Dr Jan Georgeson is Associate Professor of Education at University of Plymouth with a professional background as teacher of young children with special educational needs. She has also worked and volunteered as a Portage worker supporting parents and carers of children with special educational needs. Jan carried out research at Birmingham University from 1995 onwards, completing an EdD in Educational Disadvantage and Special Educational Needs in 2006. She has carried national and international research into professional development for early years practitioners and support for families of young children at risk of learning delay, as well as ways of supporting teachers to develop children’s computational thinking. Jan has written extensively on early years topics and research into professionalisation and partnership working. She is currently working with artists to create opportunities for young people with special educational needs to pursue their interests beyond school into adulthood.