Reflection Papers

Announcing the 2021 Student Reflections Award

Have you recently completed a piece of practitioner research you would like to share with a wider audience? Do you have an interesting angle on a contemporary issue or innovative practice you would like to discuss? There is a prize for the best student Reflections paper and both winner and runner-up will be published on this site. Download a flyer here. Closing date July 30th 2021.

Undertaking a Reflections paper offers you the chance to have a short paper web-published and responded to by like minded professionals. These are a popular part of our website and we always welcome more papers. Please contact Rory McDowall Clark with your thoughts, ideas or draft/completed papers. How to write your reflections article – information here.

Papers submitted to the ‘Reflecting on Early Years Issues’ section:

2021 Reflections

In pursuit of pleasure in the Early Years – Lenka Gondekova
It’s simply ’30 hours free child care’ – isn’t it? – Ruth Beck

2020 Reflections

Becoming a community in lockdown – Sarah Bennet-Leyh
‘Do better’: tackling racism in early years education – Diane Garrison
Crossing the bridge: starting school after lockdown – Linda Withey
The importance of mixed-age play – Asia Trigonopoulos
Mirrors that make us – Rachna Joshi
An internal conflict: policy, practice and pedagogy – Lauren Emery

2019 Reflections

Good friends don’t throw your shoes on the bonfire: an exploration of Early Years Practitioners’ conceptualisation of ‘quality interactions’ in everyday practice – Hayley Preston-Smith
‘Nature’ as ‘good’ an ECEC product and practice – Kathleen Bailey
The play, pedagogy, learning and teaching divide: can we close the gap? – Nicola Stobbs
Pedagogical documentation: a Hungarian perspective – Bernadett Nagy
Supporting Toddlers’ Wellbeing: Reflections on the Impact of the Toddler Wellbeing (ToWe) Project – Helen Sutherland
What makes a good team leader in SEN early years contexts? A support staff perspective – Sam Boseley
But what if they don’t ask the right questions? Problems of power and control in researching with children – Carla Solvason and Johanna Cliffe
‘Chit-chat’ every day helps with work, rest and play:supporting parents to develop young children’s language skills – Linda Withey

2018 Reflections

Two birds with one stone:how putting the value back into mealtimes can improve children’s communication and long-term health – Rachel Hingston
Listening to children creates Better Beginnings – Megan Taddeo
Beyond Ephgrave: Reflecting on the implementation of ‘In The Moment Planning’ in a rural day nursery – Joanne Smith
How do we ensure a seamless transition into Year 1 for children who have experienced a play-based curriculum? – Sue Quirk with Victoria Pettett
Moving from Inadequate to Outstanding – Victoria Pettett with Sue Quirk
We don’t play guns at nursery – why we need to talk about weapon play – Amy Perkins
Being Bold in 2018 – Di Chilvers

2017 Reflections

Trade Unionisation of Ireland’s Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Workforce – Colette Saunders
Embracing the neurodiversity movement – Jaime-Lee Knight
Placing trust in play – Emma Bailey
‘You’ve got a secret smile and you use it only for me’: infants’ intentional communication within the home – Caroline Guard
When we look, what do we see? – Linda Withey
Getting its Act Together: Why we need stronger EU leadership in developing a common EU framework for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) – Bronwen Cohen

2016 Reflections:

- Who owns the ‘rights’ to early development – Gareth Betts-Davies

- Using Rhizomatic Thinking in Early Childhood Pedagogy to Avoid Making Other into Same – Johanna Cliffe and Carla Solvason

- Literacy through music – Maria Kay

- Screening the word learning of bilingual toddlers: A first guide – Dr. Allegra Cattani

Entitlement or commodity? Tensions between universalism and marketisation in English early childhood education – Nathan Archer

2015 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

The impact of Early Years Teachers upon quality: views of managers and Early Years Teachers – Paige Alim
Reflections on Quality in Early Years – Penny Webb
Children’s Rights in Early Childhood Provision: A Comparative Study – Aline Cole-Albäck
Food for Thought – Linda Withey
Childcare: a Business? – Jemima Murray

2014 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Continuing professional development for teaching assistants: encouraging competence or ensuring performance? – Dr. Sally Neaum
The significance of relational pedagogy to young children’s speech, language and communication in early years settings – Dr. Caroline Blackburn
Are we there yet? – Helen Parkins
Making reflective practice more effective practice – Hilary Smith and Lucy Driver
Child’s Play? Does ‘subject’ learning having a role in pretend play? – Maulfry Worthington
Children as Experts in Infant School transitions – Megan Taddeo
Supporting children with chronic medical conditions in the Early Years Foundation Stage: a case for discrimination? – Dr. Jackie Musgrave.
Crossing Continents – Dr. Kathy Goouch and Dr. Sacha Powell
The McMillan Sisters and the ‘Deptford Welfare Experiment’ – Dr Pam Jarvis

