Partnership With Parents in Early Childhood Today

Philippa Thompson is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education, Childhood and Inclusion at Sheffield Hallam University. Philippa began her career as an early years teacher, progressing to Head of Nursery/Foundation Stage and Assistant Head Teacher roles and finally an Early Years Advisory/ Community Teacher for Sheffield City Council. She is co-chair of the ECSDN which advocates for graduates in the workforce alongside lobbying for better pay and conditions in the early childhood workforce. Dr Helen Simmons is a Senior Lecturer in Education (Childhood, Youth and Families) in the Faculty of Health, Education and Society at the University of Northampton, UK. Helen has worked in Higher Education since 2008, prior to this she was a practitioner in early years settings. Helen is Vice Chair for the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN): Policy, Lobbying and Advocacy (National and International) and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Her research interests include the sociology of childhood, children's workforce development and critically reflective practice.