Eleni Kanira

Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education Studies

School of Education and Social Work

Email:: eleni.kanira@bcu.ac.uk
Phone:: 0121 331 7756

Eleni Kanira is a PhD graduate of the University of Warwick and a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Birmingham City University. She trained and worked as an Early Years teacher, co-ordinator and consultant in various Primary schools and Early Years centres and as a drama teacher in schools and Theatre spaces.

Her research interests draw on classical psychoanalytic theory and more recent research in child development as well as the uses and applications of drama as an impetus for children’s meaning-making in play and across the curriculum.

Qualifications

Memberships

Publications

Kanira, E. and Ward, K. (2013) Behaviour and Behaviour Management in Early Years. In: Veale, F. Early Years for Levels 4 & 5 and the Foundation Degree. London: Hodder Education.

Aubrey, C., Ghent, K. and Kanira, E. (2012) Enhancing Thinking Skills in Early Childhood. International Journal of Early Years Education, 20, (4), (in press). (ISSN 0966-9760).

Kanira, E. (2011) Research paper presentation, ‘Widening participation or narrowing access? A case study of recruitment, retention and completion in a post-1992 university’ at BERA Annual Conference 6-8 September, London, IOE

Kanira, E. (2011) Research paper presentation, ‘Enhancing thinking skills in Early Childhood’ at BERA Annual Conference 6-8 September, London, IOE.

Kanira, E. (2010) Research paper presentation, ‘A drama approach to communicative practices in Early Years, Esme Fairb at EARLI International Early Years Conference in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Kanira, E. (2009) Applied and awarded funding for a three year research study into ‘Cognitive accelerated learning’ in Early Years from Esmee Fairburn foundation.

Kanira, E. (2009) Organised the conference ‘Exploring Early Years Practice’ hosted at Birmingham City University

Kanira, E. (2008) 18th EECERA Annual Conference, Stavanger, Norway. Paper approved for presentation entitled ‘Creative learning, concept development and dramatic interventions in child initiated play II’.

Kanira, E. (2008) Delivered research seminar at Oxford Brookes on research project carried out at Allens Croft Children’s Centre entitled ‘Creative Learning, concept development and dramatic interventions in child initiated play I’.

Kanira, E. (2008) Paper - presentation at the University of Exeter on research carried out at Cromwell Primary School in Birmingham entitled ‘Sea Life’: A drama approach to communicative practices in Early Years.

Kanira, E. (2007) Delivered Inset Training for EYs and KS1 staff on EYFS at Springfield Primary school, Moseley Birmingham.

Kanira, E. (2007) Organised and chaired an Early Years Research Forum at UCE Birmingham on ‘Language and Gender in the Early Years’.

Kanira, E. (2007) Presentation of PIE research project in seminar at BERA (5-8 September) Institute of Education in London ‘drama Interventions and sustained-shared thinking in children’s discourse activities during child-initiated Play’.

Kanira, E. (2007) Organised and chaired an Early Years Research Forum with 20 Early Years settings from West Midlands at UCE on ‘children’s involvement in play and learning through an arts project’.

Kanira, E. (2007) Organised and chaired an Early Years Research Forum with 20 Early Years settings from West Midlands at UCE on ‘the development of mathematical skills in Reception classes’.

Kanira, E. (2007) Organised a BERA SIG Early Years Research meeting on ‘Play’ at UCE Birmingham and presented a paper on ‘Play and Sustained-Shared Thinking’.

Kanira, E. (2007) Organised and chaired a BERA SIG Early Years Research meeting on ‘Play’ at UCE Birmingham

Kanira, E. (2005) Paper and presentation at ATINER International Conference on Education, Athens, Greece on “Sociolinguistic Theories of Learning in Early Years”.

Kanira, E. (2004) Article on the value of drama in education in early years education, published by the ‘Metro’ paper in Athens, Greece.

Kanira, E. (2000) Article published by the National Association for the Teaching of Drama on ‘The Origins and the Future’.

Kanira, E. (1999) Led a drama workshop for Primary teachers at the ‘Free Child International Conference’ organised by the Summerhill Independent School in Suffolk.

Kanira, E. (1998) Translated and edited the book ‘The Teaching of Drama in Primary Schools’ by Brian Wooland for ‘Ellinika Grammata’ Publishing Company in Athens.

Kanira, E. (1998) Research in Theatre in Education in 30 primary schools in Greece. Devised, taught, acted and performed an Ancient Greek history programme as founded member of ‘Kyclodrama’ TIE company.