Strategy Groups
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Hear from Vice Chairs Dr. Eva Miskuska and Dr. Jo Josephidou as they explains the role, purpose and future aspirations of the policy, lobbying and advocacy strategy group.
Mission Statement
To support the next generation of graduate professionals to make positive contributions to the care and education of babies, young children and their families, through research and dissemination.
Full Statement
To encourage and support knowledge production and co-production between early childhood students, academics and researchers, research participants, and policy makers and implementers. To enhance student capacities to disseminate research findings in different formats and for a wide range of audiences. To promote the value of early childhood research for informing policy and improving practice. The Research and Knowledge Exchange Strategy Group leads the ECSDN student publications and conferences.
Click below for further information:
Vice Chairs
Dr Jo Josephidou
Co-Vice Chair/Student Development
Dr Jo Josephidou is Programme Lead of Early Childhood at The Open University. She was a primary school teacher (Early Years) for many years before entering Higher Education in 2009. Her PhD focused on appropriate pedagogies with young children and how practitioner gender may impact on these. Currently, Jo is working collaboratively on a piece of research which focuses on babies’ and toddlers’ opportunities to engage with the outdoor environment and nature funded by The Froebel Trust.
Members
Zoe Lewis​
Zoe is a senior lecturer at Birmingham City University where she leads the undergraduate Early Childhood Studies course. Zoe has worked as an early years teacher and leader and is currently studying for an EdD where her research seeks to understand the role of the material environment in children’s creativity.
Vikki Bennett Kane
With a rich career spanning early years teaching, local authority quality improvement, and fifteen years at Bath Spa University, Viki brings extensive expertise in leadership, management, and inter-institutional collaboration to her current role. Her academic background, which includes a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Studies and collaborative research on play and therapeutic practice, informs her commitment to developing professionally relevant educational experiences. By leveraging her deep understanding of student support and academic standards, Viki has played a pivotal role in designing and validating the Norland MA in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Sam Robinson
As the programme leader for Education and Early Childhood Studies in Doncaster,Sam brings extensive experience from the early years and domestic abuse sectors. She holds a BA and MA in Early Childhood Studies, a level 7 academic professional apprenticeship, and an HE fellowship, while serving as an external examiner for York St John’s University. Currently completing an EdD at the University of Sheffield, her research centres on policy and school readiness. A qualified Forest School practitioner and co-author of The Power of Play, she has taught in higher education since 2018, focusing on children’s mental health, language development, and the impact of formal schooling.
Carolyn Silberfeld
Former Chair of the ECSDN and current Chair Emerita, Carolyn brings a wealth of experience in designing, developing and delivering early childhood studies degrees both within and outside of the UK.
Katie Cobb
With over two decades of experience spanning the early childhood, further education, and higher education sectors, Katie is a dedicated advocate for high-quality provision and the impact of skilled practitioners on child outcomes.Her career began with a Level 3 Nursery Nursing qualification, leading to diverse roles in private and statutory settings, including serving as an Area Nursery Manager for four city-centre nurseries. Transitioning into education, she managed the Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification before advancing into higher education, where she has taught at the undergraduate level on a Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies.
