Research outcome centers on the effectiveness of a child-centred approach

The Department for Education and Ofsted could learn a lot from this policing and safe-guarding research. NAPE has just published a book about John Coe who spent his life promoting a child-centred approach for a child-centred curriculum.

The first study co-researched by the University of Bedfordshire and the University of Lancashire is called: ‘Child-centred policing in practice: Insights from children and young people’. 'The research explored how police can build trust, listen to children and ensure they have a meaningful voice in encounters with officers. Crucially, the study found that children and young people judge policing as much by how they do things, as what they do'.

'They identified fairness, respect, clear communication, emotional safety and genuine opportunities to be heard as key to building trust. Being listened to meant more than simply being given an opportunity to speak – children wanted their views taken into account, to understand what would happen next, and to receive follow-ups where appropriate'.

Perhaps we should take more account of children's 'meaningful voice' when designing the curriculum for them?

If you want a 'heads-up' on this approach order John Coe's book about his life and in later chapters, what he said and set out to do to transform primary education.