Dr Anita Soni

Dr Anita Soni

School of Education
Academic and professional tutor

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 3603
Email
a.soni@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
School of Education
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston, Birmingham
B15 2TT

Anita is interested in working with children and their families in their early years of life, between birth and 7 years. She is enthusiastic about developing the skills of the Children’s Workforce, especially those working in Children’s Centres, and early childhood/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 childhood, Children’s Centres, the Key Person approach, personal, social and emotional development and supervision, video interactive guidance (VIG) and video enhanced reflective practice (VERP).

Qualifications

  • Professional Doctorate in Educational Psychology, University of Birmingham, 2010
  • Member of British Psychological Society (BPS) and Health Professional Council (HPC)
  • MSc in Educational Psychology, University of Birmingham, 2002
  • BSc in Psychology, Open University, 2000
  • MA in Education, University of Central England, 1999 
  • PGCE, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1991
  • 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.

If you are interested in postgraduate research, please visit our dedicated postgraduate webpages.

Research

2015 - 2018 Improving the curriculum and teaching methods to influence policy and increase the quality of ECDE provision for children with disabilities in Malawi 

Research interests include;

  • Use of video interactive guidance (VIG) and video enhanced reflective practice (VERP)
  • The use of group supervision
  • EP role in Children’s Centres and early childhood provision
  • Children’s participation rights

Other activities

  • Director of Early Years Solutions Ltd 
  • Member of the Executive for TACTYC - Association for the Professional Development of Early Years Educators
  • Chair for Friends of Signpost Inclusion

Publications

McLinden, M., Lynch, P., Soni, A. et al. IJEC (2018). Supporting Children with Disabilities in Low- and Middle- Income Countries: Promoting Inclusive Practice within Community-Based Childcare Centres in Malawi through a Bioecological Systems Perspective. International Journal of Early Childhood, pp 1-16.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-018-0223-y

Soni, A. (2018) ‘Opportunities for development: the practice of supervision in early years provision,’ International Journal of Early Years, 26 (2),

Hawkins, D. & Soni, A. (2018) ‘Listening to children: Models of participation,’ DECP Debate, 166, 36-41

Pitt, S. & Soni, A. (2017) ‘Students’ experiences of academic success with dyslexia: A call for alternative intervention’ Support for Learning, 32 (4)

Messeter, T. & Soni, A. (2017) A systematic literature review of the ‘managed move’ process as an alternative to exclusion in UK schools, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 22 (4), pp.1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632752.2017.1383676

Taylor. L. & Soni, A. (2017) Preventing Radicalisation: a Systematic Review of Literature considering the lived experiences of the UK’s Prevent Strategy in Educational Settings, Pastoral Care in Education, 35 (4), pp. 241-252 https://doi.org/10.1080/02643944.2017.1358296

Soni, A. (2017) 'Inclusion and well-being' in Moyles, J., Payler, P. & Georgeson, J. (eds) Beginning Teaching, Beginning Learning In Early Years and Primary Education (5th ed), Maidenhead: Open University Press 

Soni, A. (2017) ‘Vulnerability, risk and resilience,’ in Georgeson, J. & Barr-Campbell, V. (eds) Places for 2 year olds in the Early Years: Supporting Learning and Development, Oxford: Routledge 

Aucott, C. & Soni, A. (2016) Reflections on the use of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing in schools, Educational Psychology in Practice, 32 (1), pp.85-99 https://doi.org/10.1080/02667363.2015.1112257

Soni, A. (2015) A case study on the use of group supervision with Learning mentors, Educational and Child Psychology 32 (3)

Soni, A. (2014) ‘Personal, social and emotional development (PSED)’ in Moyles, J., Payler, J. & J. Georgeson (eds) Early Years Foundations: An invitation to critical reflection, Maidenhead: Open University Press/McGraw Hill

Soni, A. (2013) English as an Additional Language (EAL) in the Early Years London: Featherstone Education/Bloomsbury Publishing

Soni, A. (2013) ‘Personal, social and emotional development (PSED)’ in Beckley, P. (ed) The Early Years Foundation Stage: Challenges and reflections Maidenhead: Open University Press/McGraw Hill

Soni, A. and Bristow, S (2013) The EYFS: How do I know I am doing it right? 2nd edition Bloomsburys. 

Soni, A. (2013) Group supervision: supporting practitioners in their work with children and families in Children’s Centres, Early Years Journal, Routledge/Taylor and Francis. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2013.777695 

Soni, A. and Bristow, S. (2012) The Key Person Approach – How to Support Effective Practice in your setting. Published by Bloomsbury 

Soni, A. (2012) 'Promoting emotional well being or mental health'. In Papatheodorou, T. (ed) Debates on Early Childhood Policies and Practices, Routledge. 

Soni, A. (2011) 'Multi-Agency Working'. In Beckley P (ed) Learning in Early Childhood: A Whole Child Approach from Birth to 8 Sage Publications. 

Soni, A. (2011) 'Early Years'. In Yeomans, J. and Arnold, C (eds) Psychology for Teaching Assistants, Trentham Books.

Soni, A. and Bristow, S (2010) The EYFS: How do I know I am doing it right? Published by AC Blacks

View all publications in research portal