Dr Karen Wickett

Biography

A committed, knowledgeable and capable Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) academic and practitioner; motivated by social justice and the belief that learning environments should be democratically constructed. Extensive experience in leading pedagogic practice, as an ECEC teacher and as an academic/programme lead on an Early Childhood Studies degree.

Qualifications

Qualifications

2020 - Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
2016 - Professional Doctorate in Education
2007 - MA in the subject of Integrated Provision for Children and Families - University of Leicester
2007 - EYPS - SWIfT
2003 - B Ed (Hons) Early Childhood Studies with QTS - University of Plymouth
1984 - NNEB

Background

2012 - to date Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies
2008 - 2012 - 0.5 Lecturer Early Childhood Studies and 0.5 Children's Centre Teacher
2003 Sure Start Taunton Local Programme Early Years teacher. In 2007 Sure Start Local Programmes became Sure Start Children's Centre - my role was then titled Sure Start Children's Centre teacher

Before embarking on my first degree I established and managed a day nursery in Cornwall.

Roles on external bodies

Board Member for:

2012 to 2022 Trustee Take Art, Somerset Ltd

2013 to 2019 Director University Commercial Services Plymouth Ltd

Teaching

Teaching interests

Questioning education

Places and spaces for learning and playing

Adults' concepts of childhood

Research dissertations

Enabling learning environments for young children's learning

Research

Research interests

My research interests are:

Transitions during the Early Years

The title of my doctorate research is: Exploring parents', ECEC practitioners' and teachers' experiences of supporting children during the transition to school and understandings of school readiness

Arts and Early Childhood Education & Care collaborations

Other research

2021 Identifying collaborations between the Soundwaves Network SW Music Education Hubs and HEIs, Further Education colleges and training organisations
2019 Scoping activity of Plymouth Arts and Cultural organisations and ECEC setting collaborations
2017 Creative Elements Report- arts and ECEC leaders views of sustainable collaborations
2016 Beliefs and Relationships during Children's Transition to School: Parents, Practitioners and teachers Professional Doctorate in Education
2011 Working and being with the up to Threes (with Jan Georgeson)
2011 Parent Initiated Training (with Verity Campbell-Barr, Caroline Leeson and Jocey Quinn) - funded by Somerset County Council
2009 Community Research Awards - An evaluation of health related support services for nursery age children: The Lark Children's Centre (with Norman Gabriel, Joyce Halliday and Tina Wilkinson)
2008 TDA ICT in Early Years Research Project research lead Valerie Huggins
2007 Children’s Workforce Development Council funding – Focus of research, Contextualizing children’s learning within the local community

Grants & contracts

2022 £6000 Explore Awards University of Plymouth – to create A Pedagogical Meeting Place; for artists and early years leaders

2022 £4500 Soundwaves Network SW Take Art Ltd

2020 £994 awarded by The Bridge, University of Plymouth to fund a scoping activity to identify Early Childhood arts collaborations in Plymouth

2016 £3500 awarded by Take Art to research the ECEC arts project - Creative Elements;

2017 £5,793.56 awarded by the University of Plymouth Pedagogic Research and Teaching Innovation Fund – to explore the architecture and ECEC collaboration. Students designed and built an outdoor space for an ECEC setting.

Creative practice & artistic projects

2021 & 2022 - Devon and Cornwall's Children's University funded project - Learning and creating workshops - a collaboration between Soapbox theatre, Exim Dance, Green Arc Children's Centre and the BA ECS programme

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals

Goodall,H., Huggins, V., Webber, L. & Wickett, K. (2017) ‘From Student to Graduate: FourLearners’ Perspectives of the Professional Doctorate Journey’, Management in Education (MiE) Special Issue: Professional Doctoratesin Education: exploring tensions and opportunities for those in leadership

Campbell-Barr, V., Lavelle, M., and Wickett, K. (2011) Exploring alternative approaches to child outcome assessments in Children's Centres, Early Child Development and Care, IFirst

Articles

Wickett K (2022) 'Tiny voices, giant ideas' Early Years Educator 23, (12) 36-37 , DOI Open access

Wickett K, Parsons S & Slade J (2022) 'Interpreting theory and creating practice' Early Years Educator 23, (11) 36-37 , DOI Open access

Wickett K (2022) 'Artist involvement in settings' Early Years Educator 23, (10) 36-37 , DOI Open access

Wickett K (2020) 'Arts and Early Childhood collaborations: leaders’ perceptions of the challenges and the opportunities' International Journal of Early Years Education 0, (0) 0-0 , DOI Open access

Webber LA, Goodall H, Wickett K & Huggins V (2017) 'From student to graduate: Four learners’ perspectives of the professional doctorate journey' Management in Education , DOI Open access

Campbell Barr VJG, Lavelle M & Wickett K (2011) 'Exploring alternative approaches to child outcome assessments in Children's Centres' Early Child Development and Care 182, (7) 859-874 Publisher Site , DOI

