Ms Deirdre Grogan

Principal Knowledge Exchange Fellow

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
One-ery Approach West Dunbartonshire (2021) (2021)
One-ery Approach West Dunbartonshire
Grogan Deirdre
(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)

More publications

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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

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
Linwood Community Childcare Income £1100
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
This training focusses on designing effective learning environments for children aged 0-5. The model of 4 zones will be examined and implemented. In order to drive the children's play forward observations and documentation will be discussed as a tool for tracking children's thinking.
Income £1100
11-Jan-2024 - 14-Jan-2025
Pollokshields PS Income £3899
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
The focus is year on reflecting on the children's learning through play. Each teacher will be supported by using a play tracker ( designed by Deirdre Grogan) to record the children's learning.
Income £ 3899
17-Jan-2024 - 30-Jan-2025
Observations and Documentation Income £900
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
4 session with Early Years Practitioners across Renfrewshire Council to explore the importance of observing young children within the setting. Each participant carried out an observation to share key points.
12-Jan-2024 - 28-Jan-2024
Children as Leaders Income £2100
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
Renfrewshire Council - 16 sessions exploring the role of the child in the early years. Training is across the early level
26-Jan-2024 - 11-Jan-2024
Rockfield Primary - Play Income £1675
Grogan, Deirdre (Principal Investigator)
8 sessions to explore play in early years
20-Jan-2024 - 25-Jan-2025

More projects

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Contact

Ms Deirdre Grogan
Principal Knowledge Exchange Fellow
Education

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