Professor Verity Campbell Barr
Profiles

Professor Verity Campbell Barr

Director of Plymouth Institute of Education

Plymouth Institute of Education (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)

Professor Verity Campbell Barr can be contacted through arrangement with our Press Office, to speak to the media on these areas of expertise.
  • Preschool
  • Childhood
  • Early education
  • Child-centred pedagogy
  • Nurseries
  • Childminder sustainability
  • Families
Biography

Biography

I am a Professor in Early Childhood Education and Director of Plymouth Institute of Education. I teach on the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies, the MA Education and the EdD, along with supporting PhD students. 


I am an active researcher, currently undertaking a project exploring Child-centred Diversity in Quality Early Childhood Education and care, which has been extended to look at developing a child-centred competences framework. I am also the Principal Investigator on a project looking at graduate qualifications for working in Early Childhood Educations and Care in England and another looking at childminder sustainability.


Prior to this I was a European Research Fellow in the Faculty of Child and Adult Education at the University of Debrecen, Hungary. Whilst in Hungary I conducted a research project on the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudinal Competences for Quality Early Childhood Education and Care.

Qualifications

  • BSc in Sociology, University of Plymouth
  • MA in Gender Culture and Modernity, Goldsmiths College, University of London
  • PhD 'The Economy of Childcare' Canterbury Christ Church University

Key publications

Campbell-Barr V (2010) Providing a context for looking at quality and value in early years education. Office for National Statistics Newport Office for National Statistics
Campbell Barr VJG (2014) 'Constructions of Early Childhood Education and Care Provision: negotiating discourses' Contemporary Issues in Early childhood (1) 5-17
Campbell-Barr V (2012) 'Early years education and the value for money folklore' EUROPEAN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION RESEARCH JOURNAL 20, (3) 423-437 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V, Lavelle M & Wickett K (2011) 'Exploring alternative approaches to child outcome assessments in Children's Centres' Early Child Development and Care 7, (182) 859-874 Publisher Site , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2009) 'Care and business orientations in the delivery of childcare: an exploratory study' 7, (1) 76-93 Author Site
Campbell-Barr V (2019) Professional Knowledge & Skills in the Early Years. SAGE Publications Ltd , DOI
View all publications
Research

Research

Research interests

Professional knowledges for working in early childhood education and care

International interpretations of child-centred practice

Understandings of quality early childhood education and care from multiple perspectives and their consequences for practice

The mixed economy of childcare and early years education provision

The role of childcare in supporting employment and the welfare to work agenda

Qualitative research methods

Research groups

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

Mehmet Mart - A Comparison of English and Turkish Early Years Kindergarten Teachers' Understandings of and Practices in Outdoor Activities

Louise Webber - Mature Women and Higher Education: Reconstructing Identity and Family Relationships

Current Students:

Tom Cowan - The identification of dispositions and their contribution towards ITE and future primary school teachers

Kathrin Paal - Learning a(l)lot - The impact of school gardening on pre-schoolers´ environmental attitudes, behaviour, and knowledge

Ramazan Merk - The effects of school policies regarding inclusive education on early childhood teacher’s beliefs and practices: A multiple case study in England

Clare Colton - An exploration into the language of social work and how this develops in social work students: Is it the language of power?

Grants & contracts

Current Research: 

