Dr Naomi McLeod
School of Education
Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies
Email: N.J.McLeod@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 5370
I started my career as an early years and Key Stage 1 teacher in the North West of England. For many years I led Early Childhood Studies and the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Early Years Teacher Education programme at Liverpool Hope University. Most recently I am at Liverpool John Moores University teaching across Early Childhood and Education Studies and I lead the MA in International Approaches to Early Childhood Education. My doctorate focused on developing pedagogical participation for young children, and critical reflection as a tool for Continued Professional Development for early childhood educators across the sector. This focus on valuing children as agents of change and the need for reflexivity, continues to be a research interest evident in my published work and in the working partnerships I’ve developed with educators and creative professionals in the field of early years, creativity and participation. Most recently, I am the editor of ’Empowering Early Childhood Educators: International Pedagogy as Provocation’ (2019). I am currently leading a team of co-authors writing a book entitled ‘Global Perspectives of Early Childhood Education’ which is dues to be published in 2021.
Degrees
University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, Ed.D, Early Childhood Education
University of Liverpool,, United Kingdom, M.Sc, Education
University of Liverpool (St Katharine’s College) (Now Liverpool Hope University), united Kingdom, B.Ed Honours, University of Liverpool (St Katharine’s College
Certifications
Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy, (SFHEA)
Academic appointments
Programme Lead for MA International Approaches to ECE / Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, Education Health and Community, Liverpool John Moores University, 2015 - present
Chapters
McLeod N, Ärlemalm-Hagsér E, Boyd D, Assunção Folque M, Kahriman D. 2023. Building knowledge and competence to promote sustainability in early childhood education – four European case studies Young Children and the Environment: Early Learning for Sustainability
Boyd D, McLeod N. 2021. Using an arts based, flexible approach to evaluate student’s interconnected learning of education for sustainability in Early Childhood. Filho WL, Salvia AL, Frankenberger F. Teaching and Sustainable Development: using the transformative power of teaching to raise awareness on sustainable development and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Edward Elgar Publishing. UK
Giardiello P, Karlsson Häikiö T, Härkönen U, Lohilahti L, McLeod N. 2019. A Finnish perspective of early childhood education Empowering Early Childhood Educators :138-154 Routledge DOI Publisher Url
McLeod N, Karlsson Häikiö T. 2019. Democracy and participation in early childhood education Empowering Early Childhood Educators :63-92 Routledge DOI Publisher Url
McLeod N, Giardiello P. 2019. The purpose of education today Empowering Early Childhood Educators :11-35 Routledge DOI Publisher Url
McLeod N, Giardiello P. 2019. Afterword Empowering Early Childhood Educators :244-245 Routledge DOI Publisher Url
McLeod N, Karlsson Häikiö T, Mårtensson P. 2019. Hope for the future Empowering Early Childhood Educators :222-243 Routledge DOI Publisher Url
McLeod N, Giardiello P. 2019. Introduction Empowering Early Childhood Educators :1-8 Routledge DOI Publisher Url
McLeod NJ. 2016. Education as a philosophical endeavour. In: Philosophy for children in teacher education: Creating the conditions for learning Routledge 978-1-315-64031-0
Rodrigues S, McLeod NJ. 2014. The Reflective Teacher Handbook for Teacher Education Rotterdam: Sense Publishers 978-94-6209-693-6
Ng W, Murphy C, Mccullagh J, Doherty A, Mcleod N. 2014. Developing Reflective Practice Handbook for Teacher Educators :33-48 SensePublishers DOI Publisher Url
Giardiello P, Parr E, Mcleod N, Redman C. 2014. Understanding Pedagogy Handbook for Teacher Educators :15-32 SensePublishers DOI Publisher Url
Books (authored)
McLeod N, Okon E, Garrison D, Boyd D, Daly A. 2023. Global Perspectives of Early Childhood Education: valuing local cultures McLeod N, Daly A. Sage. London
McLeod N, Okon E, Garrison D, Boyd D, Daly A. 2023. Global Perspectives of Early Childhood Education: valuing local cultures McLeod N, Daly A. Sage. London
McLeod N, Giardiello P. 2019. Empowering Early Childhood Educators: International Pedagogies as Provocation. McLeod N, Giardiello P. Routledge
McLeod N, Giardiello P. 2019. Empowering Early Childhood Educators: International Pedagogies as Provocation. McLeod N, Giardiello P. Routledge
Journal article
McLeod N, Stockell K, Astbury E, McCann J. 2020. Nurturing young children’s self-identity and respect for difference through artwork as a provocation using philosophical enquiry: a pilot study Early Years: an international journal of research and development, :1-16 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
McLeod N, Anderson B. 2019. Towards an understanding of ‘school’ readiness: collective interpretations and priorities Educational Action Research, :1-19 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
McLeod NJ, N Wright D, McCall K, Fuji FM, McLeod NJ. 2017. Visual rhythms: facilitating young children’s creative engagement at Tate Liverpool European Early Childhood Educational Research Journal., 26 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
McLeod N. 2015. Reflecting on reflection: improving teachers’ readiness to facilitate participatory learning with young children Professional Development in Education, 41 :254-272 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
McLeod N. 2011. Exploring Early Years educators' ownership of language and communication knowledge and skills: a review of key policy and initial reflections onEvery Child a Talkerand its implementation Education 3-13, 39 :429-445 DOI Publisher Url
Poster
Gallard D, Daly A, Wood P, McLeod N. 2016. Transitions for people alongside process: the journey of SPARK to Open Journal. LJMU Teaching and Learning Conference.
