Kayla Halls

Kayla Halls serves as a Research Fellow at Middlesex University, dedicating her work to advancing early childhood education and care with specialized expertise in baby room environments (0-2 years) within UK nurseries. Her academic role focuses on investigating pedagogical frameworks, professional learning systems, and the social purpose inherent in infant care settings.

Her research program critically examines leadership development challenges in early years contexts, emphasizing activist approaches, digital mediation strategies, and workforce crisis responses. She explores how constructions of babyhood shape care practices and applies Froebelian principles to modern professional learning, advocating for equitable, high-quality education for infants through socially just practices.

Analysis of her 2024-2025 publications reveals consistent thematic integration of leadership, social justice, and infant pedagogy. Key contributions include studies on dissensus-driven activist leadership, digital engagement barriers, and Froebelian-inspired professional development models. These UK-focused, predominantly qualitative works provide actionable insights for practitioners navigating severe workforce shortages while maintaining developmental quality for the youngest children.