Past Projects have included: 
  • ‘Knowledge, Skills and Attitudinal Competences for Quality Early childhood Education and Care’ – Funded by the European commission under the Marie Curie European Research Fellow Scheme, 109 679 Euro https://ececworkforce.wordpress.com/
  • Two-Year-Olds in England: and exploratory study - Funded by Tactyc
  • Key Attitudinal Competences for Early Childhood Practitioners: Exploring Global Approaches to Teaching and Learning - Funded by Pedrio
  • ‘Investigate the role of Early Years Professionals in leading communities of quality practice in early years settings in Devon’ – Funded by Plymouth University
  • Teaching Fellowship Award: Connecting Across Boarders (with Valerie Huggins and Steve Wheeler) - Funded by Plymouth University 
  • Parent Initiated Training (with Karen Wickett, Caroline Leeson and Jocey Quinn) - funded by Somerset County Council
  • Quality Measurement Framework: Value for money comparison of public and third sector provision of pre-school childcare and education. - Funded by The Office for National Statistics
  • Parents and Childcare: A Literature Review - Funded by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and being written in association with the Daycare Trust
    Local Authority Use of Childcare Sufficiency Assessments. - Funded by Government Office South West
  • Employment Retention and Advancement Evaluation - Department of Work and Pensions
  • New Deal Pilots: A Qualitative Evaluation of Quarterly Work Focussed Interviews, Work Search Premium and In Work Credit - Funder Department for Work and Pensions
  • Camden Sufficiency Assessment – Camden Council
  • Paid Officials and Community Engagement in Governance – Joseph Rowntree Foundations
  • The Economy of Childcare – Kent County Council.

Publications

Publications

Key publications

Campbell-Barr V (2010) Providing a context for looking at quality and value in early years education. Office for National Statistics Newport Office for National Statistics
Campbell Barr VJG (2014) 'Constructions of Early Childhood Education and Care Provision: negotiating discourses' Contemporary Issues in Early childhood (1) 5-17
Campbell-Barr V (2012) 'Early years education and the value for money folklore' EUROPEAN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION RESEARCH JOURNAL 20, (3) 423-437 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V, Lavelle M & Wickett K (2011) 'Exploring alternative approaches to child outcome assessments in Children's Centres' Early Child Development and Care 7, (182) 859-874 Publisher Site , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2009) 'Care and business orientations in the delivery of childcare: an exploratory study' 7, (1) 76-93 Author Site
Campbell-Barr V (2019) Professional Knowledge & Skills in the Early Years. SAGE Publications Ltd , DOI

