Joanne Munyard

Joanne Munyard is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood and Education at the School of Education and Childhood, University of the West of England, with 25 years of experience spanning Early Years, Primary, Further Education, and Higher Education. She teaches on the Early Childhood Degree, Education Degree, and serves as a tutor for the Early Years Teacher Status (EYITT) postgraduate programme while also holding a school governor position.

Her educational qualifications include:

• Master of Education (MEd)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring
• Higher Education Academy (HEA) Fellowship

Her research centers on leadership, professional identity, and educational policy in early childhood contexts, with specific focus on how graduates impact children's educational experiences and setting quality. As a Doctoral Student, she employs Constructivist Grounded Theory to investigate graduate professional identity development within England's early years workforce, revealing critical connections between academic training and sector effectiveness.

Her 2024 collaborative research project examines workplace experiences of early childhood graduates, demonstrating how higher education shapes professional practice through longitudinal analysis of identity formation and policy implementation in real-world settings.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• HEA Fellowship for excellence in higher education teaching

As an academic leader, she mentors EYITT postgraduate students while directing research that bridges theory and practice. Her current projects analyze graduate contributions to early years quality improvement, with funding secured through the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network to advance evidence-based policy development.