About
Anita Soni is an Academic and Professional tutor in the School of Education.
Anita has published one book on the Early Years Foundation Stage, with a second due out in September 2011. She works part time at the University of Birmingham in the Educational Psychology department and also works as an Educational Psychologist with a range of primary schools and Children’s Centres in the West Midlands.
Anita is interested in working with children and their families in their early years of life, between 0 and 5 years. She is enthusiastic about developing the skills of the Children’s Workforce, especially those working in Children’s Centres, and early years provision in the maintained, voluntary and independent sectors. This includes teachers, managers, teaching assistants, Family Support Workers, early years practitioners and childminders. She has used a range of approaches to enable this including training, group supervision and consultation. Anita’s particular interests are early years, Children’s Centres, the Key Person approach, personal, social and emotional development and supervision.
Qualifications
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Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology, University of Birmingham, 2010
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Member of British Psychological Society (BPS) and Health Professional Council (HPC)
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MSc in Educational Psychology, University of Birmingham, 2002
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BSc in Psychology, Open University, 2000
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MA in Education, University of Central England, 1999
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PGCE, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1991
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BA in History and Social Policy, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1990
Biography
Anita Soni qualified with a BA (Hons) in History and Social policy and immediately trained as a teacher with a specialism in early years at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. After teaching in Sunderland for 3 years, Anita moved to Birmingham, and taught at three primary schools before applying to become an Educational Psychologist (EP) on the current Masters in Educational Psychology programme.
After qualifying as an EP, Anita worked within the Educational Psychology Service in Worcestershire Children’s Services, continuing to have an interest in work with children aged 0-5. In 2008 Anita became a Senior EP and worked for the Early Years Childcare Service, and Extended Services to Schools and Children’s Centres. She supervised trainee EPs on placement in Worcestershire, and took on a role as a Core Tutor for Year 1 students, before joining the Academic and Professional Tutor Team in 2010.
Teaching
Anita teaches on the Doctorate in Applied Educational and Child Psychology programme
Postgraduate supervision
Anita is interested in supervising doctoral research students in the following areas:
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EP’s use of group supervision with other professional groups
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EPs working in Children’s Centres
Research
Research interests
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The use of group supervision
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EP role in Children’s Centres
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Children’s views and voices
Other activities
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Director of Early Years Solutions Ltd
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Member of the Executive for TACTYC - Association for the Professional Development of Early Years Educators
Publications
Soni, A. and Bristow, S (2010) The EYFS: How do I know I am doing it right? Published by AC Blacks
Soni, A. and Bristow, S. (2011) The Key Person Approach – How to Support Effective Practice in your setting. Published by Bloomsbury