The career change marked the fulfilment of a long-held ambition inspired by her grandmother, who worked as a midwife. After leaving school without the grades needed to progress directly to university, she later returned to education after becoming a parent herself. She completed an Access to Higher Education course and retook her Maths GCSE while raising two young children. Jodie also received support from Bucks New University for dyslexia, something she said she had been reluctant to acknowledge during her teenage years. Carla Avery, lead midwife for education at Bucks New University, praised Jodie's determination.