Ruby Oates
Lecturer
Department: Education and Childhood
University of Derby
United Kingdom
Biography
I am Head of Childhood Studies with particular responsibility for the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies and the BA (Hons) Child & Youth Studies, and I am a Deputy Head within the Department of Education and Childhood in the College of Arts, Humanities and Education. I am also Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and co-lead the Childhood Research Cluster here at the University of Derby.
Research Interest
Professionality and professionalism in early childhood; power and politics in the construction of the early childhood worker; reflective practice; relational pedagogy, the social construction of childhood; gender, power and education. I am currently involved in a local community research project with Ashfield District Council whereby our Early Childhood Studies students are evaluating two play spaces in the village of Huthwaite in north Nottinghamshire and have also worked with young children from two local schools to ascertain their views on play spaces in local park. Academic colleague Ellen Yates and I also are conducting research with parents and older children and the final report will be published with the council in the summer of 2016.
Publications
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Oates, R. & Hey, C. (2014) (Eds) The Student Practitioner in Early Childhood Studies: An essential guide to working with childcare. Abingdon: Routledge.
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Sanders, A., Oates, R. & Kahn, T. (2010) Hard to Reach? Engaging fathers in early years settings. Derby: University of Derby with the Pre School Learning Alliance, London.
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Oates, R. & Sanders, A. (2009) Making a little difference for early childhood studies students in Papatheodoru, T. & Moyles, J. Learning Together in the Early Years: Exploring Relational Pedagogy. London: Routledge.
