The Early Childhood Community of Research and Practice, at Canterbury Christ Church University is a community for all who are interested in combining research and practice in early childhood.

Our community is free and requires no commitment except an interest in the welfare and learning of the youngest members in our society. No connection to the University is necessary, we are keen to encourage those from outside the University to join our discussions and strengthen the core connections between research and practice to build the Early Childhood Community of Research and Practice through our shared interests. All are welcome to contribute as little or as much as they wish, from listening, exchanging information or networking, to presenting their own topics of interest

Meetings are held online approximately every two months to discuss and exchange information on a wide variety of subjects relating to aspects of Early Childhood. Presentations, workshops and discussion forums contribute to this exchange from the University community, wider participants, and guest speakers.

The community has been facilitated in recent years by Hilary Welland and through her guidance in recent years, our community has grown into an online international community.

We are friends, parents, grandparents, professionals, educators, students and academics.

We are a diverse group of individuals who are all interested in promoting our learning and development for the benefit of young children.

Please contact Karen Vincent if you would like to offer a contribution for the next meeting: karen.vincent@canterbury.ac.uk.

Karen Vincent and Kate Smith have recently published a book – Supporting Early Literacies through Play

The aim of the book is to explore the many connections between play and literacy by bringing together research and theory. Bringing together two key areas within early childhood— play and literacy — the book Supporting Early Literacies through Play offers an innovative approach to examining literacies within the context of children’s play.

This book:

• Introduces students to contemporary theory and research in the field
• Explores the debates surrounding young children’s play and how language and literacies are created through a range of play activity
• Helps students to reflect on how this knowledge can be applied in their future professional lives working to support young children

Advocating for young children’s play and diverse literacies, this book supports students to develop a depth of knowledge about how play can extend children’s literacies, and encourages early childhood educators to reflect on and enhance their literacy practices with young children. 

The book was launched online in February and you can listen to the recording here

Follow the ECCORP Twitter account here