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Dismore H, Campbell-Barr V, Manning R & Warwick P (2024) 'A relational approach to knowledge exchange in higher education' Studies in Higher Education 1-12 , DOI Open access
Campbell-Barr V, Evans K, Georgeson J & Tregenza S (2023) 'The key ingredients' Nursery World 2023, (7) 32-33 , DOI
Campbell Barr V & Tregenza S (2023) 'Quality Early Childhood Education and Care in a Time of COVID-19' Journal of Early Childhood Research , DOI Open access
Campbell-Barr V & Gulliver K (2021) 'qualifications: Too much choice?' Nursery World 2021, (3) 42-43 , DOI
Campbell Barr V & Lavelle M (2020) 'More than Words for Working with Children and Families' Global Education Review 7, (2) 1-7 Author Site Open access
Mart M & Campbell-Barr V (2020) 'Professional development opportunities for early years teachers using social media: the case of England and Turkey' Education 3-13 1-16 , DOI Open access
Sorzio P & Campbell Barr V (2019) 'The Reggio Approach in Motion. Documenting Experiences, Reflecting upon Practice and Disseminating the Ideas' Journal of Childhood Studies 44, (5) 1-12 , DOI Open access
Hingston R & Campbell-Barr V (2019) 'Everything to play for' Early Years Educator 21, (7) 18-20 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2019) 'workforce: human capital: Adding value to the early years' Nursery World 2019, (22) 32-33 , DOI
Catalano H & Campbell-Barr V (2019) 'The occurrence of pretend play in early childhood education in Romania – an investigative study' Early Child Development and Care 1-11 , DOI Open access
Campbell-Barr V & Georgeson J (2019) 'Being able to understand the child's perspective' Early Years Educator 20, (10) 22-24 , DOI
Campbell Barr VJG (2019) 'Professional Knowledges for Early Childhood Education and Care' Journal of Childhood Studies 44, (1) 134-146 , DOI Open access
Campbell-Barr V (2018) 'In the know' Nursery World 2018, (Sup19) 11-12 , DOI
Campbell Barr VJG (2017) 'The Silencing of the Knowledge-base in Early Childhood Education and Care Professionalism' International Journal of Early Years Education 26, (1) , DOI Open access
Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'The things that set us apart hold most interest' Early Years Educator 19, (8) 14-16 , DOI
Campbell Barr VJG (2017) 'Interpretations of Child Centred Practice in Early Childhood Education and Care' Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education , DOI Open access
Bogatic K & Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'Communities of practice supporting professionals' Early Years Educator 19, (7) 14-16 , DOI
Huggins V & Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'National framework boost can help face challenges' Early Years Educator 19, (6) 20-22 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'Play and staff autonomy coming under pressure' Early Years Educator 19, (5) 22-24 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V & Bogatic K (2017) 'Global to local perspectives of early childhood education and care' Early Child Development and Care 187, (10) 1461-1470 , DOI Open access
Mart M & Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'Turkey's childcare services facing unique challenges' Early Years Educator 19, (Sup4) 14-16 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'Editorial' European Early Childhood Education Research Journal 25, (4) 477-482 , DOI Open access
Hohmann U & Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'German childhood services emphasise social pedagogy' Early Years Educator 19, (3) 14-16 , DOI Open access
Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'What does child-centred really mean?' Early Years Educator 18, (12) 38-44 , DOI Open access
Campbell-Barr V & Leeson C (2016) 'Take a look at yourself' Nursery World 2016, (Sup6) 31-32 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2016) 'Quality early childhood education and care – the role of attitudes and dispositions in professional development' Early Child Development and Care 187, (1) 45-58 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2016) 'Continental workforce' Early Years Educator 17, (12) 33-35 , DOI Open access
Campbell-Barr V, Georgeson J & Nagy Varga A (2015) 'The role of Higher Education in forming loving early childhood educators in Hungary and England' Hungarian Educational Researcch Journal 2015, (4) , DOI
Georgeson J & Campbell Barr VJG (2015) 'Attitudes and the early years workforce' Early Years 1, (35) 321-332 Publisher Site , DOI
Campbell Barr VJG, Georgeson J & Nagy Varga A (2015) 'The role of Higher Education in forming loving early childhood educators in Hungary and England' Hungarian Educational Research Journal Publisher Site
