Early Years
Research Centre
He Kôhanga Toi Tangata
Invitation to the seminar
Research and policy in the early years
DATE: Wednesday 27 August, 2014
VENUE: TT1.05, Faculty of Education, The University of Waikato
TIME: 1–2pm
Much evidence has accumulated in recent decades that the child’s experience in the early years has
profound consequences for later life. Recent evidence from large-scale studies in the UK indicate
how differing patterns of experience in the early years, both in the home and outside the home can
have a long-term impact on children’s educational and socio-emotional development. In particular,
the home learning environment and pre-school experience in the early years continue to have an
impact upon children’s development many years later. In addition, evidence from other countries in
Europe, North and South America, and Asia supports these findings. Such evidence has influenced
policy and practice in the UK and elsewhere. The research illustrates the importance and relevance
of longitudinal child cohort studies for policy and practice.
Professor Edward Melhuish
Professor of Human Development & Director, Institute for the Study of Children, Families &
Social Issues, Birkbeck, University of London; and
Research Professor, Department of Education, University of Oxford
Professor Melhuish’s research interests are in understanding social and communicative development from
birth to adulthood including environmental influences through the use of longitudinal studies. Other interests
include:
• early childhood education and care (ECEC)
• parenting
• child poverty and disadvantage
• the linking of child development and social policy.
His work has been concerned with using theoretically driven research to address applied issues and policy
questions to 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
• early childhood education and care (ECEC) and the evaluation of policy initiatives.
For more information see www.bbk.ac.uk/psychology/our-staff/academic/edward-melhuish/edward-melhuish
and http://www.education.ox.ac.uk/about-us/directory/professor-edward-melhuish/
For further information contact
[email protected]