Education and Childhood Research Group (ECRG)
The Education and Childhood Research Group (ECRG) encompasses four strands of research:
- Equity in education
- Pedagogy
- Childhood, children and young people
- Sustainability in education.
These four Strands are committed to deliver UWE Bristol's values, vision and strategy through real world research and scholarship that seeks to transform futures.
ECRG is made up of researchers, associates and doctoral researchers throughout the School and welcomes active membership and collaboration from across the University. The ECRG is led by Dr Alpesh Maisuria (alpesh.maisuria@uwe.ac.uk), Associate Professor of Education Policy in Critical Education at UWE Bristol. For general ECRG queries, please contact Ella Rees (ella.rees@uwe.ac.uk).
Details of the activities of the Group are advertised through our social media site, Twitter. We also include details of our activities within some of our blog posts. We further advertise our events via UWE Bristol email to relevant groups and individuals.

Research theme and strands
ECRG's research theme and portfolio of projects within our inter-connected research strands.
Postgraduate research
Current and completed postgraduate research activity within ECRG.
Events and activities
Find out about the latest events and activities from ECRG.
Publications
View the latest publications from ECRG members.
Contact us
We welcome enquiries about research within ECRG - please get in touch.
Education blog
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Education and Childhood Research Group (ECRG), School of Education and Childhood, College of Health, Science and Society, UWE Bristol In this blog, Gemma Lyons, a current EdD student at UWE and a Teaching and Learning Lead at Richard Huish College in Somerset, discusses the benefits of further education staff being ‘researchers’, as part of the … Continue reading "Research in Further Education: The pathway towards continual professional development and the reflection and application of outstanding Teaching and Learning practices."
Research in Further Education: The pathway towards continual professional development and the reflection and application of outstanding Teaching and Learning practices.
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In this article Katrina Diamond, a Senior Lecturer in Education and Childhood at UWE, writes about an evidence-based mindfulness intervention, with primary aged children, based on the book “My Magical Garden” by Jacqui Gray and Terri Allen (2008). The number of adults, and children, with mental health issues, stress, anxiety and fatigue is stark (Baker, … Continue reading "“My Magical Garden”: A mindfulness intervention for teachers working with children experiencing challenges around anxiety, stress and self-regulation – exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, school closures and ‘curriculum catch-up’."
“My Magical Garden”: A mindfulness intervention for teachers working with children experiencing challenges around anxiety, stress and self-regulation – exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, school closures and ‘curriculum catch-up’.
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In this blog Dr Tim Clark, Senior Lecturer in Education and Childhood at UWE discusses his research which focuses on exploring doctoral students’ perceptions of the influences on their methodological decision making. It is not unusual for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) to encounter challenges with the selection and coherent application of a methodological approach in their … Continue reading "Methodological Becoming: Becoming a Reflexive Researcher"
Methodological Becoming: Becoming a Reflexive Researcher
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Fay Lewis, Amanda Wilkinson and Marcus Witt, all Senior Lecturers in the Department of Education and Childhood at UWE Bristol have written a new book Mastery and Depth in Primary Mathematics which gives teachers practical strategies for developing mathematical thinking in the classroom. Dr Lewis writes that the UK National Curriculum is clear about the … Continue reading "Mastery and Depth in Primary Mathematics"
Mastery and Depth in Primary Mathematics
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This article is a guest blog from Louise Couceiro, a PhD Researcher at the University of Glasgow. Louise’s research explores how children aged seven to ten engage with and respond to collective biographies about women published since 2016. In this article, Louise suggests that although the proliferation of texts centering women’s achievements is laudable, supporting … Continue reading "Contemporary Children’s Biographies About Women: A laudable endeavour, but critical reading remains crucial"
Contemporary Children’s Biographies About Women: A laudable endeavour, but critical reading remains crucial
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In this article, Dr Alexandra Morfaki, Nursery Manager at The Students’ Union at UWE, discusses her doctoral research which focused on Inclusion in the Early Years. Alex’s thesis explored the dilemmas of difference, roles and partnerships in the operationalisation of inclusive practices for children with Special Educational Needs and Disability. The provision of a fair and equitable curriculum … Continue reading "A fair and equitable curriculum for young children with special educational needs and disability"
A fair and equitable curriculum for young children with special educational needs and disability
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In Mental Health Awareness week, Dr Verity Jones, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education and Childhood at UWE Bristol explains that although connecting with nature is important for our mental health, increasingly, children and young people are experiencing anxiety about the natural world and the environment. Dr Jones has proposed a three-stage approach to … Continue reading "Nature – a source of solace or anxiety for children and young people?"
Nature – a source of solace or anxiety for children and young people?
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Dr Sarah Chicken Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Education at UWE marks Neurodiversity Celebration Week (15-21 March 2021) by taking the opportunity to raise awareness about dyspraxia by telling some of her personal story. I am a senior lecturer within the Department of Childhood and Education where I have worked for seventeen years. I am … Continue reading "Raising awareness of Neurodiversity: my lived experience of dyspraxia"
Raising awareness of Neurodiversity: my lived experience of dyspraxia
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Research in the College of Health, Science and Society
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Research in the School of Education and Childhood
There is strength and diversity in the programme of educational research and evaluation at UWE Bristol. A broad range of substantive areas of enquiry is sponsored by a wide range of funding bodies.