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Senior Lecturer
Institute of Education and Humanities
Tel: +44 (0) 1267 676615
E-mail: a.rees-edwards@uwtsd.ac.uk
Role in the University
- Early Years Practice Coordinator
- Module co-ordinator
- Assist with admissions
- Employability week
- External Examiner
Background
When I left school, I raised a family before considering a career. As my children started school and Cylch Meithrin, I studied for a BTEC in Child Development Studies in Coleg Ceredigion. I worked as an NNEB in a primary school for some years where I had invaluable experience of working with children with a range of learning difficulties such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Asperger’s syndrome.
In 2005, I decided to join the Flexible Learning Route for the BA Early Years Education degree here at Trinity. This meant working during the day and studying in the evenings. I attained a First Class honours degree in 2008 and joined the University as a tutor on the Geiriau Bach project. In addition, I was awarded a University of Wales Welsh medium Fellowship and became a lecturer in the School of Early Years.
In 2013, I achieved the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education as well as a MA in Early Years Education. In 2015, I achieved the Postgraduate Certificate from the Open University.
Qualifications:
- BA, MA
- Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education
- Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Enquiry
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Academic Interests
I have an interest in every aspect of a young child’s life, with particular interest in additional learning needs, the importance of play, language acquisition and young children’s use of technology.
I lecture on several undergraduate and postgraduate courses including themes and subjects such as:
- Academic study skills for students;
- Language development and literacy;
- Early numeracy;
- Inclusion;
- Health and well-being of young children.
I supervise both undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations.
Research Interests
My areas of research and academic interests include: young children’s language development, including bilingualism, children with additional learning needs and technology. I have undertaken research on the benefits of music therapy for young children under the autistic spectrum. I am also interested in students’ attitudes towards Welsh medium higher education.
Expertise
- Academic study skills for students
- Young children’s language development
- Early literacy
- Inclusive practice
- Children with additional learning needs
- Bilingualism/Multilingualism