Nursing BSc (all pathways) and FdSc Nursing Associate Welcome Pack
Welcome to Nursing (all Pathways) – September 2026.
Including:
- BSc (Hons) Nursing (all Pathways)
- Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeships
- FdSc Nursing Associate
- FdSc Nursing Associate (Higher Apprenticeships)
A very warm welcome to BSc (Hons) Nursing and FdSc Nursing Associate at the University of Northampton. We are delighted that you have chosen to join us and begin your journey towards a career in which you can make a genuine difference to people’s health, wellbeing, and to achieve their potential.
Throughout the course, we will help you develop the knowledge, practical skills and professional confidence needed to become a compassionate and effective nurse. You will learn through a lively mix of taught sessions, group activities, skills and simulation, independent study and practice placements. In the first year you will learn alongside students from the other fields of nursing, nursing associates and apprentice learners, as well as coming together for your field-specific teaching with your own cohort and course team. Your assessments will be varied and are designed to help you apply what you learn. They may include written work, presentations, practical activities, reflective work and completion of your professional practice documentation.
We know that starting university can feel exciting and a little daunting. During Welcome Week, you will meet the course team, your fellow students and your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT). You will also find out how the course is organised and explore the support available to you.
One of the real strengths of the course is its supportive community. We will encourage you to ask questions, share ideas and bring your own experiences and perspectives. You do not need to arrive knowing everything – curiosity, kindness and a willingness to learn are an excellent place to start. We are really looking forward to welcoming you to Northampton.
Your Course Leaders
BSc (Hons) Learning Disability Nursing
- Course leader name: Emma Gooding
- emma.gooding@northampton.ac.uk
BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing
- Course leader name: Dr Karen Graves
- karen.graves3@northampton.ac.uk
BSc (Hons) Children and Young People’s Nursing
- Course leader name: Gail Reoch-Gamble
- gail.reoch-gamble@northampton.ac.uk
BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing
- Course leader name: Ruth Edwards
- ruth.edwards@northampton.ac.uk
FdSc Nursing Associate and Nursing Associate (Higher Apprenticeship)
- Course leader name: Dan White
- dan.white@northampton.ac.uk
Registered Nurse Degree Apprenticeships
- Course leader name: Lynne Hughes
- lynne.hughes@northampton.ac.uk
As Course Leaders, we can help with questions about the overall course, your experience as a Nursing student and any concerns affecting your progress. We work closely with the course team and your Personal Academic Tutor, to ensure you receive the right support.
Pictured above (left to right): Emma Gooding, Learning Disability Nursing; Gail Reoch-Gamble, Children and Young Peoples Nursing; Lynne Hughes Adult Nursing; Dan White, Nursing Associate; Karen Graves, Mental Health Nursing.
Read more about your Nursing team below.
Preparing for your course
Before Welcome Week, please check your emails regularly for enrolment information and any invitations to pre-arrival activities. We will use the personal email address supplied with your application until your University account is active. After enrolment, course information will be sent to your University email address, so please begin checking it regularly as soon as you receive access.
When you arrive at the University of Northampton, there is plenty to get involved with during Welcome Week. Your core induction sessions take place from Tuesday 22 – Thursday 24 September 2026. Monday is a free day, and further University Welcome Week activities are planned for Friday.
Tuesday 22 September
Session: Course induction for your Nursing course. You will meet your Course Representatives and your Personal Academic Tutor.
- Time: 9am – 3:30pm (BST)
- Location: Learning Hub, Waterside campus
Wednesday 23 September
Session: Introduction to UON; University Leadership Team welcome talk; complete your Practice Health Passport; introduction to placements; discover your first module, NPR1027, and NILE self-study. You will also meet Ellie, Head of Nursing and Midwifery, and Patricia from Nursing and Midwifery Student Support.
