Staff Profile
Michelle Yeoman
Lecturer and Academic Tutor
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I began my career in education around the new millennium when I helped establish my local village Foundation Stage Unit, since then I have worked in schools as a nursery practitioner, HLTA, have taught Reception and Key Stage 1 science and supported students with SEND.
Most recently I was the leader and manager of a private Preschool in the early childhood sector in a rural and coastal area of North Yorkshire. That role, though demanding, was very enjoyable and is the role in which my love of the early years was affirmed. I had the pleasure of working alongside fantastic, giving, and caring practitioners, as well as the young children who attended the setting and their families. Whilst leading and managing the pre-school I also worked as a Lead Practitioner for the Local Authority, going into early years settings that 'Required Improvement' following Ofsted Inspections, providing support in specific areas of provision. I also worked on the National Opportunity Area Project with the Department for Education and local authorities on assessing interaction and improving services in the Early Years. During that time I began doing some part-time teaching here at York St John in 2019 which led to a permanent role as a lecturer and academic tutor; the pastoral nature of which I really enjoy.
- School – School of Education, Language and Psychology
- Email – m.yeoman@yorksj.ac.uk
- Phone – 01904 876 413
Teaching
I teach across the Children Young People and Education suite of degrees, mainly on the Early Years Education and Care (with Graduate Practitioner Competencies) pathway modules including:
- CYE4003M Early Years Theory: Academic and Professional Literacies which supports students as they begin both their academic and professional journeys.
- CYE4005M Early Years Practice: Becoming a Professional, which is a practice-based module supporting students to acquire practical knowledge which is enhanced by their theoretical knowledge of early childhood.
I co-teach the third-year module CYE6007 Early Years Practice: Leadership and Management, which helps prepare students for their roles outside of university in the early childhood sector and beyond. In addition, I draw on my experience of working with the families of young children to teach the Children Young People and Society module CYE5005M Supporting Families.
I also supervise dissertation students on CYE6010M from across the three-degree pathways in the CYPE suite on a range of research topics.
Finally, I co-teach CYE7001M Critical Approaches to Education module for the MA: Education, which supports students to unpack critical issues in education and embeds master level study skills. I take a mixed lecture/seminar approach as I find this makes subjects more engaging.
Research
I am currently completing my Professional Doctorate thesis which explores Perceptions and Enactment of the Academic Tutor Role in Higher Education. This thesis explores theories of identity, self, and structuration from a social constructionist perspective, which enables me to support students whose research involves similar methodologies. Furthermore, the research has enabled me to contribute to the current working group with the executive board on the redevelopment of the academic tutor role here at York St John.
In the past, I have researched areas such as maths in the early years, sustained shared thinking and practitioners' understanding of the concept, as well as motivations for single mothers studying at HE.
I have also developed a notion around individuals' professional worth that is related to Said's 1978 theory of Orientalism and othering; the way that so-called 'unskilled' workers are often viewed, positioned and understood as 'just' - i.e., lesser than their 'professional' counterparts.
Other ongoing research includes seeking current third year early years students' perspectives on the new degree pathway (they are about to complete its first iteration) - in order to enable the early years teaching team to include student voice in the revalidation process which will begin again in just over a years time.
I have also gathered extensive research data over the last couple of years from students who took part in and engaged with the Peer Partners Program (an emotional wellbeing support network) which was set up at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic by myself and a colleague.
Other research projects for this academic year include: the recent rise in numbers of commuting students/the impact of working part-time as a result of the cost of living crisis on studying at HE/access to HE for mature students in the early years sector and a range across issues relating to identity, class, and being a 'first in family' (first family member to study at HE) student
Professional Activities
I am an accredited member of UKAT the UK Advising and Tutoring Association and hold Recognised Academic Tutor credentials. I also sit on several Special Interest Groups at UKAT.
I am a trained Mental Health First Aider.
Finally, I am nearly half way through my Professional Doctorate in Education.
