Emma Twigg

About

I am the Programme Leader for the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies degree and also teach across all three stages. I am module lead for the Child Protection modules at Stage Two and Stage Three and the Vulnerable Child and the Law module at Stage Three. I also teach on our online BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies Top-Up degree.

Teaching responsibilities

BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies

Stage 1

I tutor a group of students on the Emerging Practitioner module

Stage 2

I teach the Child Protection module at stage 2
I also tutor a group of students on the Developing Practitioner module

Stage 3

I teach the Vulnerable Child and the Law module and also the Child Protection modules at stage 3
I also tutor a group of students on the Critically Reflective Practitioner module and have a small group of students who I support through their Independent Study

Professional interests

Childcare Law and Practice
Play and Creativity within the early years
Aspects of child protection training - particularly in the preparation of students moving from university into employment within early years and childcare settings
The effects of Domestic Abuse on Children
The representation of children who have experienced Domestic Abuse

Research interests

I am in the process of completing a PhD, which is focused on the representation of children who have experienced Domestic Abuse.

Membership of professional bodies

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Qualifications

BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies (University of Teesside, 2009)
Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (University of Derby, 2013)
MA Childcare Law and Practice (Keele University, 2017)

Recent conferences

Delivered a presentation at the University of Derby PGR Conference titled 'Narratives from the Nursery: An investigation into the representation of children by early childhood practitioners who care for children who have experienced domestic abuse (2023)
Keynote speaker with Su Wall at the Early Childhood Studies Graduate Practitioner Competencies workshop at the University of Roehampton (2019)
Delivered a presentation titled 'Developing Creativity in Early Childhood Studies Students' with Ellen Yates at 'A Child's World - New Shoes, New Directions' in Aberystwyth, Wales (2018)
Delivered a presentation titled 'Safeguarding - It's Everyone's Business' with my colleague Carol Fenton at 'A Child's World - Next Steps' conference in Aberystwyth, Wales (2014)

Experience in industry

I qualified as an N.N.E.B nursery nurse in 1990 and started my professional career working as a nursery assistant and later as a manager in an early years setting.

I have assessed and taught students on vocational Early Years qualification courses within the Further Education field both locally and within London.

Prior to joining the University of Derby, I worked for 12 years within the local authority as a Childcare Improvement Advisor.

Additional interests and activities

I am a Co-Vice Chair of the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network (ECSDN) Policy, Lobbying, and Advocacy Strategy Group.

Recent publications

Lumsden, E. and Twigg, E. (2023) 'Safeguarding and Child Protection', in Silberfeld, C (ed) The Early Childhood Graduate Practitioner Competencies, London: Sage
Twigg, E. (2020) 'The Safeguarding Practitioner', in Oates, R. (ed) The Student Practitioner in Early Childhood Studies (2nd edn.), Abingdon: Routledge
Twigg, E. and Yates, E. (2019) Student reflections on the place of creativity in early years practice: reflections on second-year work placement experience. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 31, pg 335-345
Twigg, E. (2018) 'Safeguarding Children', in Johnson, J., Nahmed-Williams, L., Oates, R. and Wood, V. (eds) Early Childhood Studies: Principles and Practice. (2nd edition) Abingdon: Routledge
Twigg, E. and Nicholson, N. (2022) Student's Perspectives on the new Early Years Foundation Stage (2021) and the Birth to Five Matters (2021) documentation. (Blog) - https://www.ecsdn.org/students-perspectives-on-the-new-early-years-foundation-stage-2021-and-the-birth-to-five-matters-2021-documentation/
Twigg, E. and Barnes, C. (2023) 'Abusive Relationships Within The Family', in Owen, K. and Barnes, C. (eds) Family Relationships in the Early Years, London: Sage
Yates, E. and Twigg, E. (2017) ' Developing Creativity in Early Childhood Studies Students', Thinking Skills and Creativity, pp. 42-57. DOI information: 10.1016/j.tsc.2016.11.001