Laura James
Aix-en-Provence
Summary
I am an experienced and qualified early years, primary and drama teacher, Head teacher, writer (curriculum, story books and articles) and educational consultant. I have worked for over 20 years with young people and adults of different ages, backgrounds, and abilities. I am a qualified Safeguarding and Child Protection consultant and trainer and work with companies internationally to develop policies and training materials. Prior to working in education, I was an actress and theatre producer and worked extensively and internationally in theatre and film (separate CV on request).
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Inclusion and Play-based Learning
INTERNATIONAL CURRICULUM ASSOCIATION (ICA)
09.2025 - Current
- Lead on all areas of inclusion for over 2000 schools globally.
- Create and deliver safeguarding and child protection practice around the globe.
- Create and implement Edtech strategies for the ICA.
- Develop play based learning training for over 2000 international schools.
Founder and Owner
ESYTA (English Speaking Theatre Academy)
09.2022 - Current
- LAMDA UK accredited
- Lead teacher
- Lead curriculum writer
Head of the IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum)
INTERNATIONAL CURRICULUM ASSOCIATION (ICA)
10.2021 - Current
- Writer for the International Early Years Curriculum ‘LETS PARTY’ unit.
- Writer for the International Early Years Curriculum ‘Plants and Flowers’ unit.
- Writer for the IEYC ‘Busy Builders’ unit.
- Writer for the IEYC ‘Feel the Beat’ unit.
- Conference lead and keynote speaker for 2022 Futuraskolan conference in Stockholm.
- Part of the IEYC Accreditation team 2022
Company director and founder
Theatre Tots Ltd CIC
01.2008 - Current
- Company Overview: www.theatretots.com (UK, China, USA and Qatar)
- Running drama sessions for early years children from 0 – 5 years, in schools, nurseries and community classes.
- Devising, monitoring and updating the Theatre Tots early years drama curriculum.
- Writing and producing early years shows.
- Writing and publishing 5 original Story books – available on Amazon and in Waterstones
- Employing and training all staff.
- Leading international branches in USA, Qatar and China
- Leading the conversion from LTD – CIC status
- Researching and applying for funding
- Teaching and planning a group for Home schooled children in South east London.
- Theatre tots Chronicles – writing and producing shows for Westminster Abbey and the National Archives of Great Britain to interpret an aspect of their work for younger audiences.
Consultant, facilitator, Safeguarding lead and course writer
Bigfoot Arts Education
01.2008 - Current
- Writing, developing and revising the Bigfoot Music curriculum (first taught in 2010, now in over 200 schools).
- Employing, training and monitoring the staff to deliver the music programme.
- Assessing and updating the music programme to fit the new inspection framework.
- Developing the resources to track progression within the music programme.
- Writing their early years programme – The Story Tree.
- Training and monitoring the staff to deliver the programme.
- Assessing and developing the programme.
- Writing the Bigfoot MFL (modern foreign languages) curriculum programme.
- Training and monitoring the staff to teach the programme.
- Assessing and developing the MFL programme.
Teacher for Early years
CIPEC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
09.2021 - 10.2023
- Drama teacher for whole school
- Eco Ecole Leader
- Safeguarding lead
Founder and director
Under 1 Roof Kids
01.2011 - 10.2021
- Company Overview: www.under1roofkids.com
- Founder and director of Under 1 Roof Children’s complex – raising the investment, managing the build and launching the project in 2016.
- Lead teacher for Under 1 Roof Nursery.
- Nominated person for Ofsted and owner of Under 1 Roof Nursery 150 place daycare
- Designated Safeguarding lead for the nursery and children’s centre
- Writer of BOUNDERS – the Under 1 Roof story series
- Lead and teacher of the International Early Years curriculum through Fieldwork education
- Addressing HR issues and managing HR systems.
- Experience of managing large and complex budgets within an investment framework.
- Developing and leading on the staff training in a variety of context – including Well-being, Safeguarding, Curriculum and team building.
Education
MSC - EDTECH
UNIVERSITY OF NICE COTE D’AZUR
06.2026
ACREDITED SAFEGUARDING TRAINER
NSPCC
06.2022
BEST PRACTISE EYITT (EARLY YEARS QUALIFIED TEACHER STATUS)
01.2021
FIRST CLASS HONOURS DEGREE - DRAMA AND THEATRE ARTS
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
07.1999
A levels - English, Music and French – ABA Grades
CHEW VALLEY SCHOOL, SOMERSET
07.1996
Skills
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Decision-making
- Training & Development
- Team building
- Calm under pressure
- Customer service
- Fluent French Speaker
Languages
French
Upper intermediate (B2)
Timeline
Head of Inclusion and Play-based Learning
INTERNATIONAL CURRICULUM ASSOCIATION (ICA)
09.2025 - Current
Founder and Owner
ESYTA (English Speaking Theatre Academy)
09.2022 - Current
Head of the IEYC (International Early Years Curriculum)
INTERNATIONAL CURRICULUM ASSOCIATION (ICA)
10.2021 - Current
Teacher for Early years
CIPEC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
09.2021 - 10.2023
Founder and director
Under 1 Roof Kids
01.2011 - 10.2021
Company director and founder
Theatre Tots Ltd CIC
01.2008 - Current
Consultant, facilitator, Safeguarding lead and course writer
Bigfoot Arts Education
01.2008 - Current
ACREDITED SAFEGUARDING TRAINER
NSPCC
BEST PRACTISE EYITT (EARLY YEARS QUALIFIED TEACHER STATUS)
FIRST CLASS HONOURS DEGREE - DRAMA AND THEATRE ARTS
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
A levels - English, Music and French – ABA Grades
CHEW VALLEY SCHOOL, SOMERSET
MSC - EDTECH
UNIVERSITY OF NICE COTE D’AZUR
RECENT COURSES
- Train the trainer , accredited advanced level safeguarding – NSPCC – April 2019
- Eden Change Makers – educational accreditation through The Eden Project
- Cache Level 3 Award in childcare and education – 2018 – 2019
- NDNA – UN convention and rights of the child – January 2019
- NDNA – Health and Safety in Early years
- Designated safeguarding lead training – Greenwich council – July 2017, July 2018 and April 2019
- Behavior management training for early years – Purple parenting – November 2018
- Safeguarding levels 2 and 3 refresher – August 2018
- Write Story books for Children – 2018 – 2019