Anderson J, Dodd D, Huggins V, Kelly O, Knight H & Wickett K (2011) 'Using mixed methods: Frameworks for an integrated methodology' JOURNAL OF EDUCATION FOR TEACHING 37, (4) 501-503 Author Site , DOI

Wickett K (2007) 'Passing judgements' 9, (8) 16-18

Books

Wickett, K. (2019) An Empirical Approach to Preparing Children for School: Exploring the relationships between parents, practitioners and teachers, London: Routledge

Wickett K (2019) An Empirical Approach to Preparing Children for Starting School Exploring the Relationships between Parents, Practitioners and Teachers. Routledge

Parker-Rees ROD; Leeson C (2015) Early Childhood Studies. 4th London Sage/Learning Matters Limited 1Publisher Site

Chapters

Wickett, K. (2017) Environments for Listening (ch 7) In Georgeson, J. & Campbell-Barr, V. (eds) Placesfor 2 year olds in the Early Years: Supporting learning and development London:Taylor and Frances

Wickett, K. (2017) Exploring the transition to school: Are we all talking the same language? (ch12) in Dockett, S, Perry, R & Greisel, W. Families and the transition to school Springer

Huggins, V & Wickett, K (2017) Very young children's Learning in the Outdoors (ch 5) in Waite, S (ed) Children's Learning Outside the Classroom birth to eleven (2nd ed) London: Sage

Wickett, K. & Selbie, P. (2015) Providing an enabling environment in Parker-Rees, R & Leeson, C. (eds) Early Childhood Studies(4th ed)London: Sage

Hohmann, U. & Wickett, K. (2015) Action Research in Parker-Rees, R & Leeson, C. (eds) Early Childhood Studies (4th ed) London: Sage

Andrews,M & Wickett, K (2015) Observing children in Parker-Rees, R & Leeson, C. (eds) Early Childhood Studies (4th ed) London: Sage

Waite, S., Huggins, V. & Wickett, K. (2014) Preparing for and managing risky play, Maynard, T & Waters, J (Ed) Outdoor play in the Early Years

Payler, J., Georgeson, J. & Wickett, K. (2013) Early childhood education and care in the UK: piecemeal development through philanthropy, propagation, pluralism and pragmatism in Georgeson, (ch 22) J & Payler, J. (eds) International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Care Berkshire: Open University Press

Huggins, V and Wickett, K (2011) Crawling and toddling in the outdoors – very young children’s learning in Waite S (ed) Children Learning Outside the Classroom birth to eleven Sage publications

Wickett K and Huggins V (2011) Using the local community as part of the early years learning environment in Waite S (ed) Children Learning Outside the Classroom birth to eleven Sage publications

Hohmann, U. and Wickett, K. (2010) 'Action research' in R. Parker-Rees and C. Leeson (eds) Early Childhood Studies, (third edition) Exeter: Learning Matters

Selbie, P. and Wickett, K (2010) ‘Enabling Environments’ in R. Parker-Rees and C. Leeson (eds) Early Childhood Studies, (third edition) Exeter: Learning Matters

Wickett K (2017) 'Are we all talking the same language? Parent, practitioners and teachers preparing children for school' in Dockett S; Griebel W; Bob P Families and Transition to School Springer 175-191 Author Site Publisher Site , DOI

Huggins VA & Wickett K (2017) 'Very Young Children Learning Outdoors: its place in the schooling system' in Waite S; Pratt N Children Learning Outside the Classroom From Birth to Eleven Sage Publications Limited

Wickett K (2017) 'Are We All Talking the Same Language? Parents, Practitioners and Teachers Preparing Children to Start School' International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Development Springer International Publishing 175-191 , DOI

Hohmann U & Wickett K (2015) 'Action Research' in Parker-Rees R; Leeson C Early Childhood Studies: An introduction to the study of children’s lives and children’s worlds London Learning Matters / SAGE Author Site

Georgeson JM, Payler JK & Wickett K (2013) 'Early Childhood Development and Care in England: Piecemeal development through Philanthropy, Propagation, Pluralism and Pragmatism' in Payler JK International Perspectives on Early Childhood Development and Care

Huggins V & Wickett K (2011) 'Crawling and toddling in the outdoors: very young children's learning' in Waite S Children Learning Outside the Classroom Sage Publications Ltd

Hohmann U & Wickett K 'Action research' in Parker-Rees R; Leeson C Early childhood studies: an introduction to the study of children's lives and children's worlds Exeter Learning Matters

Huggins V & Wickett K 'Crawling and toddling in the outdoors: very young children's learning' in Pratt N; Waite S Learning outside the classroom: birth to eleven London Sage

Selbie P & Wickett K 'Providing and enabling environment' Early childhood studies: an introduction to the study of children's lives and children's worlds Exeter Learning Matters

