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Birkbeck Academic at Commons Committee

Professor Ted Melhuish of the Department of Psychological Sciences presented evidence to MPs on the Education Committee.

Professor Ted Melhuish giving evidence to the Education Committee at the House of Commons.
Professor Ted Melhuish giving evidence to the Education Committee

Birkbeck's Professor Ted Melhuish has given oral evidence to the Parliamentary Education Committee to support a new inquiry examining the impact that early years education and social policy have on determining children’s life chances.

The session, which was the first in the inquiry, took place on Tuesday 12 June and focused on early years education provision, support for parents and families and the role of children’s centres in promoting social justice. Fellow panel witnesses included Sir Kevan Collins (Chief Executive, Education Endowment Foundation), Laura McFarlane (National Children’s Bureau) and Steven McIntosh (Save the Children).

The work of Professor Melhuish (Professor of Human Development in the Department of Psychological Sciences) uses theoretically driven research to address applied issues and policy questions to produce improvements in development and well-being. His current research projects involve evaluating interventions such as early childhood education and care (ECEC), parental support and early-intervention strategies. He is an advisor to OECD, WHO, and the European Commission on early years education policy. 

The inquiry, launched on 4 May 2018, will focus on early years educational settings but will also look at Government policy and make recommendations on how to improve social justice, while considering the role of services other than education, including health services and those provided by the Department for Work and Pensions.

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