A TEACHER from Bewdley went back to class to become an expert in helping children with problems.

Nanette Smith taught in Wribbenhall First School, Bewdley, for 19 years before going to University College Worcester to improve her teaching skills. She has since used her further education and research to help bullied and homeless children in China and India.

She said: "Working in Bewdley was a great advantage. Wribbenhall First School is a wonderful community school with strong links with parents."

Thirteen years after going back to class she has completed her PhD to become Dr Nanette Smith and has presented her work in Greece, France and Portugal.

She said: "I have been to India with a group of colleagues four times, working in the slums of Bombay.

"We were paid to go there by non-government organisations which wanted us to train social workers to improve the lives of young children."

Dr Smith, 56, taught social workers to improve the lives of child workers and of street children.

She has since invited an Indian student to Britain to see what is done to help young, homeless people in this country.

"After studying here, they go back to India to work.

"The student I met is working with street children on a project called Rootless and Roofless", she said.

In China she looked at how bullying there compared to the problem in the UK.

While carrying out research for her PhD she was also lecturing part-time at University College Worcester and helping Belfast students with their dissertations.

"I go from the slums of Bombay to the trouble spots of Belfast - I think somebody is trying to tell me something," she said.

Now, after recently being awarded her PhD and with 19 years teaching experience, she is aiming to be one of the country's top educational consultants.

Dr Smith, of Kidderminster Road, now works at University College Worcester as a lecturer and researcher and is an Early Years mentor overseeing 27 nurseries and playgroups. She is one of a team of 25 teachers offering advice to playgroups, reception classes and nurseries which have to have access to a teacher.

She has a son and a daughter and three grandchildren, and is looking forward to a new challenge.

"I would like to publish some of my work maybe as articles or as a chapter in a book," she says.

"I am very proud of my achievement which I think is unique.

"Having started out at University College, I not only work there as a lecturer and researcher but I also support students with their dissertations on the BA Education degree.

"I've really gone full circle," she said.