Biography

After studying Social Science (Psychology) as an undergraduate I was awarded ESRC funding to obtain a post-graduate qualification in Research Methods. I was then employed by the University of Brighton in 2003 to support the work of the TLRP funded Social Pedagogical Research into Group Work (SPRinG) Project. Working as part of the SPRinG team I developed a keen interest in the use of group work as a pedagogical practice, specifically with young children, along with an interest in children’s social relationships. Post SPRinG projects examining the use of group work with preschool children and, projects examining the role of early years practitioners’ have led to a developing expertise in the professional practice and the professional knowledge of early years practitioners.

Teaching

• MA Education, University of Brighton
• BA (Hons) Education, University of Brighton

Research Interests

• The Practice & Professional Knowledge of Early Years Practitioners
• Group work in Early Years and Primary Education
• Children’s Social Relationships

Recent Project Reports

• The Recruitment and Retention of Early Years Professional Status candidates. Report to the Children’s Workforce Development Council, 2009
• Evaluating the role of a Complementary Placement for Initial Teacher Education Students. Report to the Teacher Development Agency, 2009
• Taking Account: An Economic and Social Audit of Brighton & Hove community and Voluntary Sector Final Report 2008
• Massage in Schools, Report to the British Academy, 2008
• Understanding the Children’s Workforce in the South East. Report to the Children’s Workforce Development Council, 2007
• Relational Approaches in Early Years Education: Enhancing social inclusion personal growth and learning. Report to the European Commission, 2007
• Developing a Relational Approach to Peer-based, Pre-school Experience: Establishing the bases for inclusion and educational achievement. Report to the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, 2007

Recent Publications

Macintyre, H; Colwell, J & Ota, C (2010) Moving against the grain? Investigating the efficacy of a touch-based intervention in a climate of suspicion. Pastoral Care in Education 28 (1)

Kutnick, P. & Colwell, J. (2009) Relationahips and dialogue enhancement: The relational approach, in C. Howe & K. Littleton (eds.) Educational Dialogue; understanding and promoting interaction. Pergamon.

Turvey, K; Totraku, P & Colwell, J. (2009) It would have been useful to have known about that piece of software! Research in Education. 2 (1) P10.

Kutnick, P. & Colwell, J. (2008) England Case Study. In P. Kutnick; M.L Genta; A. Brighi & A.Sansavini (eds.) Relational Approaches in Early Education: Enhancing Social Inclusion and Personal Growth for Learning. CLUEB. Bologna.

Kutnick, P.; Avgitidou,S; Genta M.L.; Hannikainen, M, Karlsson-lohmander, M.; Ortega, R; Brighi, A. Colwell, J.; Gallingani, A; Guarini, F; Lofvist, M.,Marselou, V.; Mazzanti, C; Monks,
C.; Rautamies, E.; Romera, E; Sansavini, A & Tsalagiorgou, E. (2008) Comparing Preschools across Europe in P. Kutnick; M.L Genta; A. Brighi & A. Sansavini (eds.) Relational Approaches in Early Education: Enhancing Social Inclusion and Personal Growth for Learning. CLUEB. Bologna.

Kutnick, P.; Avgitidou,S; Genta M.L.; Hannikainen, M, Karlsson-lohmander, M.; Ortega, R.; Brighi, A. Colwell, J.; Gallingani, A; Guarini, F; Lofvist, M.,Marselou, V.; Mazzanti, C; Monks, C.; Rautamies, E.; Romera, E; Sansavini, A & Tsalagiorgou, E. (2007). The role and practice of interpersonal relationships in European early education settings: sites for enhancingsocial inclusion, personal growth and learning? European Early Childhood Childhood Education Research Journal, 15 (3), 379-406.

Recent Conference Papers

• British Education Research Association. Manchester 2012: An Investigation into the use of Circle Time as a Tool to Support the Development of Children's Peer Relationships in Pre-schools
• European Early Childhood Research Association. Porto, 2012: The role of the pre-school practitioner in the development of children's social competencies
• British Education Research Association. London 2011: The role of the Preschool Practitioner in Supporting the Development of children's Peer Relations. 
• British Early Childhood Education Research Association. Birmingham, 2011: Using video data in the Early Years.
• European Early Childhood Education Research Association. Birmingham, 2010: Factors Effecting the Recruitment and Retention of Early Years Professionals.
• European Early Childhood Research Association. Birmingham, 2010: Factors Effecting the Recruitment and Retention of Early Years Professionals.
• Don’t Get Burnt, ‘Protecting the City from the Heat of Recession’. Brighton, 2009: Demonstrating Social and Economic Impact.
• European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, Budapest, 2007: Group work in the Early Years.
• European Early Childhood Research Association. Iceland, August, 2006: Relational Approaches in Early Education.
• Working With Others, University of Brighton July 2005 & 2006: Group Work: Results of the SPRInG Project.  
• European Early Childhood Research Association. Ireland, September 2005: Social Inclusion and Peer-based Learning in Early Education.