Mr Andrew Sanders

Department: Early Childhood Studies

Faculty: Education, Health and Sciences

School: School of Education and Social Studies

Subject Area: Early Years

My main roles at the University of Derby are to do with parts of our BA Early Childhood Studies (ECS); working mainly with students in their final year. I also work with and look after potential and existing participants who join the degree part-way through, the role there is one of Direct Entry Tutor. More recently, I lead our emerging collaborative partnership which offers some ECS modules to students at Mediterranean College, Athens.

Teaching responsibilities

• Module Leader and Lecturer in a range of Early Childhood Studies courses, mainly at Stage Three,
• Course related: Supervisor for students' Independent Studies and tutor for participants following The Critically Reflective Practitioner; both core stage three modules. Module Leader and tutor for Contesting Childhood and Direct Entry Tutor.

Professional interests

My work centres around studies surrounding children and childhood - but this is a big area. So, best say that my particular interests are:

• services for children and their families in the UK mainly but across the world - a sociological/social policy stance, historical (context) considerations and contemporary developments, innovative perspectives, policy and practice developments and some of the trends in thinking perhaps behind them.
• pedagogy; in particular, how students can join together to enhance their learning experience, engagement, connectivism, communities of practice, new knowledge, confidence, insight and 'voice'; this now may include 'partnership' responsibilities with collaborative organisations.
• looking beyond the confines of 'academia'; community, media and sector links, projects, research and consultancy.
• an emerging special study of the life and thought (related to children in particular) of Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Research interests

See the Publications Section. Current projects include developing the website with particular respect to childhhood and family life in Europe in the 1700s.

International Experience

Comenius (EU funded) work in France and Sweden plus Conference Strasbourg last year (2009).

Membership of professional bodies and advisory committees

I'm a Member of the European Early Childhood Education and Research Association (EECERA) and the Institute of Public Policy and Research (IPPR). Interests in the International Centre for the study of the Mixed Economy of Childcare (ICMEC). External Examiner for University of Worcester (until mid 2012) and Queens University, Belfast. Oral History Society member

Recent Conferences

The list here shows all events, both as participant and presenter: 

• January 2008: UEL Seminar International Centre of the Mixed Economy of Childcare.
• 6 May 2008: Research Ethics Seminar Keele/UoD.
• 10 July 2008: LTA Buxton, poster presentation.
• 23 October 2008: ChildCare History Network Inaugural Meeting, Cheltenham.
• 14 May 2009: HEA Academy Health Nottingham.
• 2 July 2009: British Association of Education Studies, paper research, Staffordshire University.
• 9 July 2009: LTA Buxton, paper presentation with Val Wood.
• 26 August 2009: European Early Childhood Education Research Association, paper, Strasbourg.
• March 2010: Work Based Learning Conference (Middlesex University), presentation with Peter Revill.
• 6/8 July 2010 [both with Peter Revill]: Verbal Protocols at 'Understanding Professionalism' (UoD Derby) and Learning, Teaching and Assessment Conference (Buxton).
• 15 July ICMEC - What will happen to childcare post election?
• September 2010 - EECERA Birmingham (Symposium presentation) and later on, UDC (Derby) 'Work-Based Learning' Conference (Presentation).
• February 2011 - Building Stronger Communities (exploring links, UDC [Derby])
• February 2011 - attendance at Art and Domestic Violence (PG, internal UoD) and Pen Green Children's Centres networking event
• April 2011 - IPR Seminar (UoD)
• May 2011 - Keynote Speech at EYPS Showcase, University of Portsmouth
• July 2011 - "Creation, Destruction, Memory..." Oral History Society Annual Conference, Sunderland
• July 2011 - Issues in Professionalism (UoD) and Annual LTA Conference (Buxton)
• April 2012 - European Social Science History Conference, Glasgow - attended and joint-paper presented (with Val Wood)
• June 2012 - Rousseau and Democracy, British Academy
• June 2012 - Religion & Belief in Higher Education (UoD Corporate)
• June 2012 - Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Britain, International Conference at Leeds University
• July 2012 - Collaborative Conference and annual LTA Conference (Buxton)
• Sept 2012 - Religion and belief, discrimination and equality: a decade for change? - Practitioner Workshop
• Sept 2012 - UoD 'Hub': Mark Making (with Jane Blant)
• November 2012 - One Hundred Voices: People who work with children (with Val Wood) for Research Group for Society, Religion & Belief (UoD)

Additional Interests and Activities

My personal interests include cooking, sport, blogging, some (what might be described as) 'Art', Sonic Youth, Jazz, Star Trek: Voyager and France.

Media experience

Television, articles for publication in 'trade' press, editors letters, public launch of research (March 2009). Also see Publications Section.

Undergraduate qualifications

• BSc Econ (Hons) Sociology and Industrial Relations , University College, Cardiff
• Part 1 Diploma in Careers Guidance and Counselling, Nottingham Trent University
• Diploma in Health and Social Welfare, Open University

Postgraduate qualifications

• Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Primary), Nottingham Trent University
• Fellow, Higher Education Academy, University of Derby

Edit this person's details

Site Map

Undergraduate courses
Postgraduate and professional courses
Online courses
International students
Services for business

Part time courses
Buxton College
School leavers 16+
About the University
Student life

Job vacancies
Research
Faculties
Departments
Press and Community