A Practical Guide to Action Research and Teacher Enquiry

Amanda Ince is Programme Leader for the MA in Early Years Education and the MA in Primary Education programmes at the UCL Institute of Education, UK.

Divided into easy-to-follow sections, this guide offers clear definitions and explanations of action research along with explanations of how it can be applied in early years settings.Ten examples of practice are used to clearly illustrate the action research cycle in a variety of settings, and in relation a range of topics and ages.

Acknowledgements Foreword by Dr Guy Roberts-Holmes Introduction Part One: Action Research - Theory and Practice Introduction What is Action Research? How Did Action Research Develop? The development and application of action research in education Why engage in Action Research in the Early Years? What is in it for me? Professional Development Team development Children's development Evidence-informed practice Making the difference: Planning your project with Impact Evolution Input- or output-based evaluation Ethical Considerations Summary Part Two: The Phases of Action Research Introduction Identifying a focus Ask a question Planning and Implementing a change Innovate Evaluating Impact How will you know you have been successful? Considering the future Summary Part Three: The Projects Introduction Project 1: Mindful Yoga in a Nursery School Project 2: Developing the outdoor area to support early numeracy Project 3: Storytelling Project 4: Continuing professional development policy Project 5: Personal, Social and Emotional Development at lunchtime Project 6: Talking Partners at Primary Project 7: Parental Engagement Project 8: Early writing Project 9: Promoting a love of reading Project 10: 0-2-year-old room Conclusion References Appendices Appendix I Identifying a focus Appendix II Collating evidence Appendix III Planning for impact Appendix IV Planning for impact Appendix V Evaluating impact Appendix VI: Considering the future