Books published by Open University Press

This book brings together key themes in Childhood Studies to provide an accessible yet scholarly introduction for students and practitioners.

Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology is a vital resource for students new to qualitative psychology. It explains when each qualitative research method should be used, the procedures and techniques involved, and any limitations associated with such research. Throughout the new edition, material has been re-organized and updated to reflect developments in the field, while Carla Willig's style of writing, popular with students and lecturers alike, remains unchanged.Key features of the new edition include: .Two new chapters, one on metasynthesis and one on pluralism in qualitative research .A broadening the Visual Methodologies chapter to include other non-linguistic methods of data collection that engage with the physical environment, such as the walking interview and object elicitation.Information and analysis on innovative dissemination methods such as performances and exhibitions.Expanded coverage of the core question, "What makes qualitative research 'research'?", including clear explanations of the key tenets of the scientific method .'But it's not as simple as all that' boxes at the end of each chapter, where more complex issues, theoretical critiques and conceptual challenges are raised.This title is supported by an Online Learning Centre, which includes an array of extra resources for both students and instructors."This book is a vital resource and a valuable reference, both for those new to research and for those looking to further develop their skills and knowledge of qualitative research in psychology."Nollaig Frost, Adjunct Professor, School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland"This exceptionally well-written text deserves a place in every psychology researcher's toolkit, regardless of their career stage."Benjamin Gardner, Reader in Social Psychology, King's College London, UK"Readers of this text will find it to be accessible and comprehensive. It will enable many people to become confident in conducting their own qualitative research." Alex Bridger, Senior Lecturer in Critical Social Psychology, University of Huddersfield, UKCarla Willig is Professor of Psychology at City, University of London, UK. She is the author of numerous bestselling books for Psychology students and is widely admired for her friendly, practical approach to writing and to teaching.

This practical text offers the ideal introduction to the economic techniques used in public health.

The SPSS Survival Manual throws a lifeline to students and researchers grappling with this powerful data analysis software

The original Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First by Tom Kitwood was published by Open University Press in 1997. It was a seminal text in the field of dementia studies and is still cited and referenced as core reading on person-centred dementia care. Tom died unexpectedly, just 12 months after the book was published. This book continues to inspire many people to challenge simplistic paradigms about dementia. Since the original book was written, however, there have been many changes in our understanding of dementia.The editor of this new edition, Dawn Brooker was mentored by Tom Kitwood. She has drawn together a remarkable group of writers to provide a commentary on Kitwood's work. This new edition reproduces the original chapters but provides extra content from subject experts to update the book to a contemporary level.Dementia Reconsidered Re-visited is an ideal main text or supplementary text for all those studying or working in nursing, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy, social work, adult education, gerontology and health and social care more generally."This important book does three things. It brings to a new generation the insight and vision of Tom Kitwood. It highlights the remarkable progress we have made in recent years. But most important of all it reminds us what still needs to be done if we are to fully respect the rights of people with dementia and their family care-givers. Kitwood inspired Alzheimer's Society to knit together research, care, and societal change. We are now re-inspired to make sure all progress is evidenced and evaluated for its impact. We must realise the enormous opportunities the digital age offers people affected by dementia but in doing so constantly listen to and learn from their many and varied voices across nations and cultures."Jeremy Hughes CBE, Chief Executive, Alzheimer's Society, UK

Are you confused by the feedback you get from your academic teachers and mentors?This clear and accessible guide to decoding academic feedback will help you interpret what your lecturer or research supervisor is really trying to tell you about your writing—and show you how to fix it. It will help you master a range of techniques and strategies to take your writing to the next level and along the way you’ll learn why academic text looks the way it does, and how to produce that ‘authoritative scholarly voice’ that everyone talks about. This book is an easy-to-use resource for postgraduate students and researchers in all disciplines, and even professional academics, to diagnose their writing issues and find ways to fix them. This book would also be a valuable text for academic writing courses and writing groups, such as those offered in doctoral and Master''s by research degree programmes.''Whether they have writing problems or not, every academic writer will want this handy compendium of effective strategies and sound explanations on their book shelf—it’s a must-have.''Pat Thomson, Professor of Education, University of Nottingham, UK

