Eileen Merriman BEd

Contact Details

School of Early Childhood
Faculty of Education and Training
Tel: (01267) 676602 (6602)
E-mail: e.merriman@trinitysaintdavid.ac.uk

Campus

Carmarthen Campus

Job Title

Senior Lecturer

Role in the University

Certificate of Higher Education: Welsh and Bilingual Practice in the Early Years: Programme Coordinator

Undergraduate teaching:

Learning in the Outdoor Environment
Observing Children’s Development
Children of the World
Planning Learning and the Play Environment
Bilingualism and Welsh for beginners
Anti Bias Practice
Dissertation supervision

Background

I trained as an Early Years teacher at Dudley College of Education before running 2 nursery units attached to schools in Cardiff, for 5 and 4 years respectively.  On returning to Pembrokeshire to live I worked as a supply teacher.  I then joined Pembrokeshire College to become a lecturer on a range of childcare courses.  During this time, I was Programme Coordinator of the CACHE Diploma in Childcare and Education.  After a time as a guest lecturer at Trinity, I joined the staff of the School of Early Childhood in 2002.  I have studied outdoor learning in Denmark and joined the Reggio Emilia study visit.

Academic Interests

My area of specialist interest is outdoor learning particularly Forest School Education. I recently became a qualified Forest School Leader and am liaising with Forest Education Initiative staff to develop higher level training opportunities.  I had a focus article for Early Years Educator, published in June 2007 on my involvement with the Forest Education Initiative.  I am a member of a cross-university research group looking into the involvement of outdoor activities in Foundation Phase settings.  I am on the board of trustees of Trysordy, the local Recycling and Resource Centre.

I am particularly interest in learning of  children under 3 and I act as Liaison and Training officer for Y Gamfa Wen, the 48 place college day nursery.  I have undertaken a number of INSET days for LEAs, voluntary organisations and for private providers on using planning frameworks for under 3s.