Early Years and Early Childhood

  • Walsh, G. (2021) Play in Practice during the Pandemic: Full Report

    PlayBoard NI, Stranmillis University College and the Controlled Schools’ Support Council recently embarked on a collaborative research project to examine […]

  • McClelland, D. and Purdy, N. (2021) Contested childhoods across borders and boundaries: Insights from curriculum provisions in Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State in the 1920s

    Conceptualisations and constructs of children and childhood are temporally and contextually grounded. Historical documents are rich sources of insight and […]

  • Walsh, G. (2017) Why Playful Teaching and Learning?

    This chapter will take you on an evidence-based journey to show you why play in practice needs to be reconceptualised. […]

  • Walsh, G. (2019) Towards Playful Teaching and Learning in Practice

    Although play receives recognition across the globe in the pre-school context, its position within primary schooling is much more precarious […]

  • Walsh, G. (2006) An Appropriate Curriculum for 4-5-year-old Children in Northern Ireland: Comparing Play-based and Formal Approaches

    This paper reports on an investigation into the quality of the learning experiences for 4–5‐year‐old children in Northern Ireland schools […]

  • Walsh, G. (2011) Playful structure: a novel image of early years pedagogy for primary school classrooms

    Playful structure is a new pedagogic image representing a more balanced and integrated perspective on early years pedagogy, aiming to […]

Purdy et al (2026) Transform: Exploring Pathways and Barriers for Young People with Disabilities…

Purdy et al (2026) Transform: Exploring Pathways and Barriers for Young People with Disabilities…

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Gibson, K et al, (2025) Pathways to Inclusion: Exploring Higher Education Opportunities for People with Intellectual Disabilities

Gibson, K et al, (2025) Pathways to Inclusion: Exploring Higher Education Opportunities for People with Intellectual Disabilities

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Purdy et al (2025) Effective School Leadership in Disadvantaged Communities

Purdy et al (2025) Effective School Leadership in Disadvantaged Communities

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