“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."
Albert Einstein
Early childhood is a wondrous, but brief window of opportunity, in which we can profoundly influence and uniquely shape our children’s development for their long-term gain.
Modern neuroscience can now help us to understand how children's growth and learning can best be supported - with a little knowledge, we can go a long way.
"When learning is purposeful, creativity blossoms. When creativity blossoms, thinking emanates. When thinking emanates, knowledge is fully lit."
A.P.J. Abdul Kalum

Articles, links and publications

Fictional Titles

Floppi and Moon of Mimbalup by Sarah Rees

Floppi and Moon of Mimbalup is a beautifully illustrated chapter book for 5- 9 year olds. Set in a serene imaginary world where plants have feelings, dreams and ambitions just as we all do, the story follows Floppi, a magical white Eriskay pony, and Moon, a young, wise Fairy Girl, and their closest animal friends, as they go on an urgent rescue mission. Their task is to defend the proud Pine Trees of Waratah, tragically being destroyed by invading Humanders from Earth. With the trees in danger, all aspects of gentle Mimbal life, culture and society are under threat, and it is down to Floppi, Moon and friends to save them!

This is a perfect gift book for a birthday or Christmas, with its 16 stunning, full page colour illustrations, an illustrated character list including additional factual information about endangered animals, a map, plus 11 exciting chapters. For younger children, it is a story to be read aloud and enjoyed by parents and carers too!

Articles

Academic Titles

​Meeting the Child in Steiner Kindergartens: An Exploration of Beliefs, Values and Practise. Paperback – 19 April 2011 Purchase

What can early years practitioners learn from Steiner kindergartens? What is distinctive about Steiner kindergarten teachers’ ways of getting to know children?

The contributors to this book, who include both experienced Steiner educators and early childhood experts from other backgrounds, have worked together to explore and understand what is distinctive about Steiner kindergarten practice. They present a variety of perspectives on the ways in which kindergarten teachers’ practices, values and beliefs can help children to find and construct their own identities, through play and through engagement in the life of their community.

Academic papers

Risk-Taking and The Adolescent Brain

Submitted for module  EDUCM0001, MSc. Neuroscience and Education, University of Bristol, 2015


The Creative Mind Exploring individual differences in the development of Creativity

Submitted for module EDUCM5410 MSc. Neuroscience and Education, University of Bristol, 2014

MSc Dissertation Synopsis

A Study of Imitation, Social Learning and Group Affiliation in the Steiner Kindergarten

Submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Science (Neuroscience and Education), University of Bristol, 2016.