Geraldine French
Qualifications
B.A. Psychology,
M.A. Psychology,
Currently studying for a Doctorate in Education (EdD) at St Patrick’s
Research Interests
Evaluating professional practice in early childhood education settings, in relation to quality and early learning , particularly in areas where children live with the injustice of poverty.
Families’ (with young children) experiences of poverty and social isolation.
Pedagogy in early childhood settings, particularly in relation to pedagogical interactions.
Publications
French, G. (2008). Supporting Quality: Guidelines for Professional Practice in Early Childhood Services, Book I Policy and Governance and Book 2 Enhancing Children’s Learning and Development (3rd ed), funded by Pobal, commissioned and published by the Barnardos Training and Resources Service, Dublin: Barnardos
French, G. (2008). Manual for delivery of the Early Childhood Care and Education Services, the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI), Tallaght West with Dr. Nick Axford, commissioned by the Childhood Development Initiative funded by the Office of the Minister for Children and Atlantic Philanthropies
French, G. (2007). Background paper on Children’s Early Learning and Development to inform Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework commissioned and published by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA),
French, G. (2006). Valuing Community Playgroups: Lessons for Policy and Practice. In Murphy, R. (ed) Exploring Children’s Lives: a Handbook of Educational Research. Early Childhood Research Unit, University College Cork in collaboration with OMEP Ireland, pp. 139-152
French, G. & Murphy, P. (2006). Once in a Lifetime: Child Care and Education for Children from Birth to Three.
French, G. (2003). Supporting Quality: Guidelines for Best Practice in Early Childhood Services, (2nd edn).
French, G. (2001). Assuring Quality: Manual of Assessment for Community Employment Projects Providing Early Childhood Services.
French, G. (2000). Supporting Parents: Parenting Programmes provided in the Eastern Region (2000) commissioned and published by Barnardos/Northern Area Health Board/East Coast Area Health Board/South Western Area Health Board
French, G. (2000). Towards Best Practice in Parenting Education, commissioned and published by Barnardos/Northern Area Health Board/East Coast Area Health Board/South Western Area Health Board
French, G. (2000). Supporting Quality: Guidelines for Best Practice in Early Childhood Services,
Research publications
French, G. (2006). Learning from Families: Policies and Practices to Combat Social Exclusion amongst Families with Children under Five, Irish National Report (2006) Transnational Exchange Programme within the Community Action Programme to Combat Social Exclusion, European Commission (2002-2006) commissioned by Home-Start National Office, Ireland
French, G. (2005). Valuing Community Playgroups: Lessons for Policy and Practice, a three year formative evaluation of the Community Playgroup Initiative, 2000 – 2004, commissioned and published by the Katharine Howard Foundation and the then South Eastern Health Board
French, G. (2005). Learning from Families: Policies and Practices to Combat Social Exclusion amongst Families with Children under Five, Transnational Report. Transnational Exchange Programme within the Community Action Programme to Combat Social Exclusion, European Commission (2002-2006) commissioned and published by Home-Start International
French, G. (2004). Evaluation of Barnardos Childcare Development and Support Initiative supported by the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme of the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform (2003 - 2004) commissioned by Barnardos for Area Development Management
French, G. (2002). Tackling Social Exclusion in Families with Young Children, the Final Report of a Transnational Exchange Programme under the Preparatory Measures to Prevent and Combat Social Exclusion supported by the European Commission, commissioned by Home-Start National Office,
Papers published in conference proceedings
French, G. & Zappone K. (2007). Childhood Development Initiative, Developing Quality Services, Conference Proceedings, Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education’s Conference, Vision into Practice,
French, G. (2005). Valuing Community Playgroups: Lessons for Policy and Practice Conference Proceedings, Organisation Mondiale l’Education de Prescolaire (OMEP), Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Education and Care, Conference held in St. Patrick’s College,
French, G. (2002). Problem-solving in High/Scope: an Early Years Educational Approach, in the WorldForum 2001 Proceedings, National Children's Resource Centre, Barnardos and the International Forum for Child Welfare, pp. 111-113
Commissioned publications
Glossary for Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, commissioned and published by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in 2009,
Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education (2007) Research Digests on Standards of Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, Workshop Materials, commissioned by the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education (CECDE),
Analysis of needs
French, G. (2001). Supporting Children and Families: planning a service development for Killinarden, Tallaght commissioned by Barnardos,
Strategic plans
Barnardos Childcare Development and Support Initiative Strategic Plan 2004-2006 supported by the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme submitted to the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform and ADM Ltd (2003)
Preparation of the Barnardos Childcare Development and Support Initiative Action Plans 2004 and Annual Report 2003 supported by the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme submitted to the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform and ADM Ltd (2003)
Review of childcare practice of the St Andrew’s Resource Centre, contributing to the Centre Review and Strategic Plan for the Child Care Centre with Brian Kenny, Barnardos (2000)
Articles
Article on Supporting Quality in Early Childhood Services, in ChildLinks, Winter 2003 - Childcare in Disadvantaged Communities, National Children's Resource Centre, Barnardos
Paper on Principles of Best Practice in Parent Education, in ChildLinks, Spring 2002, National Children's Resource Centre, Barnardos
Key note addresses
Conference Supporting Quality, hosted by Barnardos, for practitioners, and county childcare committees, on Sept 24th 2009, focussed on the pursuance of quality early childhood education and practice drawing from national developments such as Síolta (CECDE, 2006), Aistear, NCCA Framework for Early Learning
Delivering a Quality Service conference for childcare practitioners in Tallaght West on the Early Childhood Care and Education Service and Enhancing Quality Programme for existing providers, An Cosán, Sept 19th, 2006
Childcare Seminar of the Childcare Network Loch Garman, Celebrating Children, on 'Supporting Children to be Themselves', Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford, 23rd April, 2003
National Conference of Pre School Officers, Pre School Inspection Service, on 'What is Quality in Early Year's Services',
Presentations at conferences
Kilkenny County Childcare Committee’s annual Conference, held in Kilkenny city on the 17th October, 2009. Presentation and workshop entitled Supporting Quality.
Barnardos Conference Tomorrow’s Child, 5th November 2008, held in
Home-Start International conferences: Brussels 26th Jan, 2006; Cork 15-18th June 2005; London 25 – 28th February 2005; Greece 19 – 22nd September, 2004; Hungary 25-28th May, 2004; London 28-31st Jan 2004 on Learning from Families, Policies and Practices to Combat Social Exclusion amongst Families with Children under Five
European Early Childhood Educational Research Association (EECERA),
Organisation Mondiale l’Education de Prescolaire (OMEP) Conference, St. Patrick’s College,
South Eastern Health Board and the Katharine Howard Foundation, Community Playgroups in the South East: Exploring Issues, Present and Future, Wednesday 27 October 2004, New Park Hotel, Kilkenny
Delivery of workshops at the High/Scope Ireland Annual Conference, Active Learning Today Active Citizenship Tomorrow, Great Southern Dublin Airport Hotel, 28th February 2003
Delivery of a workshop 'Observing Children and it's Impact on Planning' at the Childcare Network, Loch Garman's, Childcare Seminar, Celebrating Children, Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford, 23rd April, 2003
Delivery of a workshop on Problem-solving in High/Scope: an Early Years Educational Approach in the WorldForum 2001, National Children's Resource Centre, Barnardos and the International Forum for Child Welfare
Main training events
Daughters of Charity early childhood services (1st September 2009) training day entitled Exploring Observation and Assessment for Early Learning: What? Why? How?
Design and Delivery of the Knocknaheeny Quality Enhancement Programme for Barnardos in
The delivery of the High/Scope Curriculum Implementation Course to the Waterford Area Partnership (2002-2003) and Cluster Group training (5 sessions) for those who completed in 2004 on behalf of High/Scope Ireland
The delivery and completion (including site visits) of the High/Scope Curriculum Implementation Course to Barnardos' early years staff (2001 - 2002), and to the staff in Rainbow House, An Cosán, Tallaght, Dublin (2001 - 2003)
Curriculum development and delivery of Stage1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 training, followed by site implementation visits on the Quality Assurance Programme, 'Assuring Quality in Community Employment Projects Providing Early Childhood Services' on behalf of the National Children's Resource Centre (NCRC) at Barnardos, commissioned by FAS (2001 - 2002)
Contact name: Geraldine French, email: geraldine.french@dit.ie, room: 325, phone: 4196