The second edition of Positive Psychology features ground-breaking evidence and thinking on the topics of happiness, flow, optimism, motivation and more. Discover how to increase happiness levels, what obstacles to flourishing affect our day-to-day lives and how to apply positive psychology to diverse professional disciplines. The authors map the key positive psychology interventions available and discuss their merits with an emphasis on practice and evaluation. Ilona Boniwell and Aneta Tunariu skilfully combine a breadth of information about positive psychology with reflective questions, critical commentary and up-to-date research. Written in a witty, engaging and contemporary manner, this new edition includes: . Chapter summaries to help you check your understanding and speed up your revision. Experiments boxes to highlight research methodologies and contextualize the latest psychological findings. Personal development exercises to enhance your skills in wellbeing . Review questions to test your knowledge. Suggested resources to make your study time more efficient. Time out boxes to highlight key concepts and thinkers . Think about it boxes to develop your critical thinking skills. Measurement tools to introduce you to current thinking and debates . Mock essay questions to help you practise for your exam. Further reflection topics to delve deeper. Links to media materials within as well as beyond the typical academic literature. End of chapter quizzes to help you check your understandingPositive Psychology is essential reading for students taking modules in positive psychology and wellbeing; will be of interest to students of applied, coaching and sports psychology; and can help develop practising psychologists, coaches, counsellors and researchers interested in this burgeoning field of mental wellbeing and human happiness."A highly recommended resource for teaching and studying positive psychology. Up-to-date, incorporating both the history and the latest developments in this field. Very clearly laid out, with key topics and concepts explained well along with practical learning activities for the use in classroom and/or for students' individual learning."Vanessa King, MAPP (UPenn), Board Member Action for Happiness

Develops an approach to professional learning that has motivated teachers and resulted in improvements in student learning, for students who traditionally underachieve in school. This book identifies the shifts that need to happen for the power of professional learning to be realized in promoting student engagement, learning and well-being.

A new edition of a classic text in the philosophy of science illuminating the major developments in the field.

This book presents early childhood students and staff with a broad and diverse range of teaching techniques to support children's learning. It examines 26 techniques ranging from simple ones, such as describing and listening, to more complex methods, such as deconstruction and scaffolding.The strategies selected are derived from the best current research knowledge about how young children learn. A detailed evaluation of each strategy enables childcare staff, early childhood teachers and students to expand their repertoire of teaching strategies and to critically evaluate their own teaching in early childhood settings.Vignettes and examples show how early childhood staff use the techniques to support children's learning and help to bring the discussion of each technique to life. Revised and updated in light of the latest research, new features include:* Coverage of the phonics debate* Addition of ICT content* Questions for further discussion* Revision to the chapter on problem solving* Updated referencing throughoutTeaching Young Children is key reading for students and experienced early childhood staff working in diverse settings with young children.

This book focuses on the issues facing practising clinicians wishing to engage in research. It outlines approaches involving both clients and other professionals in the research and argues for approaches that combine an exploration of the experience as well as the effectiveness of therapies.

A collection of over sixty extracts from classic works on the philosophy of social science. It highlights the work of some of the influential authors who have shaped social science.

"Rik Cheston is one of the pioneers of psychotherapy in dementia. This book integrates his clinical expertise and research, and is brought vividly to life by Rik's personal reflections and case examples drawn from his vast experience [...] this book will be one that I keep coming back to and share."Dr Emma Wolverson, Clinical Psychologist, Senior Lecturer in Ageing and Dementia, Research Lead Dementia, UK"This is a thoughtful and, at times, provocative book, providing knowledge and insights from theoretical and practical perspectives [...] Cheston has set out to challenge you; which he does extremely well."Professor Ian Andrew James, Innovations Team, CNTW NHS Trust and honorary professor at the University of Bradford, UK"In this brilliant and timely book, Richard Cheston [...] draws upon [...] over 30 years of insightful clinical practice to discuss not only psychotherapy but a whole lot more. The book is lucidly written so can be valuable not only to specialists but to anyone whose work or personal life brings them into contact with dementia. Actually, that's most of us."Tom Dening, Professor of Dementia Research, Mental Health & Clinical Neurosciences, University of Nottingham, UK"This is a clear, accessible and beautifully written legacy of psychotherapeutic endeavour in dementia care [...] This book is a seminal text for all who are committed to continually improving their practice in person-centred dementia care."Esme Moniz-Cook Professor Emerita (Clinical Psychology, Ageing and Dementia Care), University of Hull, UK. Founder Chair, now board member INTERDEM There is little opportunity for people living with dementia to talk about their experiences and what is happening to them. This often makes it harder for them to adjust to, and to accept, the diagnosis. Dementia and Psychotherapy Reconsidered introduces a new and distinctive way of thinking about dementia. Each of the four sections is augmented with examples from the author's 30 years of clinical and research experience and offers an accessible approach from mainstream psychotherapeutic and psychological frameworks that:. Places dementia into a psychological context of loss, threat and change. Addresses the research and clinical evidence underpinning psychotherapy; whether this is delivered to individuals, couples or groups. Sets out a model of adjustment to dementia and outlines how talking about dementia needs to be tailored to the stage of change. Explores how psychotherapy and counselling can be adapted to accommodate the client's cognitive changes and why we need to acknowledge that talking about dementia is not always possible or desirable Dementia and Psychotherapy Reconsidered is applicable not only to psychotherapists and counsellors, but to clinicians and families who are supporting people living with dementia post-diagnosis and want to find new ways of talking about their experiences.The Reconsidering Dementia Series is an interdisciplinary series published by Open University Press that covers contemporary issues to challenge and engage readers in thinking deeply about the topic. The dementia field has developed rapidly in its scope and practice over the past ten years and books in this series will unpack not only what this means for the student, academic and practitioner, but also for all those affected by dementia.Series Editors: Dr Keith Oliver and Professor Dawn Brooker MBE.Richard Cheston worked as a Clinical Psychologist in the NHS before becoming Professor of Dementia Research at the University of the West of England, UK in 2012.

