Research projects

The ChiFCo research group broadly aims to empower children, young people and families by increasing understanding and provision of health, education and social services in the wider cultural context of their lives.

Two key research strands underpin ChiFCo’s work:

  1. Young children as producers and consumers of digital media for entertainment and educational purposes
  2. Inclusion and participation for marginalised and stigmatised groups of children, young people and families.

The Erasmus Plus winning project ‘Democracy through Drama (DEMO:DRAM) seeks to address a range of issues essential for democratic classrooms and schools that are facilitated by competent teachers aiming to increase student civic engagement and democratic awareness and participation.  

Projects

Rethinking cross university approaches to training for doctoral supervision using STEAM provocations to promote fair, secure and just global societies

The terms cross-, multi-, inter- and trans- (disciplinary practice and working) are used interchangeably in research and practice and have different meanings within and across disciplinary fields.  For students supported by cross University cross-disciplinary supervision teams, this could prove challenging and confusing.  

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Socially Distant Stories from Beyond the Screen

The Socially Distant Stories is an ethnographic exploration about the impact of a hybrid theatre in education approach ...

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Resisting hyperreality?: talking to young children about YouTube and YouTube Kids

Investigating how young children watch, understand and engage with digital content on YouTube and YouTube kids. ...

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Using rhythmanalysis to explore the synchronicities and disruptions in children’s everyday lives in England and Greece during the 2020 lockdown

A small-scale international project focus ing on children’s experiences at home during the C...

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Postgraduate Researchers Mental Health and Well-Being

Investigating the experiences of postgraduate researchers and the effects of those experiences on  their mental healt...

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Independent Evaluation of FosterTalk Membership Services

Evaluating the influence that fostering support programme, FosterTalk, has on foster carer retention and developing re...

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Exploring home schooling experiences for children with SEND and their parents during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study aims to build on previous research about home schooling / home education more generally to explore and reco...

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A Rhythmic Analysis of Teaching & Learning in HE: Space, Time, Affect

The pilot project set out to capture the rhythmic fluctuations and orientations of BCU’s campuses.

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Photographs as a tool for young children with Down Syndrome

Creating a common assessment tool that could be used by all professionals in a way that empowers parents and children.

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Conductive education

Investigating a unified, integrated approach to educating children with disabilities

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Evaluating the work of the Big Brum Theatre in Education Company

The Human Spaces research project is a small scale evaluative case study.

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Cross-cultural approaches for teachers across Europe

To  examine how drama in schools can be used to explore different subjects to create democratic spaces.

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Exploring Children’s Wellbeing through Music and Singing

Exploring children's right to make choices and engage in playful activities in restricted environments through music a...

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Pupil-led anti-bullying interventions

The project harnesses the child’s voice to help resolve their specific experiences of school bullying.  

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Technobabies: the use of technology by children aged 0-3 years

This project aims to understand how the very youngest children (0 - 3 year olds) are using touchscreen technology in h...

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Independent Evaluation of Fosterline England

Birmingham City University researchers evaluate foster care service, Fosterline. 

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Relationship-based early intervention services

Early intervention services have the capacity to make big improvements to children's outcomes, but how might these ser...

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The social organisation of knowledge in a Conductive Education Centre in Birmingham

This project aims to unpack the benefits of Conductive Education (CE) by working with a CE centre in Birmingham.

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Evaluating Holiday Kitchen for Hungry Children

Free school meals can be a vital lifeline for economically disadvantaged families but during the school holidays child...

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Early care and education experiences of young children born prematurely

Exploring the early care and education experiences of children born prematurely through reports from parents.

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Vocational training for physiotherapists

This project aims to improve the lives of children with complex disabilities by trailing early intervention methods  ...

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Examining Sex and Relationship Education

Sex and Relationship Education in schools will always be a contentious topic but to what extent do a teacher’s own vie...

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