Rachel Philip

I am a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood, specialising in modules that focus on work-related learning, reflective practice and the application of theory to practice. I have held this role since 2021. Prior to joining higher education, I worked for ten years in a further education college, supporting students studying qualifications in Early Years and Health and Social Care.

Before moving into lecturing, I worked within a range of early years settings, predominantly with the youngest children in baby room environments. These experiences continue to inform my teaching, research and academic interests.

My particular research interests centre on children's emerging language and identity development. I am especially interested in understanding and responding to young children's pre-verbal communication, an area that grew from my passion for working with babies. This interest has shaped both my teaching and research, including a small-scale study entitled An Exploration into the Importance of Listening to Babies' Pre-Verbal Communication to Advocate Their Rights: Implications for Practice. Through this work, I explore how attentive, responsive listening can support young children's participation, agency and rights within early childhood settings.

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