Dr Caron Carter PhD, MA, NPQH
Senior Lecturer in Childhood & Early Childhood Education & Postgraduate Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Tutor in Education
Summary
I am a researcher and lecturer in the field of Childhood and Early Childhood Education. Prior to joining Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in 2007, I was a Primary School Teacher for eleven years. Five of these years were as a Deputy Headteacher and one as an Acting Headteacher. During this time, I had leadership responsibilities including English and Inclusion. These experiences together with post-graduate study for the National Professional Qualification for Headship and an MA in Early Childhood Education from Sheffield University inspired me to apply to Ï㽶ÊÓƵ for a lectureship in 2007. In 2013 I completed my PhD under the supervision of Professor Cathy Nutbrown.
My research interests focus on children's friendships and wellbeing. Much of my work has involved looking at ways to develop a listening culture for the voice of the child to be heard. A critical element of my activity is ensuring that my research impacts on school practice. I am currently researching how schools support children's friendships and also the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on friendships and wellbeing. I am also part of a team from Ï㽶ÊÓƵ working on other funded projects focusing upon improving outcomes for children in specific areas including, friendship, wellbeing, play and transitions.
About
I am a Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Early Childhood Education at the Sheffield Institute of Education, Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, Sheffield. I have been a Vice-Chair of Governors in a Primary School for over 6 years, having responsibility for Safeguarding and Inclusion. My research interests focus on children's friendships and wellbeing. My research involves looking at ways to develop a listening culture through creative participatory methods, providing opportunities for children’s views and perceptions to be heard and to exercise their agency.
My latest project explored how children (7-11 years) maintained their friendships during Covid-19. This offered the children a range of methods to express themselves, including, drawings, photos and collage. A critical element of her activity is ensuring that her research impacts on school practice.
Previous roles include:
Acting Headteacher in a Sheffield Infant School
Deputy Headteacher in two Sheffield Nursery Infant Schools
Assistant Headteacher in a Sheffield Primary School
Class teacher in a Sheffield Primary School
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and Teaching interests:
Children’s Friendships and wellbeing
The Impact of Covid on children's friendships, wellbeing and mental health
Leadership and Management in the Primary and Early Years Context
International Perspectives on Childhood and Early Childhood Education
Teaching
Department of Education, Childhood and Inclusion
College of Social Sciences and Arts
I started at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ in January 2007, initially joining the Early Childhood Studies team. I have lead and taught a range of Early Education, School Curriculum, Leadership and English modules at undergraduate level. My current teaching is also focused on leading and teaching on the Doctorate in Education (EdD), module 3 (Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Methodologies and Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Design), and on doctoral supervision.
Subject group: Education
I have lead and taught modules on the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Childhood and Early Childhood Studies programmes and the Postgraduate programme 'The Doctorate in Education'.
UG Modules Include: Leadership in Early Childhood, School and the Primary Curriculum.
EdD Modules Inlcude: Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Methods and Methodology and Analysing your Data.
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ
Current research projects:
- Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Impact activity: Children's Friendships Matter Podcast Series - see website
- Covid 19 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ into Children's Friendships and Well-being (Ï㽶ÊÓƵ).
Selected research projects:
- Children's Communities Project (Save the Children).
- Supporting Children's Friendships in School Contexts. (Ï㽶ÊÓƵ).
- Covid 19 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ into Children's Friendships and Well-being (Ï㽶ÊÓƵ).
- Family hubs evaluation: Department for Education.
Publications
Journal articles
Barley, R., Carter, C., & Omar, A. (2025). . Qualitative Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Barley, R., Carter, C., & Omar, A. (2025). . Qualitative Ï㽶ÊÓƵ.
Carter, C. (2023). . The Conversation.
Carter, C. (2023). . International Journal Of Emotional Education, 15 (1), 165-167.
Carter, C. (2023). Community celebrations in challenging times. Pastoral Care in Education, 41 (2), 125-127.
Carter, C., Barley, R., & Omar, A. (2023). . Children & Society.
Wigfield, A., Ypsilanti, A., Carter, C., & Gurung, J. (2023). . The Conversation.
Carter, C. (2022). . Pastoral Care in Education: An International Journal of Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
Carter, C. (2022). Supporting young children’s friendships: the facilitating role of the lunchtime welfare supervisor. Pastoral Care in Education, 1-20.
Carter, C. (2021). . International Journal of Early Years Education.
Carter, C., & Bath, C. (2016). . Education 3-13, 46 (3), 335-344.
Carter, C., & Nutbrown, C. (2016). The Journal of Early Years Education, 24 (4), 395-413.
