Dr Rhiannon Packer is a senior lecturer in Additional Learning Needs (ALN) at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She is the Programme Director for the National MA in Education and ALN pathway lead. She has worked in higher education since 2004 and prior to that was a secondary school teacher teaching Welsh as a second language. She has written several texts for second language learners. Rhiannon became interested in supporting children and young people with ALN while working at school and later undertook a PGDip in SEN specialising in Specific Learning Difficulties. Rhiannon’s research interests include exploring the educational transition experiences of learners in a range of settings, the learner journey for quiet, shy and anxious children, supporting learners with Specific Learning Difficulties and bilingualism.