Dr Martin Needham
Associate Head of School & Head of International
My profile
Biography
I trained and worked as an Early Years and Primary teacher in Nottinghamshire, London and Pakistan. This was followed by developmental roles in education management and leadership in Pakistan and then with early education, extended schools services and children’s centre provision in England. I became a Senior Lecturer in 2003 and a Principle Lecturer at MMU in 2014 as Associate Head of School for Childhood Youth and Education Studies. I have published work on multi-agency working, young children’s learning and leadership in early years conducting research projects in these areas funded by the DFE and NHS Scotland. I have recently been involved in international early education consultancy work in Kazakhstan and China.
External examiner roles
External Examiner for the BA Childhood Studies / BA Education joint honours at Aberystwyth University (2017- )
Expert reviewer for external funding bodies
I regualarly review articles for several Journals with and Early Years focus as well as book submissions for Sage and Open University Press.
Consultancy and advisory roles
I am currently involved with the ‘Road Map’ for Education Policy in Kazakhstan.
Editorial Board membership
A member of the Editorial Board for the International Journal of Early Childhood Education
A premier Reviewer for European Early Childhood Education Research Journal
Membership of professional associations
A member of the European Early Childhood Education Research Assocation and a member of the scientific committee for the 2010 European Early Childhood Education Association Conference in Birmingham
An executive member of the Early Childhood Studies strategy group that produced the QAA Benchmark Statement for EarlyChildhood Studies
Impact
Through my work with children’s services, publications and research I have influenced both
policy and practice in relation to the organisation and delivery of integrated
through children’s centres in both the UK and internationally. Siraj- Blatchford, Clarke and Needham (2007) is a key text on many courses in the UK and cited internationally in policy on multi-agency provision.
As a member of the team which produced the Longitudinal study of Early Years Professional Status published by the DFE (2012) and cited in the Nutbrown Review (2013) I have also influenced policy and practice on leadership and leadership training in England.
Through involvement with the Early Childhood Studies Degree network I continue to influence
the nature of early childhood studies degrees.
Projects
I am currently working on the development of Higher Level Apprenticeships in Early Years.
Teaching
Why do I teach?
I am passionate about improving the well-being of children and young people and to developing professionals who are able to take a broad view of children’s upbringing.
Why study…
The more we learn about how children respond to the opportunities they are offered in
different social contexts and societies the more we appreciate the way they are
often underestimated, misunderstood and not treated fairly. By studying
children and social intuitions that support them, we can learn how to improve
their life chances as well as improving the circumstances for their families
and those who work with them. Studying childhood and families helps develop
important academic skills in the social sciences of psychology and sociology as
well as practical skills in terms of working with a range of ages and
abilities.
Postgraduate teaching
I currently teach on the MA in Early Years and Childhood
Subject areas
Early Years and Childhood
Supervision
I am currently involved in the supervision of four PHD studies in both early education and educational leadership.
Research outputs
I have been involved in both my own doctoral studies and several comissioned studies, for the DFE, NHS scotland and local education authorities, in focussing on facilitating young children’s learning with both professionals and parents. I am familiar with large and small mixed methods studies, using observations, questionaires and interviews.
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Books (authored/edited/special issues)
Hadfield, M., Jopling, M., Needham, M., Waller, T. (2015) Practice Leadership in the Early Years Becoming, Being and Developing As a Leader.
Jackson, D., Needham, M. (2014) Engaging with Parents in Early Years Settings. SAGE.
Siraj-Blatchford, I., Clarke, K., Needham, M. (2007) The Team Around the Child Multi-agency Working in the Early Years. Trentham Books Limited.
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Chapters in books
Needham, M. (2021) 'Managing doubts to take safeguarding action.' Working with Children, Families and Young People Professional Dilemmas, Perspectives and Solutions. Routledge,
Needham, M. (2019) 'Keeping It Real: Making Space for Play in Early Education Policy and Practice.' In Farini, F., Angela, S. (ed.) Children’s Self-determination in the Context of Early Childhood Education and Services. Springer, pp. 77-91.
Needham, M. (2018) 'The Dystopian State and the safeguarding of (Normalised) Childhoods: The Hunger Games.' In Aitken, S. (ed.) Using Film to Understand Childhood and Practice. Bloomsbury,
Needham, M.D., Anning, A. (2017) 'IS WORKING TOGETHER WORKING?.' In Powell, S., Smith, K. (ed.) An Introduction to Early Childhood Studies. Sage,
Needham, M.D., Jackson, D. (2014) 'Parental involvement and partnership with parents;"T'ain't What You Do (It's the Way That You Do It)".' In Reed, M., Walker, R. (ed.) Early Childhood Studies a Critical Companion. London: Sage, pp. 217-227.
Needham, M.D. (2011) 'Using activity theory to examine the factors shaping the learning partnerships in a parent and child ‘stay and play’ session.' In Waller, T., Whitmarsh, J., Clark, K. (ed.) Making Sense Of Theory & Practice In Early Childhood: The Power Of Ideas in the Early Years. Maiddenhead: Open University Press,
Needham, M.D. (2007) 'keeping people in the big picture; national policy and local solutions.' The Team around the Child. Trentham,
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Reports
Needham, M., Mel, H. (2019) City Play Year 2 Evaluation: End of Year Report. City in the Community.
Needham, M., Hall, M., Macrae, C. (2018) City Play Evaluation Report 1.
Needham, M.D., Hadfield, M., Jopling, M., Waller, T., Emira, M., Coleyshaw, L., Whitmarsh, J., Royle, K. (2012) The final report of the Longitudinal Study of Early Years Professional Status. DfE.
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Journal articles
Needham, M., Ülküer, N. (2020) 'A growing interest in early childhood’s contribution to school readiness.' International Journal of Early Years Education, 28(3) pp. 209-217.
Needham, M.D., Kuleimenov, D., Soltanbekova, A. (2018) 'Sticking and tipping points: a case study of preschool education policy and practice in Astana, Kazakhstan.' European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 26(3) pp. 432-445.
Gallagher, M., Prior, J., Needham, M., Holmes, R. (2017) 'Listening differently: a pedagogy for expanded listening.' British Educational Research Journal, 43(6) pp. 1246-1265.
Needham, M.D., Jackson, D. (2017) 'Le soutien des parents dans les Early childhood dual focused groups anglais et australiens : quelle approche ?.' La revue internationale de l’éducation familiale, 40
Needham, M. (2012) 'Editorial.' International Journal of Early Years Education, 20(2) pp. 111-113.
Needham, M., Jackson, D. (2012) 'Stay and play or play and chat; comparing roles and purposes in case studies of English and Australian supported playgroups.' European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 20(2) pp. 163-176.
Gray, C., Needham, M. (2011) 'Filling big shoes.' International Journal of Early Years Education, 19(3-4) pp. 189-192.
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Conference papers
Needham, M.D., Jackson, D. (2016) 'Nurturing sense and sensibilities, engaging with parents locally and globally.' 31/8/2016 - 3/9/2016. EECERA,
Barron, I.C., Needham, M. (2016) 'Being and Becoming.' In British Educational Research Association. Leeds, UK, 13/9/2016 - 15/9/2016.