Dr ALICIA BLANCO-BAYO

Alicia has dedicated the past 25 years to various roles in education, including Early Years practitioner, FE lecturer, Early Years consultant, Head of Department, and Head of Primary in both national and international settings. 

Her research explores relational pedagogy, with a particular focus on CARINO as a pedagogical approach during observational assessment in early childhood. Her work examines the spontaneous and immediate loving responses that can occur during assessment, emphasising the role of emotional connections in learning. She is passionate about research-informed practice, particularly in the areas of social and emotional development, mental health (SEMH), emotional competence, and caring approaches to assessment in early childhood. 

As part of her PhD research, Alicia investigated the moral connection between assessment and emotional development in Early Childhood Education. Her findings highlight how assessment methods can nurture emotional competence and well-being in young children. 

She actively supports families and Early Years practitioners worldwide, focusing on the importance of observing and understanding emotional responses. Her experiences working with children in small communities across Nepal, India, and Jordan have deeply influenced her research. Committed to equality and social justice, Alicia aims to use her work to create opportunities for children to develop emotional stability and well-being.