I am a Senior Lecturer in the department of Education, Children and Families, based at the Shrewsbury campus. I teach on the Early Childhood Studies and Applied Psychology programme, and the Working with Children, Young People and Families programme.
About Dr Rebecca Crutchley
Prior to taking up my role at University of Chester, I was employed as a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader at University of East London, where I led the Early Childhood and Special Education programme and taught across the Education and Communities programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level. I have previously worked as a course tutor at University of Cumbria (Tower Hamlets) on the BA Early Years/Primary with QTS programme. Before entering Higher Education teaching, I was Deputy Head and SENCo of a Nursery School in East London, Early Years Foundation Stage Consultant for the London Borough of Waltham Forest, and Sure Start Children’s Centre teacher. I have taught across many phases of the education system from Reception to Year 6, and in post 16 provision, both in the UK and overseas, in France, Russia and Australia.
Teaching
I lead and teach on the Working with Children, Young People and Families, work-based learning programme, and teach on the Childhood Studies with Applied Psychology programme, based at University Centre Shrewsbury.
I have previously led or taught on a variety of academic and professional development modules on the undergraduate Early Childhood and SEN programme at UEL, and on the postgraduate MA SEN programme. I have also supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research students.
Research
My doctoral thesis was titled ‘The Retrospective Narratives of the Brokering Roles Assumed by Child Migrants Following Resettlement’. Other research interests include Inclusion/Diversity, Special Educational Needs, Children’s Agency, Sociology of Childhood, Partnerships with Parents, Migration and Acculturation, Resilience.
Published Work
Lloyd, E., Edmonds, C., Downs, C., Crutchley, R. and Paffard, F. (2016) ‘Talking everyday science to very young children: a study involving parents and practitioners within an early childhood centre’ Early Childhood Development and Care, Vol 187 (2).
Crutchley, R. (Ed) (2018) Special Needs in the Early Years: Partnership and Participation. Sage Publications.
Levoguer, M., Taylor, B. and Crutchley, R. (2020) ‘Seminar capital: an exploration of the enduring social and pedagogical benefits of seminar engagement’, Research in Teacher Education. Vol 10 (1).
Crutchley, R. (2020) Problematising resilience during times of change. BERA26 July 2020, available at https://www.bera.ac.uk/blog/problematising-resilience-during-times-of-ch...
Crutchley, R. (2022) Retrospective Narratives of the Cultural and Linguistic Brokering Roles of Migrant Children Following Resettlement [unpublished doctoral thesis]. University of East London, https://repository.uel.ac.uk/download/effd924aa5846a0025fe1b30fc89bacec5...
Qualifications
- Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD)
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
- MA in Education (Early Years) Institute of Education
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Bradford and Ilkley Community College
- BA (Hons) in International History and Politics, University of Leeds.