Joyce Leslie

Joyce Leslie is a Lecturer in Education specializing in Childhood Studies and Childhood Practice at the School of Education and Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland. She teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including PGDE (Primary) and BA Education. Her research focuses on early years pedagogy, professional identity of practitioners, and the impact of practitioner identity on children's communication skills.

Current projects include a Scottish Government-funded study examining how practitioner professional identity influences young children's talking and listening skills. This research is part of a multidisciplinary initiative involving the Schools of Education, Health, Nursing, Midwifery, and Media, Culture, and Society at UWS. She aims to collaborate with local authorities and private childcare providers to expand this work.

• Research Interests: Early years pedagogy, professional identity development, educational transitions, and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Awards: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2016)

Her publications span engineering education outcomes, breastfeeding support strategies, creative approaches to childhood studies, and early years practitioner professionalization. She actively engages in public discourse, including media contributions on childhood in Scotland.