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Alison Rees Edwards BA, PGCert (Open), PGCertHE, MA

Image and Intro

Wearing glasses and with short dark hair, bookshelves behind her, Alison Rees Edwards looks directly into the camera.

Senior Lecturer

Institute of Education and Humanities


Tel: +44 (0) 1267 676615
Email: a.rees-edwards@uwtsd.ac.uk

Role in the University

  • BA Programme Manager – two-year Fast Track Flexi programme
  • MA Programme Manager – Children’s, Young People’s, and Community’s Services (Welsh-medium)
  • Early Years Placement Coordinator

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, before working as a Learning Support Assistant. During my time working in these settings, I gained invaluable experiences of working with children with a range of learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, and autistic spectrum conditions.

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 an MA in Early Years Education. In 2015, I achieved a Postgraduate Certificate from the Open University.

Due to my ongoing interest in neurodiversity, I am now a PhD student, investigating the role of teaching assistants and how they support learners with ADHD.

Member Of

Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol – current co-Vice Chair

Mudiad Meithrin – member of the Board of Directors

Academic Interests

I have an interest in every aspect of a young child’s life, with particular interest in additional learning needs, neurodiversity, and language acquisition.

I lecture on several undergraduate and postgraduate courses including themes and subjects such as:

  • Developing successful academic skills,
  • Multilingual practice in the early years,
  • Language and literacy in the digital age,
  • Supporting children with additional learning needs,
  • Inclusive leadership,
  • Health and well-being of young children.

I also supervise postgraduate dissertations.

Research Interests

My areas of research and academic interests include young children’s language and literacy, including the impact of storytelling on language development. 

I am also interested in bilingualism, children with additional learning needs, and neurodiversity.

I have undertaken research on the benefits of music therapy for young children on the autistic spectrum. 

Expertise

  • Academic study skills for students
  • Young children’s language development
  • Early literacy
  • Children with additional learning needs
  • Neurodiversity
  • Bilingualism/Multilingualism

Publications

Rees Edwards, A. (2022) ‘Types of play’, in Waters-Davies, J. (ed.) Introduction to play. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, pp. 26–39.  

Greenway, C. W. and Rees Edwards, A. (2021) ‘’, British Journal of Special Education. 

Greenway, C. W. and Rees Edwards, A. (2021) ‘’, Gwerddon, 32, tt.7–25. 

Greenway, C. W. and Rees Edwards, A. (2020) ‘’, Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties, 25,1, pp. 31–49. 

Rees Edwards, A. and Ryder, N. (2018) ‘Cynhwysiant’, yn Ryder, N. (gol.). Cefnogi pob plentyn. Caerfyrddin: Cyhoeddiadau Prifysgol Cymru Y Drindod Dewi Sant, tt. 29–41.  

Ryder, N. and Rees Edwards, A. (2018) ‘Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol’, yn Ryder, N. (gol.). Cefnogi pob plentyn. Caerfyrddin: Cyhoeddiadau Prifysgol Cymru Y Drindod Dewi Sant, tt. 42–51.