2013 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Supervision and Adult Attachment – Geoff Taggart and Jo Elsey
Seeking Froebel’s ‘Mother Songs’ in Daycare for Babies – Dr Sacha Powell, Dr Kathy Goouch and Louie Werth
The phonics check for Year 1 children in England: unresolved issues of its value and validity after two years – Professor Margaret M Clark OBE
Margaret McMillan’s Ideals for Early Years Teacher Education: The Impact on Contemporary ITE Teacher Development – Dr Betty Liebovich
Research Brief: working in partnership with parents to create inclusive environments for children, aged 0-3 years, with chronic health conditions: parents’ perspectives – Jackie Musgrave
Valuing languages of spirituality: listening to two- and three-year olds in a day nursery in England – Dr. Gill Goodliff
‘Between the time that you are born and the time that a man goes into childcare…at what point is he influenced towards it?’ The values, beliefs and reported practices/experiences of six male practitioners within early childhood education and care in England – Charlotte Jones
Can using transitions story guides support parents and children in understanding their transition journeys? – Sue Johnson
Supporting the Development of Reflective Dispositions for Professional Practice – Dr. Karen Hanson
Recontextualisation in the ‘region’ of early years professional knowledge – Jim Hordern
An exploration of practitioners’ perspectives of promoting sustained shared thinking in an early childhood setting……a case study – Anne Purdon
Embedding Ethicality within Student Practice-Approaches and Dilemmas – Carla Solvason
Quiet undertones to promoting literacy in early years: a reflective experience – Lisa Fairclough
By-passing the debate: beyond the ‘technology question’ in the early years – Associate Professor Suzy Edwards- Response – Rory McDowall Clark | Response – Natalia Kucirkova
What in the world is happening to babies? A critical perspective of research and support for baby room practitioners in England – Dr Sacha Powell and Dr. Kathy Goouch
Is there space for the child in partnership with families? – Rory McDowall Clark | Response – Dr. Margaret Simms
Seeking a successor: who can light up this dark world? – Sandra Smidt

2012 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Pretend play and mathematics – informing the ‘school readiness’ debate – Maulfry Worthington
Music matters in early years’ settings – Mary Fawcett
Research and the Early Years Practitioner-Researcher – Carla Solvason
Payment By Results – what is the impact on practitioners, researchers, parents and children? – Anita Soni
The Diverse Communication Needs of Young Children in the Foundation Stage Reflecting on Policy to Practice Issues – Carolyn Blackburn
A Summary of Critical Commentary on Reforming the Early Years Foundation Stage (the EYFS): Government Response to Consultation – Richard House

2011 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

The Baby Room Project – Dr. Kathy Goouch and Dr. Sacha Powell
Magnificent Sunrise: Critical Writing Explained – Dr. Margaret Simms
Reading for Reflection: how reading and critiquing a research paper can stimulate personal reflection – Elizabeth Appleton

2010 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Transistion from Kindergarten to School in Estonia – Kerstin Kööp
“It’s hard for me, I move a lot”: Designing and implementing a one-year Pilot Project to Support Service Children at Halton School during periods of Mobility and Parental Deployment – Joy O’Neill
On Learning from the Research Successful: how do teacher educators ever become established researchers? – Jean Murray
‘Practitioners’ Experiences’ – what difference has the EYFS made? – Dr. Liz Brooker
Dance for young children can provide so much more than physical exercise. Could Early Years practitioners be the key to extending this learning opportunity to more children? – Mandy Fouracre
Making sense of Swedish practice: is it that different from practice in Wales? – Alyson Lewis
Supply – but no demand? – Amanda Thomas
Reclaiming Our Children’s Rights from the Jaws of School Effectiveness – Jane Murray

2009 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL): Panacea or Pandora’s Box? – Dr. Sue Bingham
‘Research’ in early childhood settings: a pause for thought – Prof. Angela Anning | Response from Michelle Garcia Diaz | Response from Laura Ashton
‘Key Group Time’ is a time for Intimacy: ‘Circle Time’ is a time for group thinking – Why They Must be Different – Dorothy Y. Selleck | Response from Estelle Martin
Can Forest School Act as a Spur to Better Quality Outdoor Experiences? – Sara Knight | Response from Mallika Kanyal
The play’s the thing: redefining and rethinking play –
Sandra Smidt | Response from Michelle Garcia Diaz, with feedback from Sandra Smidt and comments from Janet Moyles | Response from Karla Roberts | Response from Cate Mawby

2008 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

How can young children’s mental health be promoted in the early years within the Early Years Foundation Stage? – Anita Soni
Understanding Racism – Jane Lane

2007 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Early Years in Crisis? Reflecting on the past ten years, hoping for the future – Margaret Edgington
Creativity and Possibility in the Early Years – Anna Craft
Summer-Born Children Deserve Equal Opportunities – Jane Payler and David Whitebread | Response from Joanne Williamson
Early Years Professional Status (EYPS): The joys of assessing! – Jane Payler | Response from Margaret Simms

2006 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

The rights and wrongs of parenting programmes – Elizabeth Brooker
Dimensions of early years professionalism – attitudes versus competences? – Avril Brock
Recruitment and Retention of Early Years and Childcare Practitioners in Private Day Nurseries – Margaret Simms
What is meant by ‘synthetic phonics and what impact will the Rose Report have on our teaching of reading before formal school age? – Sue Vermes | Response from Hilary McEvoy
The Rose Report in context: What will be its impact on the teaching of reading? – Professor Margaret Clark
Seeing the Wider Picture. Reflections on the Reggio Emilia Approach – some evidence from research – Theodora Papatheodorou

2005 Reflections: 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

Reflecting on creativity and cognitive challenge: visual representations and mathematics in early childhood – some evidence from research – Maulfry Worthington | Response from Torill Hindmarch
Writing Up Research Involving Child Participants: some Reflections by Ian, aged 5 years – Deborah Albon
Children, Food and Jamie Oliver! – Kate Wagner
Children, Divorce and Family Relationships – Jayne Woodhouse
SureStart, Families and Debt
Amanda France
Playing: the Reading Game and Phonics – Dominic Wyse | Response from Marian Whitehead | Response from Lyndsay Johnston
Leadership: an essential ingredient or an optional extra for quality early childhood provision? – Jillian Rodd | Response from Margaret Simms
Early mathematics achievement in the context of the National Numeracy Strategy – Carol Aubrey
Analysing and Understanding Research Findings: practitioner/researcher interaction – Hilary Fabian | Response from Simon Jones