Naomi Cooper

Naomi Cooper is a Principal Lecturer and Head of Area for Primary Undergraduate provision at the Sheffield Institute of Education (SIoE), Sheffield Hallam University. She holds a BA (Ed) Hons, MEd, and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Her research focuses on supporting trainee teachers in addressing the needs of pupils learning through English as an Additional Language (EAL), with a particular emphasis on translanguaging, inclusive pedagogy, and the professional development of multilingual educators. She leads on EAL initiatives, collaborates with Sheffield Local Authority’s New Arrivals team, and co-hosts an annual EAL conference.

Teaching Responsibilities include courses such as BA (Hons) Early Years and Primary Education, and PGCE Primary Education. She teaches modules on Inclusion, Values in Education, and Educational Enquiry Research, emphasizing marginalized groups and Special Educational Needs. Driven by strategic leadership, she oversees Initial Teacher Education courses and collaborates with school partnerships through the Primary Partnership Management Committee.

International engagement includes fostering educational links with schools in the Netherlands, including CPD workshops and field trips to compare education systems. She serves as an external examiner for Liverpool University and Norfolk Teacher Training College (NTTC). Her doctoral research explores the impact of bi/multilingual trainee teachers’ lived experiences on inclusive teaching practices, intersecting with identity, language acquisition, and socio-cultural dynamics.