Dr. Carolyn Blackburn
Reader in Interdisciplinary Practice and Research with Families
School of Education and Social Work
- Email:
- Carolyn.Blackburn@bcu.ac.uk
Dr. Carolyn Blackburn worked in a range of charities and education settings before taking up an academic post. Carolyn has taught in four Universities at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Carolyn has worked on numerous research projects related to inclusion, disability and child/family wellbeing. She is internationally recognised for her work on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and has presented her work in the UK, Sweden, Turkey, Belgium, Portugal, Serbia, Moldova, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Germany.
Carolyn is a member of the European Association on Early Childhood Intervention (Eurlyaid), an Early Years Prevention and Intervention Churchill Fellow, a panel member of Intellectual Disabilities form of the Royal Society of Medicine, an Associate Staff member of the Champion Centre, New Zealand and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Birmingham. Carolyn is also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Current Activity
Carolyn supervises post-graduate students across the Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences. She is a member of the Centre for the Study of Practice and Culture in Education. She co-leads a Communities of Practice Research Supervision group and the Cultures in Education research group.
Carolyn is involved in a number of research and consultancy projects.
Carolyn is an active doctoral examiner and chair and has examined doctoral studies in England, Ireland, Dubai, New Zealand and Australia. Carolyn welcomes requests for doctoral supervision and examination.
Areas of Expertise
- Qualitative research
- Evaluations
- Research supervision
- Consultancy
Qualifications
- Communities of Practice Research Supervision SEDA, Birmingham City University
- PhD Education (Early Childhood Intervention), Birmingham City University
- Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Birmingham City University
- Postgraduate Certificate in Research Practice, Birmingham City University
- Postgraduate Certificate in Special and Inclusive Education, University of Worcester
- BA (Hons) Social Sciences, University of Worcester
Memberships
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Board Member of EURYLAID
- Member of the Editorial Board of Infants and Young Children
- Member of the International Society on Early Intervention
- Member of TACTYC Association for the Professional Development of Early Years Educators
- Member of the British Education Research Association
- Co-convenor of the BERA Social Justice SIG
Teaching
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Co-facilitator: Communities of practice research supervision, SEDA accredited
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Co-lead: University SEDA accredited communities of practice research supervision
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Carolyn teaches about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Disability, Inclusion, Researching with Families and Interdisciplinary Practice across the Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences. She also teaches about Ethics and researching with young and developmentally young children
Research
Carolyn is currently evaluating FosterTalk’s membership services. Recent research includes the use of photo elicitation as a strengths-based approach to assessment for young children with Down Syndrome, an exploration of the social organisation of knowledge in a conductive education centre in Birmingham, an exploration of children’s right to make choices and engage in playful activities through Singing Medicine at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and an Erasmus Plus project that aims to provide training materials for Physiotherapists working with children with Cerebral Palsy.
Postgraduate Supervision
Carolyn welcomes applications from doctoral candidates and has previously supervised the following students to successful completion:
- Dr. Shannon Ludgate – Young children’s experiences of touchscreen technology in the early years – completed 2017
- Dr. Elaine Matchett – The educational experiences of children in care – completed 2020
- Dr. Mine Conkbayir – The application of neuroscience in early years – completed 2020
- Dr. Karolina Biernat – Nutritional outcomes of holiday food programmes – completed 2020
Carolyn currently supervises doctoral students who are researching the following topics:
- Adults experiences of fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders – Natalie Webster
- Children’s wellbeing and play – Hannah Malpass
- Children’s Rights – Alison Moore
- Experiences of adoption – Rachel Jones
- Inclusion in Primary Schools – Sarya Begum
- Experiences of multiple birth families of transition to school – Nathalie Turville
- Experiences of twins – Lara Alamad
Publications
Articles
McCARTHY, R., BLACKBURN, C., MUKHERJEE, R., FLEMING, K., ALLELY, C., KIRBY, L. and COOK, P. (2022) ‘I'm always up against a brick wall with them’: parents' experiences of accessing support for their child with a newly recognised developmental disorder. British Journal of Special Education https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8578.12398
BLACKBURN, C., & MATCHETT, E. (2022). ‘A little piece of my heart goes with each of them’: Foster carer reflections on current fostering practice. Adoption & Fostering, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/03085759221135203
TRANG THU, N., THU THUY, L., BLACKBURN, C., and PUTTICK, M. (2022) Towards an ecological model of inclusive practice for children with special educational needs in Vietnam: perceptions of primary school teachers. Practice: Contemporary Issues in Practitioner Education https://doi.org/10.1080/25783858.2022.2147017
