Research Groups
EARLY YEARS, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY
led by Professor Liz Jones
This group specialises in early years education and children’s development as communicators. Its research is making a major contribution to UK policy for the early years.
The language and literacy sub-group focuses on reading, writing and spoken language, and the social contexts in which children become communicators. Current topics include ‘multi-modal’ theory, inter-cultural communication, and the development of grammar, spelling and punctuation.
The early years sub-group has particular interests in multi-professional collaboration to enhance early learning, and in the development of identity in young children.
The Group is committed to using its research to help practitioners, policy makers, parents and communities to improve provision for young children. Members provide advice to the DfES and ministers on early years provision. The Group was commissioned by the Sure Start Unit at the DfES to research and produce the national Birth to Three framework and training programme, and is now working on the integrated framework for the whole Early Years Foundation Stage, from birth to 5 years. The language and literacy team produced the national materials to support the development of communication between 3 and 5 years, for the DfES. The Group has links with universities in Australia, Singapore and Ireland and is active in European research networks.
Recent and current research projects include how and why young children acquire a reputation as ‘naughty’ (Maggie MacLure & Liz Jones, ESRC); the emergence of grammar in young children’s mark-making (Lesley Lancaster, ESRC); children as language brokers (Hall, ESRC, seminar series); young children and the art gallery (Rachel Holmes, Esmée Fairbairn Trust); communicating matters (Nigel Hall, DfES); birth to three matters and associated training programmes (Lesley Abbott, DfES, Esmée Fairbairn). The Group has also conducted evaluations of a range of Sure Start initiatives, Early Excellence Centres and multi-professional partnerships, funded by local authorities, Primary Care Trusts and other sponsors.
Members of the Group edit the Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, the influential international Handbook of Early Childhood Literacy (Nigel Hall & co-authors, Sage), and Early Learning: A Multi-Professional Perspective (Liz Jones et al, OU Press), which provides research-based insights into contemporary contexts for early learning. Other recent books from the group include Letter Writing as a Social Practice (David Barton & Nigel Hall, John Benjamins); Exploring Writing and Play in the Early Years (Nigel Hall & Anne Robinson, Fulton); Experiencing Reggio Emilia (Lesley Abbott & Cathy Nutbrown, OU Press); Parents Matter: Supporting the Birth to Three Matters Framework (Lesley Abbott & Ann Langston) and Birth to Three Matters: Supporting the Framework of Effective Practice (Lesley Abbott & Ann Langston, OU Press).