Research

My research interests are in understanding social and communicative development in childhood particularly environmental influences through the use of longitudinal studies. Other interests include:

• pre-school care and education
• parenting
• the linking of child development and social policy

My work has been concerned with using theoretically driven research to address applied issues and produce improvements in development and well-being. This has included topics such as:

• the development of pre-term babies
• the children of psychiatrically disturbed parents
• social, linguistic and cognitive development
• emergent literacy
• day care and the evaluation of policy initiatives

Collaboration

Such work regularly involves collaboration with social, biological and medical scientists in studying child development and the influence of experience. I have also collaborated in research projects in 12 countries on behalf of the European Commission.

Current research

Current work on evaluating interventions such as pre-school provision, parent support etc., derive from theoretical work on the importance of particular environmental input affecting children’s development, and the results are influencing policy.

I am involved in longitudinal studies of family and pre-school factors affecting child development in England (EPPE) and Northern Ireland (EPPNI).

National Evaluation of Sure Start

I am executive director of the National Evaluation of Sure Start (NESS). Sure Start is an early intervention programme targeting disadvantaged young children and their families. The evaluation examines under what conditions Sure Start programmes are affecting children, families and communities.

This work involves an investigation of 20,000 children and families and a longitudinal follow-up of 8,000 children in poor communities.

Other projects

In addition I have worked with local, national and international governmental organisations to use developmental research to inform public policy to improve the lives of families and young children.

My research has had considerable influence on sections of the 1989 Children Act, 2005 Children Act, 2006 Childcare Bill and UK policy on childcare, preschool education, child poverty and parental support.