Dr. Annette J. Kearns is the Director of Early Childhood Placements and a lecturer in Early Childhood Teaching and Learning in the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, where she has special responsibility for Professional Practice and Language and Literacy. Annette also supervises both undergraduate and masters research. Her experience ranges from working as an educator directly with children for 15 years, to working as an Early Childhood Specialist/Síolta Mentor with Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) and tutoring/lecturing in Early Childhood Education for over 20 years. Annette’s studies and research interests include special educational needs and inclusion, online programme development and learning, and early language and literacy development which was the focus of her recent doctoral studies. She has presented her research widely, on both the national and international stage.