External committees:
University of Bolton, External Examiner for MA Global Educational Leadership and MA Inclusive Education Practice (New York College Athens and Thessaloniki), External Examiner. 2025
ECDN, Early Childhood Degree Network Sustainability Working Group. 2021
Hope One World (Charity), Trustee, Hope One World (Charity), http://www.hopeoneworld.org.uk/. 2017
Knowsley Children's Centres, Emeritus Board Member for the Advisory Board for Children’s Centres in Knowsley, Advisory Board for Children’s Centres in Knowsley. 2010
Knowsley LA Children's Centres, Emeritus Board Member for the Advisory Board for Children’s Centres in Knowsley - with a focus on research informing practice. Ongoing, Advisory Board for Children’s Centres in Knowsley. 2010
Conference presentation:
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, CERES Research Seminar, Interconnected Learning of Education for Sustainability in Early Childhood Education. 2021
Oral presentation, Liverpool Hope University, Hope EECERA Holistic Well-being SIG Debates in child and family well-being, Towards a collective understanding of ‘school’ readiness: Collective interpretations and priorities. 2018
Oral presentation, Crowne Plaza, LJMU EHC Research Conference, Nurturing young children’s sense of self through artwork as a provocation and philosophical enquiry. 2018
Oral presentation, Bologna, Italy, European Early Childhood Educational Research Association, 'Nurturing a sense of self in young children through artwork as a provocation for philosophical enquiry'. 2017
Oral presentation, Dublin University, European Early Childhood Educational Research Association, Visual rhythms: Facilitating young children’s creative engagement at Tate Liverpool. 2017
Oral presentation, Liverpool Hope University, ‘Young People in a changing world: Action, Agency and Participation’ conference’, 'Nurturing a sense of self in young children through artwork as a provocation for philosophical enquiry' Initial findings. 2016
Oral presentation, Tate Liverpool, International Journal of Arts and Education (iJADE) conference, Patterns and Rhythms: Facilitating Young children’s creative engagement at Tate Liverpool. 2014
Oral presentation, Istanbul university, European Conference for Educational Research (ECER), Evoking New Ways of Seeing Through Creative Hermeneutic Methods: Working With Teachers to Improve Participatory Teaching with Young Children. 2013
Oral presentation, Cadiz University Spain, European Conference for Educational Research (ECER), A fresh take on Reflection: Working with Teachers to improve Participatory Practice with Young Children. 2012
Oral presentation, Liverpool Hope University, Writing Development in Higher Education (WDHE), How can an examination provide opportunities for reflection?. 2012
Oral presentation, University of Cambridge, Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN), Evoking new ways of seeing and being: personal reflections on emancipatory and transformational action learning through creative hermeneutic approaches. 2010
Oral presentation, Belfast University, Northern Ireland, Enhancing Practice: Creating innovative, creative and strategic healthcare, social care and education practice’, ‘The experience of transformational learning and critically creative action to build research capacity’. 2010
Oral presentation, Royal College of Nursing, London, Writing Development in Higher Education, Reflection through recording. 2010
Other Professional Activity:
Review of Journal Article Role of Art Programs in Young Children’s Social-Emotional Learning" for European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. 2021
Review for European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. ‘The Creativity Has No End: Learning from the Lillian de Lissa & Belgravia Children’s Centre".. 2020
PhD supervision completion: Thesis entitled: ‘Beyond Words: Engaging young children and families in gallery education’ March 2020. 2020
Review of Journal Article for European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. The role of the medium for verbal engagement: Shared reading in groups with books and apps in Norwegian ECEC institutions. 2020
Peer Review Journal Article: Review for European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. ‘The Creativity Has No End: Learning from the Lillian de Lissa & Belgravia Children’s Centre".
