Florence is passionate about Early Childhood Education and Care and has worked in both Ireland and France. In France, she taught English in Primary School and was also involved in teaching English to Businessmen. The latter involved acting as a pedagogical advisor and as such she had to devise and implement detailed course plans in conjunction with the company’s training officers. She was also involved in the French Ministry of the Interior in developing, coordinating, and delivering courses that prepared European policemen to French Police Academies.

In Ireland, she completed a UCC Honours Degree in Early Childhood Studies and has worked as a Placement Practice Supervisor for ECS/EYCS in UCC ever since. She strongly believes in the holistic development of the young child, and considers visual education as an important component of development. This philosophy has guided her continuing professional development and the courses she has taken, for example, she has undertaken a course on Visual Thinking Strategies to become familiar with the process and to implement it as a means to encourage student discussion.

Her interest in Early Years Education and Training has led to her publishing in peer-reviewed journals and, in addition, playing a part in the production of a promotional video for EYCS in UCC. She has been Secretary of OMEP (Ireland) -The World Organisation for Early Childhood Education and Care- for four years and Vice President for two.