Dr Jools Page, NNEB, DPQS, MA, PhD

Lecturer in Early Childhood Education
Director for MA in Early Childhood Education (UK and Malta)
Tel: (+44) (0)114 222 8103
Fax: (+44) (0)114 279 6236
Email: j.m.page@Sheffield.ac.uk
Room: 7.10
Teaching
Jools teaches Early Childhood Education online and at weekend study schools both in the UK and overseas and is particularly experienced in student-staff relationships, assessment, presentation, individual tuition (both face to face and at a distance) and group teaching. She teaches sessions both on the substantive areas of her own research: policy issues, babies and children under three and in academic study skills, research methods, library and referencing skills and ethics. Jools is committed to striving for excellence, underlined in her approach to teaching. In 2010, Jools was nominated by a student for the University of Sheffield Service Excellence Award presented to recognise and celebrate the excellent level of service provided by individuals and teams from all areas of the University. The nomination highlighted Jools exceptional level of support along with her consistent, regular, positive and valuable feedback.
Jools teaches on and is the Director of the following postgraduate courses in Early Childhood Education:
The MA in ECE established in 1998, is an internationally renowned course designed for a range of early childhood professionals including: early years practitioners, FE and HE lecturers, teachers, nursery nurses, voluntary and independent providers, advisors, inspectors and managers working in areas relevant to early childhood to undertake postgraduate study while continuing to work in the field of Early Childhood Education. The course covers a broad range of issues but particularly aims to support students to:
examine their work within the changing field of early years provision
further understand and support children´s learning and development
develop research skills and conduct small-scale projects.
examine current policies
study international developments
critically evaluate a range of literature
enhance their understanding of early childhood education and care from birth to eight
Jools also teaches postgraduate students on the following Masters and Doctoral programmes:
- MA in Educational Studies in Malta designed for teachers, and those responsible for curriculum change, and other professionals working in State and Independent schools.
- Sheffield EdD, a part-time distance-learning, doctoral programme based around residential weekends. This programme incorporates structured modules with a substantial thesis involving sustained research on a particular issue or topic;
- PhD (Malta) which incorporates a taught element in Malta to accompany this doctoral qualification which is gained through successful production of a thesis and viva.
Jools is the external examiner for the MA in Early Childhood Studies, Roehampton University, UK
Research interests
Jools´ research interests primarily focus on relationships between babies and their key adults and the rights of babies and young children, specifically those under three. In her PhD research Mothers. Work and Childcare: Choices, Beliefs and Dilemmas Jools conducted life historical interviews with six mothers whereby she examined their views of the complex issues of `love´ and `care´ in day care provision. Recently Jools has completed a joint project (with Peter Elfer, Rohampton University) which used interviews and diary methods to document a case study of the Emotional Complexity of Attachment Interactions in Nurseries.
Other Experience
Jools has worked in the field of early childhood education for over thirty years, and has significant experience in both caring for children and in policy making roles. Before joining the Early Childhood team at Sheffield she played a key role, leading on policy and practice for provision for children aged birth to three, in the Kent local authority advisory service.
Activities/Distinctions/Awards
- Member of the Academic Advisory board for TV4Parents
http://www.tomorrowschild.co.uk/tv4parents.html - Panel Judge, for the Nursery World Awards (2010, 2011)
- Under 3’s Expert panel member to the Baby Room Research project (Goouch, K and Powell, S. Canterbury Christchurch University, funded by Esmée Fairbairn)
- ‘Young children´s emotional well being in UK policy and practice’ at the Nuremburg Nursery
Convention.
‘Mothers, Work and Childcare: choices, beliefs and dilemmas understanding the perspectives of six mothers about day-care for their babies’: Baby Room Conference CCCU
‘ Babies and Young Children are Amazing’: Birmingham Under-Twos Conference
‘From Labour Ward to Nursery’, Bristol 19th Annual Infancy Conference:
‘Why close relationships matter’: National Day Nurseries Association: Carlisle
‘Safe hands, Safe hearts: Putting principles into practice’: Staffordshire University
‘ Who’s crying now?: Life-stories of six mothers of young babies: University of Sheffield - Referee for various publishers including SAGE and ROUTLEDGE
Publications
Research
Nutbrown, C. and Page, J. (2008) Working with babies and young children: from birth to three. London: Sage.
Page, J. (2005) Working with children under three: the perspectives of three UK academics In Hirst, K. and Nutbrown, C. (2005) (eds) Perspectives on Early Childhood Education Contemporary research, Stoke-on-Trent Trentham.
Page, J. (2005) Working with children under three: A review of the literature In Alderton, T. and Campbell-Barr, V.(2005) (eds), Putting the Child into Childcare, Kent EYDCP.
Publications for practitioners
Page, J. (2011) Let´s talk about love: the need for professional love in paid childcare: Early Education, no 63, Spring 2011, the birth to three issue
Page, J and Nutbrown, C, (2008) How amazing: Learning and Development in Under Threes: Nursery World, Vol 109, no 4146, pp.24-25.
Page, J ( 2007) Heuristic Play. Nursery World 7 June 2007 Volume 107, no 4074 pp,15-18.
Page, J (2006) Planning for under-threes. Nursery World 3 August 2006 Volume 106, no 4031 pp 13-20.
Page, J (2004) Relationships, relationships, relationships Key people for the youngest of people. (Put it in writing) Nursery World, 5 August 2004 Volume 104, no 3929 pp.24-25.
Research Students
PhD
Karen Hamilton: Early Childhood Educators understandings of "fledgling friendships" between children under three during periods of transition
Jacqui Lloyd: A Life Historical study of the absence of LGBT issues from Early Childhood Education and Care
Natalie Swaine Nwoko: Maltese primary school teachers´ perceptions of the role of creativity in the classroom
EdD
Jo Barker: The changing role of the childminder in England
Joy Chalke: Explorations of early years practitioners perceptions associated with changes in Early Childhood Education and Care since 2000
Sarah Cousins: Love in a cold climate: Warming stories of love as a gift in Early Childhood Education and Care contexts
Janet Uwins: A Life Historical study of Early Years Practitioners´ views of their experiences of `mothering´ and the influence on their professional role working with parents.
Kim Wailling: Children under three as problems solvers
