Donna Forrest has over 12 years’ experience in Early Years services and is committed to supporting each child’s social, emotional and intellectual growth through inclusive play-based curricula and pedagogy in line with Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, LINC Leadership for Inclusion in Early Years and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). She also has experience in management roles to include policy development and maintenance, recruitment, induction and mentoring.

Within the School-Age-Childcare (SAC), Donna has emphasised accessibility to all children by providing inclusive STEM education. She has facilitated children’s active engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through hands-on, multi-sensory and creative experiences to ensure that all children can learn through exploration and play to suit their learning styles.

In 2023, Donna began working in adult education delivering QQI Level 6 Special Needs Assisting, QQI Level 6 Effective Leadership and QQI Level 5 & Level 6 in Early Learning and Care (ELC). Donna is passionate in supporting Continuous Professional Development within the early years sector to promote leadership roles in fostering an inclusive emergent and inquiry-based learning environment.

Donna holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Plays Skills with University College Cork (UCC) as well as a BA in Early Childhood Care and Education, Technological University of Shannon (TUS). From her research and studies, Donna has developed further interests in Neurodiversity and adopting a neurodiversity-friendly approach in early years learning environments.