Kirstie Hartwell

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Lecturer in Education, currently working on a project that aims to adapt and co-design the Parents and Children Together (PACT) early language teaching programme specifically for parents and young children with Down syndrome: PACT-DS.

Prior to my current roles, I completed a BSc Speech and Language Therapy degree at the University, then joined the Child Study Centre as a Psychology PhD researcher.

My research interests focus on how young children's socio-cognitive skills, language, and communication unfolds during both typical and atypical development- and how children's learning and development can be supported through intervention.

My PhD research investigated the development of young children’s (aged 2-5) verbal and non-verbal reasoning (via the use of gestures), joint decision-making, and cooperative argumentation.

I am part of the Education and Psychology research group at Manchester Institute of Education.

• The Down Syndrome Clinical Excellence Network
• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
• Fellow of Higher Education (AdvanceHE)

Teaching 2024-2025:

MEd Psychology of Education (unit lead):

• EDUC60721 Learning and Individual Differences
• EDUC60732 Social Psychology, the Classroom and Communities