Ruth Swailes

Ruth has over 25 years’ experience in primary education, over 20 of them in senior leadership roles including primary headship. Ruth has worked as a School Improvement Advisor, Early Years consultant and moderator in several Local Authorities; supporting leaders and teachers to improve outcomes for pupils. Passionate about Primary education, particularly Early Years, Ruth has taught from Nursery to Y6.

In 2014 she left headship and trained as an Ofsted inspector, combining this role with a number of other roles in education.

Ruth currently fulfils a range of different education improvement roles. She works part time as a School Improvement Advisor to 18 Local Authority schools. Throughout her time in the Local Authority Advisory service, she has a  proven track record of improving schools and helping to secure good and outstanding Ofsted outcomes in the schools in which she works, this role also involves performance management for Head teachers and supporting governing bodies with strategic leadership.

Ruth also works with a range of MATS, Teaching Schools Alliances, Academy and LA schools throughout the UK providing training, school improvement advice, appraisal, coaching, mentoring and practical advice and support.

In addition Ruth is also national senior leadership consultant with Early Excellence, the UK’s leading provider of Early Years training, resources and furniture, in this role she supports schools all over the UK  and beyond to improve their environments, provision, curriculum, assessment, teaching and learning for children aged 0-7, This role involves working strategically with LAs, MATs, Ofsted, the DFE, Heads and teachers and leading training for leaders and teachers.

Ruth is passionate about Education, particularly in the 0-7 phase and is a founding member of the “Firm Foundations” grass – roots Early Years movement, bringing high quality training and debate at minimal cost to educators across the country. She is also actively involved in the BrewED movement and National Teacher Training day 2020, which aims to empower teachers by providing training and development at cost and an opportunity to share best practice in a friendly, collaborative environment.