Research Groups

The Institute of Childhood and Education (ICE) brings together work in teacher education and areas relating to childhood and the experiences of families particularly as they relate to young people. ICE contributes to the education and wellbeing of children, families, learners and professionals - both inside and outside of the school system by:

• providing excellent professional and academic education programmes that focus on the needs of schools and other institutions in Leeds, West Yorkshire and beyond;
• exchanging knowledge with fellow professionals, organisations and agencies to contribute and enrich our academic expertise, and creating knowledge through research;
• promoting and practising inclusion;
• collaborating with individuals and organisations that share our values, to build resilience, enhance practice, extend knowledge and widen horizons.

ICE’s research strategy has focused on building capacity to conduct applied research that is valued by our partners, particularly around broad themes of social inclusion and education, with a clear focus on achieving impact.

Teaching in the Institute is organised into the departments of Children, Young People and Families, and Teacher Education. Within these two departments strategic research themes have been further developed through interdisciplinary collaborations between ICE staff with different academic backgrounds creating a sustainable focus for debate and exploration of issues, and thereby contributing to the vitality of the research environment. This strategy has involved wider networking with other academics in the region and beyond thereby maximising opportunities for regional collaborations which make the most of national resources. The Institute’s research and knowledge exchange expertise is focused on three broad areas of Social Inclusion, Education and Philosophy Ethics and Religion.