Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Dr Helen Simmons is a Senior Lecturer in Education (Childhood, Youth and Families) at the University of Northampton with almost twenty years of experience in further and higher education. Prior to this, Helen worked in early childhood settings and as a private nanny with very young children.
Helen’s teaching, research, and publications relate to the discipline of Early Childhood Studies, focussing on support for children, families and the early childhood workforce. Helen’s most recent publication, a monograph, based on her doctoral thesis, is titled ‘Surveillance of Modern Motherhood: Experiences of Universal Parenting Courses’ and was published with Palgrave MacMillan in 2020.
Helen is Vice Chair (Policy, Lobbying and Advocacy: National and International) of the Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (ECSDN), an External Examiner for Early Childhood Studies Degrees at Liverpool John Moores University, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Research Interests
Helen is Co-Lead for the 'Families and Communities' Special Interest Group within the Centre for Education and Research. Her research and publications centre on the sociology of childhood, the social and cultural pressures in modern motherhood, and support for a critically reflective early childhood workforce.
Education/Academic qualification
D Prof, Education , University of Derby
2013 → 2019
Award Date: 1 Feb 2019
Master, Education , University of Warwick
2006 → 2008
Award Date: 1 Aug 2008
PGCE, Post Compulsory Education , University of Wolverhampton
2003 → 2004
Award Date: 1 Aug 2004
Bachelor, Childhood Studies, Liverpool John Moores University
1998 → 2001
Award Date: 1 Jul 2001
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Projects
- 1 Finished
-
MotS2: Moving on to School 2
Murray, J. (PI), Simmons, H. (CoI) & Stafford, P. (CoI)
19/10/22 → 30/11/22
Project: Internal Fund › Knowledge Exchange for Better Business
-
‘I spend my whole life worrying’: The experiences of student mothers working in the Early Childhood Sector
Kay Owen & Simmons, H., 2 Jul 2024, In: Student Engagement in Higher Education. 5, 3, p. 86-102 17 p., 8.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Modern Parenting: Ideologies, Identity and Experiences
Christopher Barnes , 1 Nov 2023, Family Relationships in the Early Years. Owen, K. & Barnes, C. (eds.). SAGE Publications Ltd, p. 54-63 11 p.Research output: Contribution to Book/Report › Chapter › peer-review
-
Partnership with Parents in Early Childhood Today
Simmons, H. (Editor) & Thompson, P. (Editor), 25 Apr 2023, London: Learning Matters. 200 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
-
Supporting New Parents: Listening to the Real Experts
Simmons, H., 29 Aug 2023, Parenta , p. 26-27 2 p.Research output: Contribution to Specialist Publication › Bulletin/Magazine
Open AccessFile -
The Guide to Early Childhood Degrees: Advocates of Change
Simmons, H., 1 Oct 2022, Early Years Educator Magazine 2 p.Research output: Contribution to Specialist Publication › Bulletin/Magazine
Open Access -
Surveillance of Modern Motherhood: Experiences of Universal Parenting Courses
Simmons, H., 23 Aug 2020, Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. 176 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
-
The student practitioner as future leader
Simmons, H. M. & Yates, E., 24 Jul 2020, The Student Practitioner in Early Childhood Studies: An Essential Guide to Working with Children. Oates, R. (ed.). 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 17 p.Research output: Contribution to Book/Report › Chapter
-
The Student Practitioner Constructing a Professional Identity
Simmons, H. & Oates, R., 24 Jul 2020, The Student Practitioner in Early Childhood Studies: An Essential Guide to Working with Children . Oates, R. (ed.). 2nd ed. London : Routledge, 20 p.Research output: Contribution to Book/Report › Chapter
Activities
-
The Golden Threads Podcast: Career and Research Stories with the Childhood, Youth and Families (CYF) Team
Simmons, H. (Author), Sturman-Coombs, R. (Author) & Lumsden, E. (Author)
31 Jan 2025Activity: Academic Talks or Presentations › Podcast › Research
-
University of Northampton (Publisher)
Simmons, H. (Reviewer)
14 Jun 2024Activity: Publication Peer-review and Editorial Work › Editorial work › Research
-
The Golden Threads Podcast: Career and Research Stories with the Childhood, Youth and Families (CYF) Team
Simmons, H. (Author), Sturman-Coombs, R. (Author) & Spencer, C. (Author)
10 Jul 2024Activity: Academic Talks or Presentations › Podcast › Research
-
Centre for Education and Research 'Summer Programme 2024'
Murray, J. (Organiser), Devecchi, C. (Organiser), Richardson, T. (Organiser), Meechan, D. (Organiser), Simmons, H. (Participant), Stafford, P. (Participant), Brooking, S. (Participant), Lambert, L. (Participant), Rossetti, D. (Participant), Westley, L. (Participant), Lodge, U. (Participant), Preston, N. (Participant) & Chapman, S. (Participant)
5 Jun 2024 → 2 Jul 2024Activity: Organising a conference or workshop › Enterprise
File -
The Golden Threads
Simmons, H. (Speaker), Sturman-Coombs, R. (Speaker) & Thomas, E. (Speaker)
5 Feb 2024Activity: Academic Talks or Presentations › Podcast › Research
-
Association for Infant Mental Health and Wellbeing (External organisation)
Simmons, H. (Member)
1 May 2024Activity: Membership of a Board, Committee, Council or Network › Membership of network › Enterprise
-
Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network (Publisher)
Simmons, H. (Reviewer)
6 Jun 2024Activity: Publication Peer-review and Editorial Work › Editorial work › Research
-
Advocating for Early Childhood Studies: A Participatory Action Research Project
Simmons, H. (Speaker), Twigg, E. (Speaker) & Jones, C. (Speaker)
26 Jan 2024Activity: Academic Talks or Presentations › Conference Presentation › Research