Reflective Learning and Teaching in Primary Schools

Alice Hansen is the Director of Children Count Ltd where she is educational consultant. Her work includes running professional development courses and events for teachers and teacher trainers, research and publishing. Alice has worked in education in England and abroad. Prior to her current work she was a primary mathematics tutor and the programme leader for a full-time primary PGCE programme at a large university in England.

Adrian Copping has been working in teacher education for the last twelve years. At present, he is Primary PGCE Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer in English and Literacy based at the Lancaster campus of the University of Cumbria. Previously, Adrian worked at two contrasting schools in Lancashire, as class teacher and leader. Adrian’s particular interests are the use of teacher-in-role and other drama techniques to develop children’s writing and understanding of text and also the impact of creative thinking on children’s writing. Adrian has presented work on this at various national and international conferences. In his teacher education work, Adrian continues to develop close working relationships with primary schools, which have enabled him to keep abreast of current practice as well as develop his areas of research interest.

Lisa Murtagh is BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS Part Time Programme Leader at Edge Hill University. She has been involved in Initial Teacher Training for nine years and her research interest lies with assessment.

Helen Davenport has worked in the Early Years sector for twenty years, as a Foundation Stage Leader, Deputy Head and currently as a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University in Childhood Studies. She has previously been engaged in research that explores the nature of students' reflective writing and young children's talk and 'chatter'. Helen is passionate about the benefits of outdoor learning and Forest School and enjoys taking her Early Years students to Forest School sessions and enabling them to experience this approach first hand. Her current academic interests include the pedagogies and practices that stem from Forest Schools, with a particular curiosity about practitioner experiences of leading sessions and how these outdoor spaces might support children’s talk.