"The book will form a solid foundation to support the transition of students into the world of work or further research."Professor Jane M Binner, Chair of Finance, Department of Finance, University of Birmingham, UK"In over 20 years of teaching quantitative methods, I have rarely come across a book such as this which meets/exceeds all the expectations of its intended audience so well"Tuan Yu, Lecturer, Kent Business School, Canterbury, UK"This is a fantastic book for anyone wanting to understand, learn and apply quantitative methods in finance using R" Professor Raphael Markellos, Professor of Finance, Norwich Business School, UKQuantitative Methods in Finance Using R draws on the extensive teaching and research expertise of John Fry and Matt Burke, covering a wide range of quantitative methods in Finance that utilise the freely downloadable R software. With software playing an increasingly important role in finance, this book is a must-have introduction for finance students who want to explore how they can undertake their own quantitative analyses in dissertation and project work.Assuming no prior knowledge, and taking a holistic approach, this brand new title guides you from first principles and help to build your confidence in tackling large data sets in R. Complete with examples and exercises with worked solutions, Fry and Burke demonstrate how to use the R freeware for regression and linear modelling, with attention given to presentation and the importance of good writing and presentation skills in project work and data analysis more generally.Through this book, you will develop your understanding of:.Descriptive statistics.Inferential statistics.Regression.Analysis of variance.Probability regression models.Mixed models.Financial and non-financial time seriesJohn Fry is a senior lecturer in Applied Mathematics at the University of Hull. Fry has a PhD in Mathematical Finance from the University of Sheffield. His main research interests span mathematical finance, econophysics, statistics and operations research. Matt Burke is a senior lecturer in Finance at Sheffield Hallam University. He holds a PhD in Finance from the University of East Anglia. Burke's main research interests lie in asset pricing and climate finance.

Climate change is not just an environmental problem, it's a human one. Yet as humans, we are not changing fast enough for ourselves and our planet. Our sense of powerlessness and the belief that our actions won't make a difference is holding us back from taking action and working on the psychological dimension of change could make the difference to moving us forward. In this transformative book, climate change coaching trailblazers Charly Cox and Sarah Flynn explain why changing for our climate is so hard and why coaching offers a key to affecting behaviour. With practical, easy-to-grasp skills that shift mindsets and motivate action they show how to build connection using a coaching approach, to overcome resistance and empower people to embrace change. If people often tell you "What difference can I really make?" or "How can we possibly succeed?" then Climate Change Coaching will help you:.Understand the psychological barriers to change, and how to address them.Gain practical, connection-building skills to have more impact in every conversation.Build stronger, more trusting relationships to make long-term change more likely.Develop a new perspective on how individual change leads to systems change.Discover how to help organisations succeed at change and what creates social change.Learn to coach and support yourself to manage stress and avoid burnout Whether you are changing an organisation, engaging a community, or coaching individuals, this book will change the way that you connect and how you influence. With example conversations and real-life stories from 40 practitioners from the worlds of sustainability, business, academia and coaching, it will show you how coaching skills are being used individually and organisationally to galvanise climate action."This practical guide fills many of the gaps, with tools that can help us become better allies to each other in supporting the personal and systemic shifts needed in our time."Chris Johnstone, co-author of Active Hope and trainer at ActiveHope.Training"Climate Change Coaching is an invaluable resource for anyone working in sustainability today."Patrick Burgi, Co-Founder of South Pole Charly Cox is an award-winning climate change coach and Founder of Climate Change Coaches. A professional coach for ten years, Charly specialises in developing leaders in environmentally focused businesses. She has a background in the creative sector and worked for seven years in West Africa. Sarah Flynn is a psychologist and coach who supports sustainability professionals to thrive as they create change in the world. With a background in research, she specialises in the psychology of change and resilience, and teaches on the topic of 'Resilience for Sustainability Professionals' at Cambridge University. Charly and Sarah are both International Coach Federation Professional Certified Coaches and trained Organisational, Relationship and Systems Coaches.

