Linda Davidge-Smith SFHEA MA
Expertise
EARLY CAREER DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIVE MENTORING, EARLY YEARS
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Biography
EARLY CAREER DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATIVE MENTORING, EARLY YEARS
Linda has over 32 years of experience in Primary Education. After gaining her NPQH and developing her expertise in Early Years Pedagogical Practice, Linda was proud to work as a teacher adviser for Newport LEA supporting schools in their delivery of Foundation Phase. With a passion for leading and maintaining excellence in schools, Linda moved the University of Newport, now the University of South Wales, where she became Head of Initial Teacher Education and Educational practice. Since working at the University Linda has contributed to several book and article publications and been a keynote speaker for both the Wales and Westminster Policy Forum. She actively works with Welsh Government and was part of The Foundation Phase Expert Group and ongoing ECEC Quality Framework. Linda has also provided materials for the induction programme for school mentors across Wales and the new Non-Maintained curriculum play lists that are now available on HWB. As the Head of both PGCE and Undergraduate Teacher Education Linda has a particular focus on quality delivery in Early Career Development (particularly NQTs) and Educative mentoring.