Rebecca Thistle Greenwich University, UK

Rebecca Thistle has always been interested in the early years sector training and qualifying as an early year’s practitioner in 2008. Since then, she has had a variety of experiences and roles in the early years sector both in the Midlands and internationally. Rebecca became particularly interested in SEN after spending significant time looking after children with various needs, most notably children on the autistic spectrum. In 2015, Rebecca joined the Early Years team at the University of Greenwich as a Senior Lecturer in Early Years where she leads modules around special educational needs. Alongside this, Rebecca is completing a PhD which explores early years practice from the perspectives of children, practitioners and parents in England and Ghana. Rebecca’s interest in early years leadership focuses on empowering her students to be reflective advocates for young children, exploring ways they can lead inspiring and innovative early years practice.