Nicola Watson

Senior Lecturer

Children and Families

Contact Details

email: n.watson@worc.ac.uk
tel: 01905 542780

Having majored in Philosophy in her first degree, Nicola went on to train as a solicitor working predominantly in the area of family law and mental health. During this period Nicola became interested in Alternative Dispute Resolution and trained as a Lawyer Mediator working for many years with separating couples; enabling and facilitating them to reach agreements themselves rather than resorting to court proceedings.

In 2001 Nicola returned to teaching working mainly in Early Years but also in the primary sector. As a teacher, Nicola drew upon her experiences as a mediator to support children to manage conflicts and social relationships This formed the basis of her dissertation during her M.A. studies.

Nicola feels passionately about promoting the interests of the least powerful in society, protecting the environment and non-human animals.

Qualifications

M.A. Early Childhood Education (Sheffield University)
CPE (Diploma in Law) (Staffordshire University)
Law Society Finals (Wolverhampton University)
Modern Studies B.A. (Hons) (North Staffordshire Polytechnic)
PGCE Primary Education (West Midlands College of Higher Education)
PGCE S.E.N. (Middlesex University)
PGCE HE (Worcester University)

Teaching & Research

Teaching Interests

Child development – optimising voice and agency
Advocating for others
Creativity in education
Children and literacy
Enabling environments for adults and children

Research Interests

Optimising agency in education – minimising imbalances of power
Supporting social and emotional development in children

Professional Bodies

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Publications

Solvason, C., Hodgkins, A. & Watson N. (2021). Preparing students for the ‘emotion work’ of early years practice. NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 23(1), pp. 14 – 23.

Watson, Nicola (2020) In praise of creativity. Early Years Educator, 22 (6). pp. 21-23.

Watson, Nicola (2020) What happens next? Early Years Educator, 22 (5). pp. 22-24.

Watson, Nicola (2020) Deep and Meaningful. Early Years Educator, 22 (4). pp. 21-23.

Watson, Nicola (2020) Identifying Opportunities. Early Years Educator, 22 (3). pp. 21-23.

Watson, N. (2018) An Evaluation of a workshops-based intervention designed to develop the confidence of women students in managing communications with parents and carers. Worcester Learning and Teaching Journal. 12 pp.31-52

Watson, N. (2018) A Unique Child: By Choice. Nursery World, 2018 (1). pp. 30-31. ISSN 0029-6422

Watson, N. (2017) In the Moment. Nursery World, 2017 (19). pp. 26-27. ISSN 0029-6422

Watson, N. (2017) Can Early Years’ Practitioners Facilitate Social Development During Conflicts Between Young Children? NZ International Research in Early Childhood Education Journal, 21 (1). pp. 17-34. ISSN 2537-7191

Hodgkins, A. and Watson, N. (2017) Chapter 2: Learning to Learn in an H.E. Context, in Studying for your Early Years Degree, (Musgrave, Savin-Baden & Stobbs, Eds) Critical Publishing

Watson, N. (2014) Looking for trouble Every Child Journal 4(2) pp 44-52

Conference presentations

Symposium at EECERA Conference Budapest Hungary August 2018 ‘Voice, power and emotion: the challenges of practitioner- parent partnerships’

Keynote Presentation at UW CfCF Partnership Conference June 2018 ‘A Woman’s Place in Early Years Education and Care’

Workshop at the UW CfCF Partnership Conference June 2017 ‘What can I say? Managing difficult conversations with parents’

Workshop at the UW CfCF Partnership Conference June 2016 ‘Finding a voice as a new researcher’

Presentation with Angela Hodgkins at the UW CfCF Partnership Conference June 2016 ‘Making our voices heard, children, families and practitioners’.

Presentation of paper at the TACTYC conference held at the NIA Birmingham in October 2015 on supporting young children’s social development during conflicts with peers.