Nia Seaton joined the NFER from working as a research officer with the Institute of Welsh Affairs where, amongst other work, she looked at early years policy in Wales and led a research project on the Development and Implementation of Integrated Children's Centres.

Prior to this she completed a BA and MA in politics at the University of Warwick. Since joining NFER she had worked on projects such as: The impact of the voluntary sector in Wales; Evaluation of Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin (Welsh playgroup movement); A review of nutrition education in Schools in Wales; and on the Impact of Ofsted School Inspections in England.