LUDGATE, S., MEARS, C. and BLACKBURN C. (2021) Small steps and stronger relationships: parents' experiences of homeschooling children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs DOI: 10.1111/1471-3802.12542
VAUGHAN, S. BLACKBURN, C. and CURZON, R. (2021) Continuing conversations: Moving support for doctoral supervisors’ professional development online, Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 58:6, 716-726, DOI: 10.1080/14703297.2021.1991423
SCHOLIN, L, MUKHERJEE RAS, AITON N, BLACKBURN, C et al., The UK FASD Research Collaboration, et al (2021) Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: an overview of current evidence and activities in the UK Archives of Disease in Childhood Published Online First: 13 January 2021. DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320435
BLACKBURN, C and WARD, K. (2020) A conductor’s standpoint: an institutional ethnography of a conductive education centre in Birmingham, UK Contemporary Issues in Practitioner Education Volume 2, 2020 Issue Sup 1 pp 4 – 22 A conductor’s standpoint: an institutional ethnography of a conductive education centre in Birmingham, UK: PRACTICE: Vol 2, No sup1 (tandfonline.com)
BLACKBURN, C. (2020) ‘The People in the Purple Shirts’: Froebelian insights to a Singing Medicine project in a Children’s Hospital Early Childhood Research Journal https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1476718X20935158
BLACKBURN C (2019) Family members’ perceptions of a Singing Medicine project in a children’s hospital. Nursing Children and Young People. DOI: 10.7748/ncyp.2019.e1241
BLACKBURN, C and HARVEY, M (2019) ‘We weren’t prepared for this’: Parents experiences of information and support following the premature birth of their infant accepted for publication in Infants and Young Children
BLACKBURN, C. (2018) Young children’s musical activities in the home. Primary First
BLACKBURN, C., AND HARVEY. M. (2018) 'A different kind of normal': parents experiences of premature birth submitted to Early Child Development and Care 10.1080/03004430.2018.1471074
BLACKBURN, C. (2018) Hear our voice: social, cultural and contextual considerations in researching with young and developmentally young children BERA Research Intelligence Special Issue on Ethical Issues in Educational Research (invited contribution)
BLACKBURN, C (2017) Young children’s musical activities in the home. Education 3-13 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03004279.2017.1342320
YOUNG, S. ABSOUD, M., BLACKBURN, C. and others (2016) Guidelines for Identification and Treatment of Individuals with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Associated Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Based upon Expert Consensus BMC Psychiatry https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-016-1027-y
BLACKBURN, C. (2016) Early Childhood Inclusion in the United Kingdom Infants and Young Children Vol 29, Iss 3 239 – 246 doi: 10.1097/IYC.0000000000000069 http://journals.lww.com/iycjournal/Abstract/2016/07000/Early_Childhood_Inclusion_in_the_United_Kingdom.10.aspx
BLACKBURN, C. (2016) The value of relational pedagogy and professional love to early childhood intervention and child/family well being for children with complex disabilities. Conference proceedings Third International Conference on Well-Being 2016 – Co-Creating Pathways to Well-being
BLACKBURN, C. (2016) Relationship-based early intervention services for children with complex needs: lessons from New Zealand, International Journal of Birth and Parent Education Vol (3) 27-30
BLACKBURN, C. (2016 ) Independent Evaluation of a Fostering Helpline, Implications for Policy and Fostering Practice, Adoption and Fostering Vol. 40(2) 167–178 DOI: 10.1177/0308575916640227 http://aaf.sagepub.com/content/40/2/167.abstract
BLACKBURN, C. AND AUBREY, C. (2016) Policy to Practice context to the delays and difficulties in the acquisition of speech language and communication in early years. International Journal of Early Years Education Vol 24, Iss 4 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09669760.2016.1244046?src=recsys&journalCode=ciey20
Books
Blackburn, C. (2017) Developing inclusive practice for young children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A framework of knowledge and understanding for the early childhood workforce, London: Routledge
CARPENTER, B., BLACKBURN, C. and EGERTON, J. (2013) (Eds) Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. London: Routledge
BLACKBURN, C., CARPENTER, B. AND EGERTON, J. (2012) Educating Children and Young People with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders London: Routledge
Chapters in books
BLACKBURN, C. (2020) Forthcoming Recognising a FASD child in the classroom at all a stages : in Mukherjee, R. And Aiton, N. (Eds) Prevention, Recognition and Management of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
BLACKBURN, C. (2020) Forthcoming Managing the child with FASD in the classroom: in Mukherjee, R. And Aiton, N. (Eds) Prevention, Recognition and Management of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
BLACKBURN, C. (2018) Young children's use of private speech in early childhood settings: moving from a deficit approach to a rights and agency approach in Twomey and Carroll (eds) Innovative research with children, play and early intervention Dublin: Lang
AUBREY, C., BLACKBURN, C., LOWE, R. AND JONES, C. (2017) The Regulated Child in Alex Owen (editor) (2017) Childhood Today: An Exploration of the Contemporary Experiences of Children, London: Sage
