Listening to children's voices in play-based approaches

Sharon is senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Bath Spa University and an associate trainer and researcher for the Centre for Research in Early Childhood Education (CREC). She is a trustee on the Froebel Trust Council and vice-chair on the Executive of the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN).

She has a diverse career background, working initially in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as a policy manager, owning a private day nursery, assessor for the award of EYPs, participating in the review of the Teacher Standards, and more recently working as project assistant for the development of Birth to Five Matters non-statutory guidance.

Sharon’s PhD research and interests are particularly concerned with play-based participatory pedagogies and its part in developing children’s mixed ethnic identity and cultural learning and development – especially learning and development informed by child-led perspectives. Sharon also has a deep interest and engages in work that develops anti-oppressive practice.

She is an active member of Early Childhood Education Research Association (ECERA), CREC learning circle, and Early Education.