I have spent my whole professional life (a very long one) working in the early years sector, first as a nursery nurse, then a teacher, working in nursery schools and classes in areas with high levels of social deprivation. I took up the headship of a nursery school in Surrey where I discovered there was also an unmet need for under fives with additional needs so I raised the money to build and open a unit for children with complex needs, the most severe of which was communication. Since leaving my headship I have worked as an early learning advisor for a local authority, working with schools and PVIs and as a freelance consultant, specialising in training for early years practitioners working with children with additional needs and raising the quality of provision.I am a qualified EEL/BEEL trainer and accredited EYFS moderator.I have carried out two pieces of research "The Twoness of Twos", looking at the training needs of practitioners working with funded two year olds and "Men Working in Childcare. Does it matter to children? What do they say?" for LEYF. The latter was launched on November 19th, International Men's Day and was instrumental in the setting up of the Men in Childcare London Network.I have contributed to a book, Critical Perspectives of Well-Being in the Early Years, for Critical Publishing published in September 2013.I have been a keynote speaker at a number of conferences and recently a judge for the Nursery World and Nursery Management Today Awards.I am a trustee for the Addison's Disease Self Help Group. Addison’s disease is a rare, chronic condition brought about by the failure of the adrenal glands. Lifelong, continuous treatment with steroid replacement therapy is required.