of parents as partners

Professional Bodies

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Design and Technology Association (DATA)

Publications

Publications

Williams, L. and Howard, C. (2022) Essential Guides for Early Career Teachers: Teaching Early Years. St Albans: Critical Publishing.

Williams, L.  (2021) ‘Little learners in a big world’, in Pugh, V.  & Hughes, D. (eds.) Teaching PSHE & R(S)HE in Primary Schools. London: Bloomsbury, pp. 33-44.

Williams, L. (2020) Vignette – ‘The continuous provision conundrum - quality provision that encapsulates the child’s voice’ in Carroll, J. & Alexander, G. The teachers' standards in primary schools: understanding and evidencing effective practice. London: Sage.

Williams, L. (2020) University of Worcester - Vignette of Practice: The Design and Technology Road Map – A Tool to Support Planning for Future Primary Teachers and Improve Module Formative and Summative Assessment. 

Carroll, J. Hughes, D. and Williams, L. (2019) Geographical Journeys through Timeless Tales. Primary Geography, Issue 100, p. 18-19.

Conference Presentations

Williams, L (2019) Enhancing Early Years pathways in Primary initial teacher education.

TEAN Conference. Birmingham. May 2019

Contribution through consensus workshop and consultation work:

British Nutrition Foundation (2020) Characteristics of good practice in teaching food and nutrition education in primary schools. London: New Derwent House.