I am a Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Education at UWE, Bristol and have worked within a diverse range of educational settings within the UK and internationally over the last 30 years. I began my career as a teacher in Wales before moving to a Reggio Emilian inspired setting in Bangkok, Thailand. I have substantial expertise in early childhood from both sociological and educational perspectives and for a number of years was on the Board of Sightlines which supports Reggio Emilian inspired practice within the UK. My areas of interest include children's rights, the voice of the child and democratically and critical pedagogies. Please contact me for doctoral supervision in this area.
I am currently the principal investigator on an ESRC funded 3-year project (£700,000) entitled 'embedding children's participation rights into pedagogical practice' (ECPRP). The project foregrounds the co-production of knowledge and involves working with teachers, student-teachers, teacher-educators and children across Wales to explore pedagogy which foregrounds the voice and agency of young children. Find out more here: : Link Here
As a neurodivergent adult, I aim 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. I currently support the National Dyspraxia Foundation's work with UG and PG research studies.
I hold Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy status and co-convene the ECRG research group, Researching with Children and Young People.
Area of expertise
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
Constructions of children and childhood and associated discourses
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
Current supervision
Nia Vaughan (DoS)
Innovation in Wales – a case study in policy led change in primary education practice with a focus on decolonising the curriculum. PhD 2021- current.
Gillian O'Demsey (DoS)
A child rights informed inquiry into children's experiences of music therapy in mainstream primary schools. EdD 2022- current
Nicola Hewett
Overcoming the barriers: A case study of families experience of seeking support for their children's additional needs.' EdD 2022- current.
I am a member of the Faculty Research Ethics Committee (ACE) and sit on the Research Panel of the national Dyspraxia Foundation.
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