Dr Marion Burns HMI completed her doctoral degree at Strathclyde University in 2019, where her main research focus was children’s transitions to school. Marion has travelled to New South Wales, New Zealand and Iceland to participate in a range of professional learning activities as part of the Pedagogies of Educational Transitions (POET) work package. She is a co-author of the national guidance for early years in Scotland, Realising the Ambition: Being me. She is the non-executive chairperson of Early Years Scotland. Marion retired from Education Scotland in 2021.