Campbell Barr VJG, Georgeson J & Nagy Varga A (2015) 'Developing Professional Early Childhood Educators in England and Hungary: Where Has All the Love Gone?' European Education (4) 311-330 Publisher Site , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2015) 'What you need to be made of' Early Years Educator 17, (8) 8-8 , DOI
Georgeson J, Campbell-Barr V, Bakosi É, Nemes M, Pálfi S & Sorzio P (2015) 'Can we have an international approach to child-centred early childhood practice?' Early Child Development and Care 1-18 Author Site , DOI Open access
Campbell Barr VJG & Nygard M (2014) 'Losing sight of the child? Human capital theory and its role for early childhood education and care policies in Finland and England since the mid-1990s' Contemporary Issues in Early childhood (4) 346-359 Publisher Site
Campbell-Barr V & Coakley A (2014) 'Providing choice? A comparison of UK and Ireland's family support in a time of austerity' Journal of International and Comparative Social Policy 1-14 Author Site , DOI
Georgeson J & Campbell-Barr V (2014) 'Attitudes and the early years workforce' Early Years 34, (3) 322-322 , DOI
Campbell Barr VJG (2014) 'Constructions of Early Childhood Education and Care Provision: negotiating discourses' Contemporary Issues in Early childhood (1) 5-17
Campbell-Barr V (2013) 'Childcare markets: can they deliver an equitable service?' Early Years 33, (4) 431-432 , DOI
Schoenborn P, Poverjuc O, Campbell Barr VJG & Dalton F (2013) 'Limitations of ‘Students as Producers’ in Web 2.0: a reflective account' Journal of Teaching and Learning with Technology 2, (2) 5-20
Nygård M, Campbell Barr VJG & Krüger N (2013) 'The financial crisis and recent family policy reforms in Finland, Germany and the United Kingdom. Is there a connection?' Journal of Comparative Social Work (2013/2)
Campbell-Barr V (2012) 'Respecting childhood' Early Years 32, (3) 325-326 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2012) 'Early years education and the value for money folklore' EUROPEAN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION RESEARCH JOURNAL 20, (3) 423-437 , DOI
Leeson C, Campbell Barr VJG & Ho D (2012) 'Leading for quality improvement: a comparative research agenda in early childhood education in England and Hong Kong' International Journal of Leadership in Education: Theory and Practice,
Campbell-Barr V, Lavelle M & Wickett K (2011) 'Exploring alternative approaches to child outcome assessments in Children's Centres' Early Child Development and Care 7, (182) 859-874 Publisher Site , DOI
Leeson C, Campbell-Barr V & Ho D (2010) 'Exploring the interplay of leadership and quality improvement in early years settings in England and Hong Kong' JOURNAL OF EDUCATION FOR TEACHING 36, (3) 333-335 , DOI
Ho D, Campbell Barr VJG & Leeson C (2010) 'Quality Improvement in Early Years Settings in Hong Kong and England: a Framework for Comparative Studies' International Journal of Early Years Education 3, (18) 241-256 , DOI
Ray K, Hoggart L, Taylor R, Vegeris S & Campbell-Barr V (2009) 'Rewarding responsibility? Long-term unemployed men and the welfare-to-work agenda' Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 27, (6) 975-990 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2009) 'Care and business orientations in the delivery of childcare: an exploratory study' 7, (1) 76-93 Author Site
Campbell-Barr V (2009) 'Contextual issues in assessing value for money in early years education' National Institutes Economic Review 207, 90-101 Author Site , DOI
Alderton T & Campbell-Barr V (2005) 'Quality early education—quality food and nutrition pracices? Some initial results from a pilot research project into food and nutrition practices in early years settings in Kent, UK' International Journal of Early Years Education 13, (3) 197-213 , DOI
Books
Campbell-Barr V (2019) Professional Knowledge & Skills in the Early Years. SAGE Publications Ltd , DOI
Georgeson J & Campbell-Barr V (2017) Places for Two-year-olds in the Early Years. Routledge , DOI
Campbell-Barr V & Leeson C (2016) Quality and Leadership in the Early Years Research, Theory and Practice. SAGE
Georgeson JM; Campbell-Barr V (2015) International Perspectives on Early Years Workforce Development. Northwich Critical Publishing
Chapters
Campbell-Barr V (2021) 'The Provision, Protection and Participation of Children’s Rights in Professional Practice' Young Children in the World and Their Rights Springer International Publishing 221-233 , DOI
Georgeson J, Campbell-Barr V, Bakosi É, Nemes M, Pálfi S & Sorzio P (2018) 'Can we have an international approach to child-centred early childhood practice?' Early Childhood Pedagogies Routledge 148-165 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V & Georgeson J (2017) 'Introduction' Places for Two-year-olds in the Early Years Routledge 1-7 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'Qualifications, knowledge and preparedness for working with two-year-olds' Places for Two-year-olds in the Early Years: Supporting Learning and Development 75-92 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'Qualifications, knowledge and preparedness for working with two-year-olds' Places for Two-year-olds in the Early Years Routledge 75-92 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'Quality for two-year-olds' Places for Two-year-olds in the Early Years Routledge 36-49 , DOI
Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'The Many Pedagogical Influences on Early Childhood Education and Care in Britain' in Albulescu I; Catalano H Alternative Educational Methodologies Newcastle Upon Tyne Cambridge Scholars Publishing 19-29 Publisher Site Open access
Campbell Barr VJG (2016) 'Knowledges for the Early Childhood Education and Care Workforce' in Sorzio P Becoming an Expert Practitioner in Educational Services Italy Pensa Multi Media 23-36 Open access
Selbie P, Blakemore L, Farley C & Campbell Barr VJG (2015) 'Britain: a complex mix of philosophy and politics' in Campbell-Barr V; Georegson J International Perspectives on Early Years Workforce Development Northwich Critical Publishing
Nygård M, Kuisma M, Krüger N & Campbell-Barr V (2015) 'Investing in Our Future? The Influence of Social Investment Ideas on Family Policy Discourses in Finland, Germany, and the UK' Discursive Governance in Politics, Policy, and the Public Sphere Palgrave Macmillan US 31-46 , DOI
Georgeson J, Payler J & Campbell Barr VJG (2013) 'The importance of international perspecitves' in Georgeson J; Payler J International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Care Berkshire Open University Press 3-8
Campbell Barr VJG, Leeson C & Ho D (2013) 'The quest for quality early childhood education and care: leadership in a changing political context in England and Hong Kong' in Georgeson J; Payler J International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Care Open University Press 103-113
Campbell Barr VJG (2010) 'The research, policy and practice triangle in early childhood education and care' in Parker-Rees R; Leeson C Early Childhood Studies: An Introduction to the Study of Children's Worlds and Children's Lives (Third Edition) Exeter Learning Matters 163-178
Reports
Georgeson J, Campbell-Barr V, Mathers S, Boag-Munroe G, Parker-Rees R & Caruso F (2014) TWO-YEAR-OLDS in England: an exploratory study. Tactyc Author Site
Campbell-Barr V (2010) Providing a context for looking at quality and value in early years education. Office for National Statistics Newport Office for National Statistics
Campbell Barr VJG & Garnham A (2010) What Parents Want - parents and childcare: a literature review. What Parents Want - parents and childcare: a literature review Equality and Human Rights Commission Manchester Equality and Human Rights Commission
Riccio JA, Bewley H, Campbell-Barr V, Dorsett R, Hamilton G, Hoggart L, Marsh A, Miller C, Ray K & Vegeris S (2008) Implementation and second-year impacts for lone parents in the UK Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) demonstration. Department of Work and Pensions DWP
Ray K, Hudson M, Campbell-Barr V & Shutes I (2008) Public Officials and Community Involvement in Local Services. York Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Campbell-Barr V, Hoggart L, Soberman P & Andrei L (2007) Camden: Parental Demand for Childcare. Policy Studies Institute
Dorsett R, Campbell-Barr V, Hamilton G, Hoggart L, Marsh A, Miller C, Phillips J, Ray K, Riccio J & Rich S (2007) Implementation and first year impacts of the UK Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) demonstration. DWP Research Report 412
Vegeris S & Campbell-Barr V (2007) Supporting an interenerational centre in London: Scoping the evidence. London Development Agency London London Development Agency
Ray K, Vegeris S, Brooks S, Campbell-Barr V, Hoggart L, Mackinnon K & Shutes I (2007) The lone parents pilots: A qualitative evaluation of quarterly work focussed interviews (12+), work search premium and in work credit. DWP Reseasrch Report No 423
Presentations and posters
Campbell Barr VJG Campbell Barr VJG 'EMOTIONS AS KNOWLEDGE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE ​'
Campbell Barr VJG Campbell Barr VJG 'FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE AND KNOWING FOR WORKING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE​'
Campbell Barr VJG Campbell Barr VJG 'Making the case for the local in the globalization of early childhood education and care (ECEC)'
Campbell Barr VJG Campbell Barr VJG 'Preparedness For Working With Two Year Olds'
Campbell Barr VJG Campbell Barr VJG 'THE CONTRIBUTION OF RESEARCH FOR UNDERSTANDINGS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE TRAINING​ ​'
Other Publications
Campbell Barr VJG & Georgeson J (2017) Comparative Research on the Attitudinal Competence for Early Childhood Education and Care in Europe. Sage Research Methods , DOI Open access