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- Qualifications:Senior Fellow (HEA) PhD, M.Ed (maths Ed.), PG Dip SEN, PG CERT EY, PGCE (primary and EY), BA (Hons) Ancient History and Literature
- Position:Senior Lecturer : Childhood and Education
- Department:ACE - Education and Childhood
- Telephone:+4411732 84198
- Email:Sarah.Chicken@uwe.ac.uk
About me
I am a Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Education and I have taught and managed within a diverse range of educational settings within the UK and internationally over the last 30 years, teaching across age ranges ( 3 to 70); across social and cultural backgrounds and with learners with a diverse range of talents and needs.
I hold Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy status and co-convene the BRIDGE research group, Researching with Children and Young People.
As an adult with dyspraxia, I aim to raise awareness of the condition and to support the move towards viewing neurodiversity in a more positive light in all that I do; I am driven by a social justice agenda with a keen interest in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and sit on a number of University Committees for EDI. I hold a range of qualifications related to SEN and neurodivergence which have involved associated research.
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I also have expertise in early childhood from both sociological and educational perspectives and have a particular interest in the child centred pedagogical practices of the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, which formed part of my doctoral research.
Area of expertise
Research interests:
- Dialogic curriculum models which recognise the voice of the learner with a focus on young children
- Inclusive pedagogical practices for neurodivergent children and young people
Current projects
2020- current | Co-I with Welsh Children's Rights Network (Swansea University, Trinity St David, Cardiff Metropolitan, University South Wales) 'Developing understandings of the enactment of children's rights within curricula for young children.' | Live project, currently looking for external funding |
2021 | PI with Debbie Lewis, Simon Hall, Alice Hortrop (HAS) 'Exploring inclusive and innovative assessment practices through the eyes of neurodivergent students and staff via a participatory research approach'.
| UWE Pedagogic Project Funding
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2021 | PI with Dyspraxia Foundation. 'An exploration of the lived experience of young people with a diagnosis of dyspraxia/DCD in key stage 2-5 mainstream educational provision during lockdowns.' | UWE ACE Faculty Funding |
Doctoral Students
Julie Smith (completion, 2020)
'It's our Job to take the limits away': A Case Study approach to exploring a culture of teacher expectations in an English Secondary School, EdD completed 2020
Nagat Elamin (current)
An exploration of practitioners' perceptions and experience of using ICT within contrasting early years settings: a comparative case study. EdD, 2018 -current.
I am a member of the Faculty Research Ethics Committee (ACE) and sit on the Research Panel of the national Dyspraxia Foundation.
Publications
