Reading; Writing; Literacy; Dyslexia; Neurodiversities; Motivation; Self-Efficacy, Phonology; Morphology; Language impairment

I joined Coventry University in 2014, and was promoted to professor in 2016. Prior to that I was an associate professor at the University of Warwick. I completed my DPhil in York in 2001.

I have always been interested in language development and language difficulties, both in spoken and written language. Much of my research focuses on difficulties in spoken and written language. In recent years I have also become interested in the lived experience of having dyslexia and other neurodiversities, and in the role of motivation, engagement and self-belief in academic progress. 

I lead the Development, Engagement and Attainment theme within GLEA. My work there is particularly focused on trying to understand the reasons behind the underachievement of individuals with dyslexia and other language based difficulties, and trying to improve outcomes for these groups. My work suggests that a wide range of interacting factors, environmental, cognitive and emotional, need to be considered to support improved progress.

My research concerns language and literacy development. I am particularly interested in how spoken language skills and written language skills are linked. For example, why do some (but not all) children with spoken language impairments show reading impairments? Can oral language skills be used to improve reading and writing? My most recent research concerns the phonological and morphological skills of children with dyslexia and children with hearing impairments. I hope that my work can provide a research basis for more effective literacy support for children in schools.