Biography

Gina Sherwood has been working in adult education and training for over 20 years. Her work embraces all areas of child development specialising in psychology and relationships. In the 1990s she completed her Foundation Degree in Early Years and then a BA in Education and Training at University of Portsmouth. She was awarded a PhD by the University of Southampton in 2011. Her thesis topic was exploring parents’ experiences of support when they have a young child with a learning disability.

Her practice experience includes 13 years in child minding, 10 years working in Children’s Centres and work as a life coach with adults. She has also had the role of an Early Years Advisor for child care settings and provided bespoke training for Hampshire County Council.

Gina Sherwood’s current teaching is with Undergraduates who are studying for a degree in Early Childhood Studies or Child and Youth Studies. The areas are focused on the education of children 0-16 and embrace subjects that support students’ understanding of how children develop physically and psychologically including equality and diversity.

Research interests

Her publications include working with parents when their child has special educational needs; acquiring informed consent when carrying out research with children and young people and using symbol-based information to support the access needs of people entering police custody.

Further research interests include analysing empirical research arising from student evaluation, challenges and solutions in undertaking research with children and young people and how to effectively meet the needs of people who enter the criminal justice system.