BLACKBURN, C. (2016) Family experiences of early intervention services for young children with speech language and communication needs in England in Hannan Sukkar, Carl Dunst and Jane Kirby (Eds) Early Childhood Intervention: Working with Families of young Children with Special Needs Evolving Families London: Routledge pp 217-236
BLACKBURN, C. (2013) Walking through a moonless night: FASD and Early Childhood Intervention in Carpenter, Blackburn and Egerton (2013) FASD and Interdisciplinary Perspectives. London: Routledge pp 102-122
Recent conference presentations:
2020
- Nurture, intimacy and safeguarding in early years , Independent Association of Preparatory Schools Early Years Conference, Nottingham University, 5th March 2020 – invited keynote
2019
- Educating Children and Young People with FASD, Liverpool Special Schools Conference, November 2019, Liverpool invited keynote
- Educating Children and Young People with FASD, Association for Research in Infant and Child Development 18th International Scientific Meeting ‘FASD we should do better’, Royal Society of Medicine, London, October 2019 invited keynote
- Educating Children and Young People with FASD, Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, London September 2019 invited keynote
- Educating Children and Young People with FASD, CORAMBAAF conference ‘What Works for Children’, London May 2019 invited keynote
- Engagement approaches to participation for children with complex needs: findings from an international research project. VIIF International Early Childhood Intervention Conference Leipzib March 2019 invited keynote
- Promoting children’s well-being, right to make choices and engage in playful activities in restricted environments through music and singing, Froebel Trust conference ‘Stories from Research and Practice’ Roehampton University, March 2019 invited parallel session
2018
- Promoting children’s well-being, right to make choices and engage in playful activities in restricted environments through music and singing with Ex Cathedra vocal tutors Midlands HE and Culture Forum New Vic, Stoke 14th November 2018 invited session
- Educating children with FASD, Scottish Government Child Policy Support Division, Conference on FASD, Edinburgh 7th November 2018 invited keynote
- Promoting children’s well-being, right to make choices and engage in playful activities in restricted environments through music and singing. Collaborative Approaches to Music and Wellbeing Conference Leeds University 8- 10th October 2018
- Promoting children’s well-being, right to make choices and engage in playful activities in restricted environments through music and singing. Music and Social Intervention Research Music Network Conference York St John University 6th October 2018
- Educating Children with FASD The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health First Scottish conference on FASD, Glasgow, 4th October 2018 invited keynote
- Blackburn, C. and the Ex Cathedra vocal tutors (2018) Promoting children’s well-being,right to make choices and engage in playful activities in restricted environments through music and singing. BCU annual CSPACE conference Creativities in Education, Birmingham 3rd July 2018
- The value of relational pedagogy and professional love to early intervention and child/family well being. Churchill’s Babies conference, London June 2018.invited keynote
- Building Strong Partnerships between Professionals, Parents and Carers: Engaging parents in their child's learning and development (2018) Transforming Early Years Provision: Developing High Quality Settings to Enhance Life Chances Public Policy Exchange London 1st May 2018 – invited session
- Educational strategies for FASD, Royal Society of Medicine Intellectual Disability Forum Annual Conference on Understanding neurodevelopmental disorder prenatal alcohol exposure (NDPAE) Royal Society of Medicine 22nd May 2018 – invited keynote
- Blackburn, C., Marianne Aylingm N, Raeburn, H. and Toumi, M, (2018) Promoting children’s well-being, right to make choices and engage in playful activities in restricted environments through music and singing. Presentation to Child Health Nursing Team at Birmingham City University 25th April 2018 invited
- Developmental risk from premature birth: Making the case for family centred interprofessional practice Conference on Family Centred Early Childhood Intervention. Elisabeth/Sipo, Luxembourg 9th March 2018 – invited keynote
- Promoting children’s right to make choices and well-being in restricted environments, at BECERA annual conference Creativity and Critical Thinking in the Early Years, Birmingham 20th February 2018
- Promoting children’s right to make choices and well-being in restricted environments, Workshop at BCU Health Conference ‘Creative Caring, 27th January 2018
- Developing inclusive practice for children and families with diverse histories in the current socio-political-cultural context, Newham Annual Early Years Conference on Learning With Limits, 8th January 2018, UEL, Stratford Campus, London – invited keynote
Media Work
BLACKBURN, C. (2018) Promoting children’s well-being, right to make choices and engage in playful activities in restricted environments through music and singing BERA Blog
BLACKBURN, C. (2018) Engagement approaches for young children in the early years foundation stage
MORTON, K. (2017) Parents experience lack of support for premature children
BLACKBURN, C. (2017) Communicative Musicality Early Years Podcast
BLACKBURN C(2016) Did you know that more babies are conceived at Christmas My Baba
BLACKBURN, C. (2015) Researching with young and developmentally young children: ethical considerations, dilemmas and compromises BERA Blog
PORTER, E. (2013) Hidden needs: FASD Interview with Carolyn Blackburn and Barry Carpenter. Special Children, Vol: 212 pp 18-19