European study examines children's well-being

Focusing particularly on low-income and migrant families, the researchers will study how children's centres, nurseries and pre-schools provide emotional support.

Early years lecturers Helen Sutherland, (pictured), and Jan Styman from the School of Education will be carrying out the UK research and producing good-practice teaching materials based on their findings for EYPs and degree students.

Ms Sutherland said the impetus behind the project was the lack of research into how to 'tackle inequalities' focusing particularly on children from 18 to 36 months.

The project, known as 'Toddler' (Toddler Opportunities for Disadvantaged and Diverse Learners on the Early-childhood Road), will examine well-being, early language learning, engagement with parents and educating a reflective practitioner. It will make recommendations on how to improve early years education and produce training courses and materials.

Academics from Denmark, Romania, Belgium, Germany, Portugal and Spain are taking part, led by Norway's University of Stavanger. The study is being funded by the European Commission.

The project involves exchange visits to the other countries. Ms Sutherland has visited Denmark and Sweden and is planning trips to view settings in Romania, Germany and Belgium.

As well as seminars for students, teachers and local authorities, a final conference in Belgium will be linked to a meeting of the Comenius Association, a European network of 26 teacher training institutes.

Ms Sutherland said, 'Because we're sharing information between eight different countries we're learning a lot from each other.

'We hope this project will help give toddlers the kind of opportunities that will help them get the best out of life as well as raising the standing and understanding of early years practitioners.'

Part of the Kingston University team's research will focus on how children acquire language, both those with English as their mother tongue and those with English as an additional language.

The team will also look at how one particular outstanding children's centre helps parents to understand children's well-being, focusing on the Grange Children's Centre, Beddington Park, Wallington in Sutton, London.