James McTaggart
Educational Psychologist - early years, child trauma & adversity, infant mental health, equalities & children’s rights; deputy chair BPS Practice Board
- Lots of conversations atm about #behaviour in #earlyyears. Children’s actions can often be understood as their "voice", giving us info about their developmental needs - especially when they are inconvenient or difficult! Some ideas in the table:
- Lots of conversations atm about behaviour in early years. Children’s actions can often be understood as their "voice", giving us info about their developmental needs - especially when they are inconvenient or difficult! Some ideas in the table:
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- No evenings this week, just proof-reading, but the lovely cover Routledge have made will keep me going!
- For a balanced review of the evidence (and how little we actually know) Peter Etchells book, Unlocked, is very helpful peteetchells.com/unlocked-book
- "Capacity" is a barrier or a gateway for CYP exercising their rights under the UNCRC But what is it? Much discussion is based on simple (outdated!) models of child development. Here's how I think that changes across the main theories - it makes a difference to what capacity is & how to assess?
- And on how policy attempts to "level the playing field" easily become unhelpful interventions to try and homogenise the children #ICELT2025
- Such a useful keynote from Sue Dockett and Bob Perry at #ICELT2025 on international research on transitions to school (and the sticky spread of "schoolification" of #earlyyears)
- Such a useful keynote from Sue Dockett and Bob Perry at #ICELT2025 on international research on transitions to school (and the sticky spread of "schoolification" of #earlyyears)
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- Participation ROCCS! But adult myths about capacity get in the way That’s what children told us, and here’s a resource they helped us to make so adults can reflect on the myths and change their practice More in the thread – feel free to use as long as you give us feedback!
- The UNCRC supports children’s rights to give consent, to be consulted & to complain But often adult myths about their capacity get in the way @jochamberlain.bsky.social and I researched with children what they think of this and what might help Some resulting resources - feel free to use! 🧵 1/4
- The UNCRC supports children’s rights to give consent, to be consulted & to complain But often adult myths about their capacity get in the way @jochamberlain.bsky.social and I researched with children what they think of this and what might help Some resulting resources - feel free to use! 🧵 1/4
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- We asked children & young people what they made of common adult myths about their capacity - this one got some strong reactions, and great ideas for creating some resources The adventures of Mythical Mungo and Capacity Callum begin! Which one are you?
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- Enacting the UNCRC means children have rights to consent, to be consulted, and to complain. But often adult myths about their capacity get in the way. @jochamberlain.bsky.social and I asked children & young people what they thought of these myths - here is what we learned!
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- Reposted by James McTaggartI’m looking for a small number of secondary schools to help us with a research study exploring self-diagnosis of mental health problems in young people For more info or to express interest, please email @nhigsonsweeney.bsky.social: nina.higson-sweeney [at] psych.ox.ac.uk Or DM us! Thank you 🙏🏼
- “It has to be about more than compliance if we want change”
- A different kind of bucket challenge - looking forward to finding out just how much #literacy we can do with a bucket, some pebbles and some pine cones with early years practitioners and primary school teachers today!
- Reposted by James McTaggartQualitative researchers' experiences of methodologically incongruent peer review feedback w/ @ginnybraun.bsky.social @jeffnz.bsky.social @janeemcallaghan.bsky.social @andrealamarre.bsky.social & @joannasemlyen.bsky.social psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...
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- Almost finished first draft of book on #trauma-informed practice in #earlyyears education A nagging suspicion I have left out something important! Here's the contents page - anything missing?
- Really useful report on #play and children's healthcare via @paulramchandani.bsky.social Recommendations are very close to the recent NICE guidance on Babies, Children's and Young People's experiences of Healthcare, too! (www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng204) www.pedalhub.net/projects/ite...
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- How many issues with teens in school could be explained partly by sleep deprivation? This study found short naps promoted learning. (Back in 15 mins!) www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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- It can be tricky to assess parent-infant relationships without resorting to checklists, or risking them feeling bad about themselves or their baby We're working on developing a strengths-based, infant voice centred self assessment - here's progress so far, comments very welcome!
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- Often missing in debates about #smacking is what children think & experience “It’s only a light smack.” “Only a light tap.” But … How can adults be so sure that the child’s experience isn’t actually one of frightening violence? 1/3
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- Almost everything young children do is purposive. It might look like the purpose is to cause difficulties & chaos, but its real purpose is to explore the world & learn about it - & about us too from how we respond. If we take it this way, and take part in that spirit, everyone can learn & have fun
- Fascinating and inspiring to hear @danwuori.bsky.social talking about *prenatal* learning and interaction Chimes so well with our Words Up messages that midwives and health visitors share with parents
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- Bernadette is an educational psychologist who does amazing work on compassionate leadership, children's rights and participation, equalities, headteacher supervision and more (She's also my heroically patient and kind manager ...) Please can curators of relevant starter packs add her on?
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- Given time, space and sensitive adult accompaniment, young children can find almost the whole curriculum in a cardboard box and a muddy puddle.
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- "Focusing on resilience as a solution to the mental health crisis risks shifting responsibility for mental health onto those affected, rather than calling out and changing policies and systems contributing to poor mental health" theconversation.com/why-resilien...
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- Here’s a Highland river in the snow
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- "It is important ... to appreciate that different kinds of risk need different interventions ... we should not be leaving assessment and intervention to chance" Really useful summary of the state of knowledge about #dyslexia and #literacy difficulties from @damsoned.bsky.social and colleagues
- Dyslexia is one of the most misunderstood and contested areas of SEND. Yet children who find reading and spelling challenging are routinely given that label. @damsoned.bsky.social and colleagues explain here what we know, what we don't and where teachers can help. www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
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- We need to think beyond "what tool" for assessment & consider the whole process; how do we move from "look at" approaches to participatory ones?
- Writing your letter to🎅, #EduSky? Remember - finger spaces, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, pencil grasp ... Easy to do & hard to learn - our new book Emerging #Literacy is full of ideas to promote early instruction Reduced for Christmas! invt.io/1txbm9ueb6l