Conference Papers

2019 Early Childhood Musical Collaborations: layers of relationships, ECERA, Thessaloniki, Greece;

2019 The SoundWaves Network (Plymouth Learning Community), ECSDN 2nd Research Conference London (presented with two ECS students);

2018 Soundwaves – a meeting place, Researcher in Residence conference, University of Plymouth;

2018 Elements Working together: creatve collaborations, Small Steps Big Noise, Taunton;

2015 The Transition to School a Relational Experience, ECERA, Barcelona;

2014 The Transition to school, Transitions for life and learning conference, Plymouth University;

2014 The transition to school an opportunity (or not) to talk, ECERA, Crete;

2013 What does it mean ‘to be ready’? Roundtable, IHC Postgraduate Research Student Conference;

2011 ‘Welcome back it is your turn to lead.’Post graduate conference University of Plymouth;

2010 'Exploring the use of qualitative outcome measures in Children’s Centres' with Verity Campball-Barr and Marie Lavelle, University of Plymouth Methods Conference;

2003 Early Years and Environmental Education workshop - All Winds and Weather conference Bridgwater College.

Georgeson J & Campbell-Barr V (2017) 'Places for Two-year-olds in the Early Years' Routledge , DOI

Reports

Wickett, K., Evans. K. & Gulliver, K. (2020) A review of Plymouth Early Childhood Arts and Cultural activities and collaborations, University of Plymouth

Wickett, K. (2017) Take Art Report Creative Elements -arts and ECEC leaders views of sustainable collabroations;

Wickett, K. (2015) Independent Report for London Boroughs of Merton and Richmond upon Thames Sensory Activities and Risk Assessments in Early Years Settings.

Other Publications

Early Childhood Practitioner Publications

Wickett, K. (2022) Arts into practice Early Years Educator (a series of three articles April, May and June)

Wickett, K (2020) Returning to and starting school in 2020 Early Education The British Association for Early Childhood Education

Wickett, K (2016) Readiness is only part of the transition Nursery World

Wickett, K. (2016) Readiness for what? Nursery World

Wickett, K. & Campbell-Barr (2013) Should we not look to our own past rather than Europe in developing early years’ services? Nursery World Haymarket

Howell, K., Georgeson, J. and Wickett, K. (2012) Enabling Environments: Baby Rooms - Without walls Nursery World Haymarket

Wickett K (2007) Providing appropriate risk taking in children’s play in Early Years Educator

Wickett, K (2006) Case Study Acorns Children’s Centre, DfES Standards Web Site available at http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Somerset.pdf

Wickett K (2005) Influencing young children’s attitudes to the environment in Foundation Stage File

BLOG

Wickett, K. (2022) Why play matters in Early Years education Creativity Exchange

Presentations at practitioner conferences

2018 Creative Collaborations – Headteachers Conference, Somerset;

2014 Transitions for Two Year Olds –keynote Early Years Conference Taunton;

2014 The transition to school presentation - Take Art and InspirED partner Spaeda workshop;

2012 ‘Environments for Listening’ British Early Childhood Education Research Association

2008 Celebration of the Sticky Fingers and Toes project, Sticky Fingers and Toes Symposium –Ilminster, Somerset;

2008 A Graduates Journey, Key note speech for Flying Start Conference, Redruth Cornwall

2006 Reflecting and Developing Practice Workshop – The Environment is the Third Teacher Conference SureStart Taunton

2004 Hosted Outdoor Play conference Sure Start Taunton

Wickett K (2016) Beliefs and relationships during the transition to school: parents, practitioners and teachers.

Personal

Reports & invited lectures

2018 Creative Collaborations – Headteachers Conference, Somerset;

2014 Transitions for Two Year Olds –keynote Early Years Conference Taunton;

2014 The transition to school presentation - Take Art and InspirED partner Spaeda workshop;

2012 ‘Environments for Listening’ British Early Childhood Education Research Association

2008 Celebration of the Sticky Fingers and Toes project, Sticky Fingers and Toes Symposium –Ilminster, Somerset;

2008 A Graduates Journey, Key note speech for Flying Start Conference, Redruth Cornwall

2006 Reflecting and Developing Practice Workshop – The Environment is the Third Teacher Conference SureStart Taunton

Conferences organised

2019 Building Bridges: Building Early Childhood Music collaborations – a conference for early years practitioners and early childhood music practitioners (over 100 delegates attended)

Other academic activities

2022 Facilitated a pedagogical meeting place for arts and early years leaders - the purpose of this activity was for them to articulate a shared understanding of artist involvement in early years settings

2018 Reviewed abstracts for MERYC conference 'Music in Early Childhood: New Directions and Valued Traditions'.

Additional information

2020 RIBA-sponsored MacEwan Awards – the firepit that the architecture students designed in collaboration with Early Childhood Studies students has been shortlisted for this award

Profiles

Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies

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