- Time: 9am – 3:30pm (BST)
- Location: LH013 and LH014, Learning Hub, Waterside campus
Thursday 24 September
Session: Introduction to UON; Schwartz Rounds and an opportunity to meet some of our service users; meet the Students’ Union Representatives; complete your Practice Health Passport; Library learning session or scavenger hunt.
- Time: 9am – 3:30pm (BST)
- Location: LH013 and LH014, Learning Hub, Waterside campus
Friday 25 September
Free time to take part in wider University Welcome Week activities
You will be supported by a friendly and experienced course team who are looking forward to getting to know you:
Learning Disability Nursing
- Hannah Thomas – Senior Lecturer in Learning Disability Nursing
- Dr. Katy Louise Payne – Senior Lecturer in Autism & Learning Disabilities
- Dan White- Senior Lecturer in Learning Disability Nursing
Mental Health Nursing
- Iain Schrantz – Senior Lecturer Practice Development Mental Health Nursing
- Sarah Wickes – Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing
- Tim Alexander – Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing
- Bianca Harris – Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing
- Rosie Frost – Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing
Children and Young People’s Nursing (CYP)
- Bally Sandhu – Senior Lecturer in CYP in Nursing
- Chrissie Richardson – Senior Lecturer in CYP in Nursing
- Julia Brown – Senior Lecturer in CYP Nursing
- Lucy Hewitt – Senior Lecturer in CYP Nursing
- Ben Craig – Lecturer in CYP Nursing
Adult Nursing
- Lynne Hughes – Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing
- Nicola Hamilton – Lecturer in Nursing
- Katy Rockcliffe – Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing
- Claire Clinker – Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing
- Elizabeth Curran – Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing
- Dr Clency Meurier – Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing
- Ruth Smith – Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing
- Shev O’Brien – Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing
- Clare Bramer – Senior Lecturer in Practice Development – Nursing
- Anna O’Neil – Senior Lecturer in Practice Development – Nursing
- Amanda Wilson – Lecturer in Nursing Practice Development – Pre-Reg Nursing
- Clare Sarney-Clarke – Lecturer in Nursing Practice Development – Pre-Reg Nursing
Nursing Associate and Nursing Associate (Higher Apprenticeship)
- Natasha Diaz – Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing
- Nicky Peasnell – Senior Lecturer in Dental Nursing
- Natalia Manuel – Lecturer in CYP Nursing
- Hannah Cannon – Senior Lecturer in Practice Development
- Ruth Smith – Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing
Preparation and pre-arrival tasks
Please work through the following before you arrive. Completing these tasks promptly will help prevent delays with enrolment and practice placements:
- Respond to Occupational Health communications and complete any forms or appointments as early as possible.
- Engage with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) process promptly and provide the identification documents requested.
- Complete online enrolment and activate your University IT account when invited.
- Check both your personal and University email accounts during the transition period, including junk folders.
- Read and respond to any requests about uniform ordering, sizing or professional requirements.
- Let the University know early if you have a disability, long-term health condition or learning-support need so that appropriate support and reasonable adjustments can be discussed.
- Begin thinking about travel to campus and, later, to practice placements. Placement locations and working patterns will vary.
- Complete any online induction or mandatory learning released to you before the course begins.
- Please do not worry if some processes take time. The important thing is to begin them promptly, respond to requests and let us know if you experience difficulties.
Reading and useful preparation
You are not expected to arrive as an expert, and you do not need to buy textbooks before the course starts. The University library provides access to a wide range of books, journals and online resources, and your module reading lists will direct you to the most useful material.
If you would like to do some light preparation, you could:
- Read the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Code and begin thinking about what professionalism, kindness and person-centred care mean in practice.
- Look at the Nursing and Midwifery Council standards of proficiency for registered nurses to gain an overview of the knowledge and skills you will develop.
- Follow current health and social care stories and consider how communication, inclusion, equality, human rights and reasonable adjustments affect people relevant to your field of study.
Most importantly, come prepared to be curious, take part and learn with others. We will guide you through the academic and professional expectations step by step.
