The Department of Childhood and Primary Studies was formed in August 2004 following a major restructuring of the Faculty into six large departments. Staff were drawn mainly from the former Department of Primary Education but others chose to join the department as part of the restructuring process.
The Department is one of six departments in the Faculty of Education formed following a restructuring in 2004. Much of the department is located on the second floor of the Sir Henry Wood Building with some staff accommodated in the Crawfurd Building. The National Centre of Autism Studies is located on the ground floor of the David Stow Building.
The declared mission statement of the department is:
To promote and develop understanding of the dynamic relationship between children, families, schools and society. We seek to:
- Study children learning and the roles, relationships and contexts in which learning takes place.
- Develop the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of those working with children and young people in a range of contexts
- Engage in the study and development of curriculum
- Extend/promote collaboration within and between professionals with responsibility for learning and development
- Establish and participate in diverse networks relevant to our studies
- Influence policy and practice through research teaching and scholarly activity which contributes to academic debate.