Peer Review of Journal Article: Review for European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. Mannuscript entitles A Comparison of Montessori and Traditionally Schooled Nursery Children on Social Skills and Creativity.
Peer Review of Journal Article: Review of manuscript, entitled "The Test Of Creative Imagination: Making The Test Suitable To The 5-6-Year-Old Age Group" for European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. (Nov 2016).
Reviewer for Early Childhood Research Journal “Is there a home advantage in school readiness for young children? Trends in parent engagement in cognitive activities with young children”.
Reviewer for Early Childhood Research Journal ''Experiences of teacher reflection: Reggio Inspired Practice in the Studio”.
Reviewer for Early Childhood Research Journal Maslow’s Hierarchy Applied to Early Childhoo.
Reviewer for Early Childhood Research Journal "Collaborative Practices of Pre School Children in Mathematical Tasks” (2015).
Routledge book proposal review by Gilbert Burgh and Simone Thornton entitled Philosophical Inquiry with Children: An Australian history dedicated to creating an inquiring society. (Nov, 2016).
Research Grants Awarded:
Grant value (£): £2000, Internal QR Research Fund, Insights into how positive relationships (through valuing personal, social and emotional development) can enhance Early Childhood Education and Care for children in rural Ghana. 2020
Grant value (£): £1000, Curriculum Enhancement Internship Faculty funding, (Evaluating) Quality Approaches to Early Childhood Education and Care in Ghana. 2019
Duration of research project: January - July 2016, Grant value (£): £10,000, FREE funding (Faculty Research and Enterprise Excellence) (Successful), Kathy Stokell – ITE LJMU Liz Astbury – Early Years ITE LJMU Katy McCall – Early Years and Families curator at Tate Liverpool Julie McCann – Philosophy 4 Children – School Improvement, Liverpool, Nurturing a sense of self in young children through artwork as a provocation for philosophical enquiry.. 2016
Duration of research project: 7 months, Grant value (£): £10,000, FREE Funding (Faculty Research and Enterprise Excellence), Naomi McLeod – Early Childhood Studies LJMU Kathy Stokell – ITE LJMU Liz Astbury – Early Years ITE LJMU Katy McCall – Early Years and Families curator at Tate Liverpool Julie McCann – Philosophy 4 Children – School Improvement, Liverpool, Nurturing a sense of self in young children through artwork as a provocation for philosophical enquiry.. 2016
Duration of research project: 2 years, Grant value (£): 3,000, In house Northampton University Research Grant, Eunice Lumsden, University of Northampton, Jackie Musgrave, University of Worcester and Naomi McLeod, Liverpool John Moores University d), closing the attainment gap’ / improving the attainment of disadvantaged children. 2015
Grant value (£): £9,000, Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), Prof Tim Cain, closing the attainment gap’ / improving the attainment of disadvantaged children. 2014
Duration of research project: December 2016, Grant value (£): £4,000, Knowsley Children’s Centres’ Leadership Fund, Babs Anderson, School Readiness: Creating a transition toolkit for Early Years Knowsely LA.. 2013
Duration of research project: 2016, Grant value (£): £10,000, Knowsley Local Authority / Children's Services, Naomi McLeod and Babs Anderson, School Readiness: How can we improve our practice. 2013
Duration of research project: 1 year, Grant value (£): £6,000, Knowsley Chhildren’s Centres’ Leadership Fund, Babs Anderson, School Readiness: How can we improve our practice? (Phase 1) Facilitate 2 Separate collaborative research enquiry projects – one with Halewood and one with Kirkby. 2012
Grant value (£): £12,000, Creative Partnerships and Knowsley LA, Naomi McLeod, Creativity Speaks for Itse. 2006
Duration of research project: 2 years, Grant value (£): £12,000, Creative Partnerships and Knowsley LA, Patricia Giardiello, Babs Anderson, Phase 1 – Creativity Speaks for Itself. 2006
Duration of research project: 1 year, Grant value (£): £1000, edagogical Action Research Grant, Network of Hope and the response by students to LearnWise as a method of learning. 2004
Grant value (£): £1,500, Pedagogical Action Research Grant Liverpool Hope University, Naomi McLeod, Network of Hope and the response by students to LearnWise as a method of learning. 2004
Grant value (£): £2000, LJMU Internal QR Research Fund:, Insights into how positive relationships (through valuing personal, social and emotional development) can enhance Early Childhood Education and Care for children in rural Ghana.
Fellowships:
Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.