Tricia David has been involved in research about young children's learning since 1974, when she worked at Keele University as a member of the (then) DES-funded research project Play, Exploration and Learning. Following many years as a teacher, headteacher, community educator and subsequently a lecturer and researcher at the University of Warwick, Tricia is especially interested in the ways in which time and place influence assumptions about babies and young children.
She has worked on a number of international projects, including the OECD survey of Early Childhood Education and Care provision, Starting Strong, and for the British Council in China. National work includes being lead author of the research review for Birth to Three Matters for the DfES.
For more than 40 years, Tricia has been able to observe the ways in which attitudes to, and expectations of, young children vary from context to context and over time. As a result she has worked collaboratively to expose how different countries and different cultures and subcultures construct their own understandings about young children and those who work with them.
Her team for the Early Literacy Learning project, funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, explored nursery provision in France and England, while their co-researchers at the University of Melbourne carried out a parallel investigation in Australia and Singapore.
Tricia's research and development work in the area of children's rights, child protection and multi-professionalism are rooted in her experiences as a practitioner and researcher observing children in their families and communities.
Although she officially retired from university work over five years ago, Tricia is still involved with Canterbury Christ Church University in Kent, where she is also an Emeritus Professor of Education.
Dr Kathy Goouch of Canterbury Christ Church University says, 'I have known Tricia since 1995 when she first came to work at Canterbury Christ Church.
'If I were to attempt to summarise Tricia's lifetime's achievements, there would be two key areas: first, that her scholarship in relation to early years work, qualitative research approaches with young children and the adults who support them, has made an enormous contribution to the field becoming as powerful and wide-reaching as it is, both here and overseas.
'But secondly, and of enormous significance, is that Tricia teaches us all, through her own example, that respectful encounters, loving encounters, with babies, children, parents, practitioners, colleagues (and even politicians!) matter.'
Activities during higher education career
- Co-founder of the national Early Childhood Forum
- President of UK national executive committee of l'Organisation Mondiale pour l'Education Prescolaire
- Founding editor of the Journal of Early Childhood Research
- Co-founder of BERA SIG for Early Childhood Education
- Member of steering and working groups, DfES project Birth to Three Matters
- Chair of Kent Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership
Recent Publications
- David, T. (2008) 'What is early childhood for?' in Goouch, K. and Lambirth, A. (eds) Using Phonics and the Teaching of Reading: a Critical Perspective. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press
- David, T. (2006) 'The world picture' in Pugh, G. and Duffy, B. (eds) Contemporary Issues in the Early Years (4th edition). London: Sage
- David, T., Goouch, K., Powell, S. and Abbott, L. (2003) Birth to Three Matters: a review of the literature. Research Report 444. London: DfES
- David, T. (2006) 'Grandparents matter' in Abbott, L. and Langston, A (eds) Parents Matter. Maidenhead: Open University Press
- David, T., Goouch, K. and Powell, S. (2005) 'Research matters' in Abbott, L. and Langston, A. (eds) Birth to Three Matters. Maidenhead: Open University Press/McGraw-Hill
- David, T. (2004) 'Early childhood education' in NCSL (eds) What do leaders need to know about teaching? Nottingham: National College for School Leadership
- David, T. (2003) What do we know about teaching young children? Nottingham: BERA
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