Book chapters
Beresin, A., Bishop, J., Beatty, C., Carter, C., Egan, S., LeBron, B., ... von der Borch, D. (2023). . In Beresin, A., & Bishop, J. (Eds.) Play in a Covid Frame : Everyday Pandemic Creativity in a Time of Isolation. (pp. 457-478). Cambridge: Open Book Publishers:
Carter, C. (2023). 9. Parents’ Perspectives on Their Children’s Play and Friendships during the Covid-19 Pandemic in England. In Play in a Covid Frame. (pp. 191-214). Open Book Publishers:
Carter, C. (2019). Children's friendships. In FITZGERALD, D., & MACONOCHIE, H. (Eds.) Early Childhood Studies: A Student's Guide. (pp. 95-112). London: Sage Publishing
Carter, C. (2018). Chapter 2 Choosing a Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Question and Getting Organised. In Carter, C. (Ed.) Successful Dissertations The Complete Guide for Education, Childhood and Early Childhood Studies Students. (2nd). Bloomsbury Publishing
Carter, C. (2018). Chapter 2 Choosing a Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Question and Getting Organised. In Carter, C. (Ed.) Successful Dissertations The Complete Guide for Education, Childhood and Early Childhood Studies Students. (2nd). Bloomsbury Publishing
Carter, C. (2018). Chapter 3 Adopting an Ethical Approach to Your Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. In Carter, C. (Ed.) Successful Dissertations The Complete Guide for Education, Childhood and Early Childhood Studies Students. (2nd edition). Bloomsbury Publishing
Carter, C. (2018). Chapter 3 Adopting an Ethical Approach to Your Ï㽶ÊÓƵ. In Carter, C. (Ed.) Successful Dissertations The Complete Guide for Education, Childhood and Early Childhood Studies Students. (2nd edition). Bloomsbury Publishing
Carter, C., & Nutbrown, C. (2014). The Tools of Assessment: Watching and Learning. In Pugh, G., & Bernadette, D. (Eds.) Contemporary Issues in the Early Years. (6th edition). Sage
Books
Carter, C. (2018). Successful Dissertations The Complete Guide for Education, Childhood and Early Childhood Studies Students. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Reports
Carter, C., Clark, L., Coldwell, M., Hatton, A., Pearson, S., Reaney-Wood, S., ... Wilson, I. (2022). . Department for Education.
Batty, E., Harris, C., Leather, D., Pearson, S., Wilson, I., Carter, C., ... Willis, B. (2020). . Save the Children, UK. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/childrens-communities-final-evaluation-report
Batty, E., Harris, C., Leather, D., Pearson, S., Wilson, I., Coldwell, M., ... Willis, B. (2018). . Save the Children UK. /centre-regional-economic-social-research/publications/childrens-communities-programme-evaluation-2018-report
Internet Publications
Carter, C. (2024). .
Carter, C. (2023). [https://blogs.shu.ac.uk/sioe/posts/].
Media
Carter, C. (2023). . [Podcasts].
Presentations
Carter, C. (2024). Children’s Friendships and Precarity. Presented at: Children and Childhood Conference, Suffolk
Carter, C. (2023). Parents’ Perspectives on their Children’s Play and Friendships during the Covid-19 Pandemic in England. Presented at: British Early Childhood Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Association Conference (BECERA), Birmingham
Carter, C. (2022). Supporting young children’s friendships: the facilitating role of the lunchtime welfare supervisor. Presented at: EECERA Conference, Glasgow
Other activities
- School Governor (Vice Chair) at a Sheffield Primary School.
- Assistant Editor for The International Journal of Pastoral Care in Education (2020-present)
- Member of the National Association for Pastoral Care in Education
- Assistant Editor for the International Journal of Early Childhood Ï㽶ÊÓƵ: (2014-2017)
- Article reviewer for the following journals: The International Journal of Early Childhood Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, The International Journal of Early Years Education, Education 3-13, Childhood, Children & Society (2012-present)
- External Examiner: Birmingham City University (2019-2022)
- Reviewer for Froebel Trust grants
- Part of a National Friendship Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Group including colleagues from Edinburgh University, UCL & Leeds Trinity
Postgraduate supervision
I welcome informal contacts from prospective doctoral students in all areas related to my research interests. Current PGR Students:
- Lucy Mottram: (EdD PT) Student nurse belonging on clinical placement.
- Melissa Garboden-Koontz: (PhD FT- Scholarship) Social prescribing and wellbeing with under 16s.
- Arwa Omar: (PhD FT – VC scholarship) The overlapping relationship between theory of mind, executive functions and mathematics achievement. Expected completion March 2023.
- Sarah Procter: (EdD – PT) Stories from the Nursery of Professional Learning. Suggested completion September 2023.
- Ifrah Salih: (EdD-PT) Exploring the Transition Experiences of Racially Minoritised Student Nurses into University.
- Tricia Hughes: (EdD- PT) Ï㽶ÊÓƵing Introverted Learners on HE Nursing Courses.
Completed:
- Margaret Donoghue: (EdD PT) The Implementation of Aistear (Early Childhood Curriculum Framework) in Ireland. Completed May 2019.
- Aimee Quickfall: (EdD PT) Mothers returning to teaching after maternity leave. SHU, PhD. Director of Studies. Completed September 2020.
- Sally Pearse: (EdD PT) Reception class teachers' perceptions of professional love. Completed April 2021.