Mrs Laura Hutchings BA, PGCE, MA, FHEA

• Programme Director for Education Studies
• Programme Director for Education Studies: Primary
• Programme Director for Education Studies: Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion
• Academic Misconduct coordinator for the Institute of Education and Humanities.
• Digital Enhancement Lead for the Centre of Childhood, Youth and Education Studies
• Module Lead
• Admissions tutor

I am the Programme Director of the Education Studies programmes at UWTSD.  I deliver on a range of modules that focus on curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, additional learning needs and inclusion and creativity and wellbeing.  

I have taught in higher and further education for a number of years across education and childhood programmes.

My passion lies in inclusion and supporting individuals with additional learning needs.  I have supported adults, children and young people with additional learning needs in a range of education settings.

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the British Education Studies Association (BESA)
• Member of the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Community

My academic interests include:

• additional learning needs and inclusion in education
• promoting social and emotional learning through online and blended learning delivery
• individual development across the lifespan
• enquiry based learning.

I lecture across modules at all levels within the following programmes:

• BA Education Studies
• BA Education Studies: Additional Learning Needs and Inclusion
• BA Education Studies: Primary

I supervise dissertations and independent project work in the field of Education Studies

• Student engagement in blended learning delivery. 
• Supporting the social-emotional learning of students through online platforms 
• The efficiency of play as an approach to learning in the early years
• Inclusion, creativity and well-being in education

My expertise lies in the field of additional learning needs and inclusion in education.

I also have a keen interest in integrating technology into the classroom and I am part of the Microsoft Innovative Education Expert community.  I provide expertise on a range of digital learning approaches to both staff and students in the university.  I am a member of institute and university working groups that focus on digital enhancement in Higher Education.

I contribute to Continual Professional Learning and Development activities relating to digital enhancement and academic misconduct.

I am an Academic Champion of Enterprise in the university.

Hutchings, L. and Lewis, C.  (2020) 'Lessons from lockdown: Best practice and key insights for supporting learners online', paper presented to the Nexus Plus Conference, University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, 21^st July 2020

Lewis, C. and Hutchings, L. (2018) ‘Studying in my pyjamas: A case study of online learning and undergraduate experience’. Paper presented to the 14^th Annual Conference of the British Education Studies Association (BESA), 27-28 June