Nursery World - European study examines children's well-being

Early years lecturers from Kingston University are contributing to a new three-year European-wide research project - believed to be the largest of its kind - that will look at how education and childcare affect a toddler's well-being.

Focusing particularly on low-income and migrant families, the researchers will study how children's centres, nurseries and pre-schools provide emotional support.

Early years lecturers Helen Sutherland, (pictured), and Jan Styman from the School of Education will be carrying out the UK research and producing good-practice teaching materials based on their findings for EYPs and degree students.

Ms Sutherland said the impetus behind the project was the lack of research into how to 'tackle inequalities' focusing particularly on children from 18 to 36 months.

The project, known as 'Toddler' (Toddler Opportunities for Disadvantaged and Diverse Learners on the Early-childhood Road), will examine well-being, early language learning, engagement with parents and educating a reflective practitioner. It will make recommendations on how to improve early years education and produce training courses and materials.

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