Ms Deirdre Grogan

Professor Of Practice

Strathclyde Institute of Education

Contact

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Personal statement

As a principal knowledge exchange fellow I lead the development of play within a range of early years settings from ages 3-8, across a variety of Local Authorities delivering Continual Professional Development to teachers and educators to enable them to be confident in delivering child led learning.  I have been very successful in securing a range of funding to improve impact of the following : 

  • Creating effective learning environments for young children
  • Engagement and Interaction
  • Documenting young children's learning
  • Literacy and the young child
  • Pushing Play into P2
  • Reflections and Developments 

My focus in Knowledge Exchange has its foundations in strong, active and innovative networks that operate in local, regional and national contexts. This character is a strength and essential to the pedagogic, collaborative and research aims that underpin it.  Within these contexts, I have a strong and recognised track record specifically in the field of early years education. This has resulted in successfully securing a range of contracts, including in this academic year, which are clearly set to development further across Local Authorities in Scotland. My reputation is as an academic who develops new knowledge exchange programmes driven by robust research methodologies and innovative techniques. Over the last 3 years (2016-2019) I have worked closely with a research assistant to ensure that key findings are embedded in my training. 

I have tracked different methods of documenting young children's learning within the nursery sector and early primary to establish the effect on children's thinking. I work with educators to continually develop new creative ways of documenting learning - successful examples include learning walls, documentation stories, profiles.

I have been commissioned by various Local Authorities to deliver key note presentations focussing on my research into play based learning.  

My training and research combines to impact early years education in Scotland. 

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Publications

An exploration of practices for rights-based education through promoting voice in the early years : building a spider’s web
Robinson Carol, Wall Kate, Murray Jane, Evans Erica, Grogan Deirdre, Bowes Charlotte
Children’s Voice and Agency in Diverse Settings International Research and Perspectives (2024) (2024)
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003360995-4
One-ery Approach West Dunbartonshire
Grogan Deirdre
(2021)
One-ery Approach West Dunbartonshire
Grogan Deirdre
One-ery Approach West Dunbartonshire (2021) (2021)
The national picture : early childhood education and care in Scotland
Arnott Lorna, Grogan Deirdre
The Early Years Foundation Stage Theory and Practice (2021) (2021)
Pushing play in primary : findings from three case study classes
Arnott Lorna, Lamb Christie, Milligan Kayleigh, Connor Nicola, Grogan Deirdre
SERA Research Education Bulletin, pp. 44-50 (2020)
Realising the Ambition - Being Me : National Practice Guidance for Early Years in Scotland
Crichton Vicky, Carwood-Edwards Jean, Ryan Janine, McTaggart James, Collins Janice, MacConnell Mary Pat, Wallace Lesley, Diamond Catherine, Grogan Deirdre, Carey Jenny, MacAulay Liz, Shaw Nicky, Gill Catriona, Johnston Kathleen
(2020)

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Professional Activities

The Culture of Childhood
Participant
22/2/2025
Play - Whole School Approach Noble PS Income £1690
Speaker
11/2024
Argyll and Bute Early Years
Participant
25/10/2024
Early Years Education
Participant
15/10/2024
Early Years Educators
Participant
14/10/2024
Phase 2 - Hilltop PS Income £ 2039.40
Speaker
10/2024

More professional activities

Projects

Play Environments - Shetland Council Invited speaker Income £201.94
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
This input will focus on how to design an effective learning environment for young children
03-Jan-2025
Noble PS Developing Play Pedagogy Income £ 1690
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
The training will allow all educators to evaluate current pedagogy before embarking on a journey of change. The initial focus will be the role of the child and how we tailor our teaching to support he needs of the child. Differentiation will be central to the model implemented which will ensure we are meeting the needs of the children.
15-Jan-2025 - 04-Jan-2025
The Path to Play - Fraserburgh Cluster Income £600
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
This presentation outlined the main points to consider to implement play within each setting. The design and mechanics of the environment were explored in depth to support changes to pedagogy. Examples from my own work in the field were shared throughout.
14-Jan-2024
Connections in Play - Income £806.65
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
This keynote was delivered to the Fraserburgh Cluster to explore the importance of play for young children. Small cases studies were shared from my own work in the filed of early years.
14-Jan-2024
Hilltop Primary School Phase 2 Income £1700
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
The twilight training will support staff across the early years to implement play pedagogy. Included in the training is 3 support visits to focus on improving both teaching and learning for all children.
Income £2875
30-Jan-2024 - 28-Jan-2025
Hilltop PS income £ 1851
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
This is the second phase of the training which will connect to the previous inputs on play pedagogy. Key focus on play progression, links to literacy, children's voice in planning and getting it right for every child.
Support visits are scheduled to allow for individual support and discussion.
21-Jan-2024 - 27-Jan-2025

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Contact

Ms Deirdre Grogan
Professor Of Practice
Strathclyde Institute of Education

Email: d.grogan@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 444 8055