Siobhan O'Connor

Siobhan O'Connor serves as a Senior Lecturer in Academic Education and Linguistics at Canterbury Christ Church University's Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Education. Since joining the Early Childhood Studies team in 2008 and becoming Programme Director in 2014, she has redesigned the curriculum to guide students from transition modules like 'being, belonging and becoming' toward becoming advocates for young children and communities.

Her research examines infants' and young children's foundational learning through participatory methodologies where children co-construct knowledge, exploring profound themes including 'what makes us human' and 'food insecurity'. She champions values-based pedagogy that removes barriers to participation and amplifies marginalized voices in educational contexts.

Current initiatives focus on alumni engagement within early childhood degrees and advancing inclusion practices in higher education. As Programme Director, she shapes educational frameworks that foster student belonging while preparing graduates to advocate for children's rights and community wellbeing through the Early Childhood Studies team.