Dr ALICIA BLANCO-BAYO

    Accepting PhD Students

    PhD projects

    Projects on social and emotional development, emotional competence, relational pedagogy-love as an immediate response, assessment cycles in ECEC and SEMH in early childhood.

    20192025

    Research activity per year

    Personal profile

    Biography

    Alicia has dedicated the past 25 years to various roles in education, including Early Years practitioner, FE lecturer, Early Years consultant, Head of Department, and Head of Primary in both national and international settings. 

    Her research explores relational pedagogy, with a particular focus on CARINO as a pedagogical approach during observational assessment in early childhood. Her work examines the spontaneous and immediate loving responses that can occur during assessment, emphasising the role of emotional connections in learning. She is passionate about research-informed practice, particularly in the areas of social and emotional development, mental health (SEMH), emotional competence, and caring approaches to assessment in early childhood. 

    As part of her PhD research, Alicia investigated the moral connection between assessment and emotional development in Early Childhood Education. Her findings highlight how assessment methods can nurture emotional competence and well-being in young children. 

    She actively supports families and Early Years practitioners worldwide, focusing on the importance of observing and understanding emotional responses. Her experiences working with children in small communities across Nepal, India, and Jordan have deeply influenced her research. Committed to equality and social justice, Alicia aims to use her work to create opportunities for children to develop emotional stability and well-being. 

    Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

    In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

    • SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    • SDG 4 - Quality Education
    • SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities

    Education/Academic qualification

    Education and Social Justice, PhD, '“CARIÑO IS THE PEDAGOGY”: Assessing 4-year-olds whilst making sense of their behaviours An analysis of policy and practice', Lancaster University

    Award Date: 30 Jun 2022

    Other positions

    External Examiner, Middlesex University

    1 Sept 202431 Aug 2028

    Keywords

    • L Education
    • Early Childhood Education
    • Relational pedagogy
    • Assessment
    • Social, emotional and mental health difficulties
    • Emotional competence
    • love in ECEC
    • Carino as a pedagogical approach

    Research Centres

    • International Centre for Early Years Education

    Research Groups

    • Children's Rights and Wellbeing Research Network
    • Inequalities, Health & Wellbeing
    • Early Years, Families and Communities
    • Philosophy, Values, Ethics & World Views

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