Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Leigh Disney is an Early Years lecturer within the Faculty of Education at Monash University.
He began his career in the early years working as an early childhood educator in both prior to school and school-based settings for over 10 years. During which time, he developed a detailed knowledge of the educative and care needs of children within the 0-8 age range. Specialising in supporting young children’s social and emotional development, as well as curricula domains of science, technology and mathematics.
Leigh is a mixed methodological researcher who studies early years mathematical learning as well as the impact of digital technology within early years educational settings. Leigh is also currently investigating the enhancement of learning outcomes for children through dynamic leadership processes. Leigh has also spent time working in China on projects related to cross-cultural early childhood practices and the implementation of play-based learning within Chinese preschools.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
Adjunct Professor, Coordinated Innovation Centre for Basic Education Reform and Development
1 Dec 2015 → …
Research area keywords
- Early Childhood Education
- Digital Technologies
- Play and Pedagogy
- Early Years Mathematics Learning
- Early Years Science
- Teacher Education
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Supporting children’s mathematics transition to primary school in play
Li, L. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Disney, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Downton, A. (Chief Investigator (CI))
30/11/24 → 30/11/25
Project: Research
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Team Teaching Professional Learning program
Suryani, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Li, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Hammer, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Babaeff, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Disney, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Fleer, M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
13/06/24 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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Victorian Curriculum F-10: Mathematics Version 2.0 - Professional Learning Program
Livy, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Hall, J. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Disney, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Downton, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Li, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tan, H. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Vale, C. (Supervisor), Bowden, J. (Partner Investigator (PI)), Draskovic, D. (Partner Investigator (PI)) & Liddell, D. (Partner Investigator (PI))
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) (Victoria)
24/11/23 → 17/09/24
Project: Research
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2023 Teacher Parent Collaborative Partnerships in Early Childhood Program
Babaeff, R. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Disney, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Kidman, G. (Chief Investigator (CI))
9/10/23 → 12/10/23
Project: Consultancy
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Dynamic Leadership in the Early Years
Clarke, S. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Disney, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Babaeff, R. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Department of Education (Victoria)
10/12/19 → 28/02/21
Project: Research
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Children's mathematics concept learning of informal length measurement: Conceptual PlayWorld as an innovative approach in the beginning of primary school period
Chen, H., Disney, L. & Li, L., Sept 2025, In: Journal of Mathematical Behavior. 79, 19 p., 101257.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
How kindergarten teachers in China create conditions for children’s mathematics concept learning
Zhang, W., Li, L. & Disney, L., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Early Years. 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Chinese early childhood teachers’ perspectives on mathematics education in play-based contexts
Zhang, W., Li, L. & Disney, L., 2024, In: Early Years. 44, 3-4, p. 765-780 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Citations (Scopus) -
Studying children's motives in mathematical problem-solving during transition from kindergarten to school: a Conceptual PlayWorld approach
Chen, H., Disney, L. & Li, L., Oct 2024, In: Learning, Culture and Social Interaction. 48, 14 p., 100850.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus) -
Why Play Works: Conceptual PlayWorlds Inspiring Learning, Imagination and Creativity in Education
Fleer, M., Allen, K.-A., Clerc-Georgy, A., Disney, L., Li, L., McKinley, L., Quiñones, G., Rai, P., Scull, J. A. & Suryani, A., 2024, 1st ed. Melbourne Vic Australia: Monash University. 150 p.Research output: Book/Report › Textbook › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
- 1 Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries
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Monash Submission the the Senate Education and Employment References Committee: The issue of increasing disruption in Australian school classrooms
Leif, E. (Fellow), Reupert, A. (Fellow), Allen, K.-A. (Fellow), Berger, E. (Fellow), Bloomfield, B. S. (Fellow), Lea, S. (Fellow), Rabba, A. S. (Fellow), Disney, L. (Fellow), Babaeff, R. (Fellow) & Fox, R. (Fellow)
2023Activity: External Academic Engagement › Submissions to industry or govt committees, commissions and inquiries