“A fresh update to a true classic. This is one of the most reassuring and useful books you will ever read about doing your PhD, no matter your topic - or where you are enrolled.”Professor Inger Mewburn, Director of Researcher Development, Office of the Dean of Higher Degree by Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia“How to get a PhD is both honest and thorough and thus immensely helpful, for supervisors as much as for students.”Professor Paul Allain, Dean of the Graduate and Researcher College, University of Kent, UK“The 7th edition! ‘How to get a PhD’ is proving its status as a must read for PhDs and supervisors.”Dr Hans Sonneveld, Founder and Board member, Netherlands Centre of Expertise for Doctoral EducationHow to Get a PhD 7e provides a practical and realistic approach for all students who are embarking on a PhD. In addition, supervisors will find invaluable tips on their role in the process, good supervisory practices and how to support students to work effectively. Thoroughly revised and updated throughout, the seventh edition provides an overview of what it means to undertake a PhD within a modern university, exploring both the challenges and rewards of a doctoral degree, including:• Contemporary challenges for students including transgender issues, sexual harassment, and exploitation within the academic environment• Time demands, the balance of academia and paid work, and the uncertainty of academic careers and how this can impact students’ mental health• Academic debates surrounding the increased importance of technology and open access• Emphasising diversity with an increased focus on how students, supervisors and universities can work together to make a more effective and welcoming academic environmentThe new edition is structured so that users can find the section that will help the specific stage of their work. With practical guidance through the application process, research, viva and post-viva, this book supports PhD students of all disciplines across their journey and beyond, including part-time, those returning to study and those who are practice-based.Estelle M. Phillips has enjoyed a long career as an academic and independent educational consultant. She has published widely on various aspects of the PhD and has spoken at universities on four continents about the skills required to complete and supervise a PhD.Colin G. Johnson is an associate professor at the University of Nottingham, and was formerly Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the sciences at the University of Kent. He is an experienced PhD supervisor and examiner, and has led training courses for new PhD students and advised on postgraduate strategy for a number of universities.Professor Derek S Pugh (1930-2015) was Emeritus Professor of International Management of the Open University Business School, UK. He published 17 books and over 100 papers in his field and had considerable experience in the design of doctoral programmes and the successful supervision and examination of PhD students.

"This guide promotes a clear message of the importance of a self-directed approach to learning which will serve the student well during practice education and beyond." Eimer Ní Riain, Practice Education, University of Limerick, Ireland "This text is the ultimate companion to any placement in health and social care services."Terri Grant, University of Worcester, UK "This is an extremely welcome text for students preparing for their placements and to refer to whilst they on their placement experience - and should be a recommended text for programmes which have placements, regardless of the setting or context."Dr Jane Cronin-Davis, Associate Professor, Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy and Deputy Dean for Students, St George's University of London, UK As students in the health and social care professions, you will spend up to half of your time out on placement. This accessible and practical book walks with you step-by-step through this invaluable learning experience, helping you to develop and create the foundations of your practice whether you are training in nursing, health, or social work. New to this second edition are additional chapters that consider the changing landscape and challenges of the placement experience during the last decade.This book covers all you need to know for your placement including:.Preparing for placement .Reflective practice.Writing learning outcomes.Complex decision making and clinical reasoning .Evidence-based practice.Preparing for your first job.Assessment and passing placementsUsing accessible language, case study examples and exercises, this book forms a unique opportunity for self-reflection exploring your personal and professional development on your journey through to registration and beyond, whatever area of practice you are in.Surviving Your Placement in Health and Social Care is essential reading for all health and social care students, including nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and radiographers and all those undergoing placements.

This book offers an essential evaluation model so that leadership coaches and stakeholders can demonstrate the impact of their coaching programmes, challenging current thinking that the return on investment from leadership coaching is too complex to measure. The book is both practical and strategically informative, supporting coaches and organisations to plan confidently for the future as they collaborate over both short- and long-term decisions.The book provides:.Ideas and insights into the dissemination of evaluation data to key strategic destinations.Case studies that show how to evaluate Return on Investment (RoI) for both financial and non-financial targets such as behaviours, potential and wellbeing.Tips, templates and reflective activitiesRe-imaging evaluation as a strategic opportunity rather than an operational task enables leaders to perform in an agile way that is responsive to local and global uncertainties and business priorities."It's a pleasure to find a comprehensive, insightful and evidence-backed approach with practical examples of how [evaluation in coaching] can be done."David Clutterbuck, Special Ambassador, European Mentoring and Coaching Council"A real aid for leaders, managers and indeed all organizational members."Professor Peter Stokes, Leicester Castle Business School, De Montfort University, UK"'Evaluating the Impact of Leadership Coaching' makes for a great read from two writers interested in helping move the debate from the facile to the factual, and from ego to evidence."Prof Jonathan Passmore, Senior VP CoachHub and Professor of Coaching and Behavioural Change, Henley Business School, UKMark Jamieson is an award-winning leadership coach and founder of the GreenWing Project focused on the development of young leaders. His coaching specialisms include youth leadership and women in business leadership.Tony Wall is Professor at Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University, UK, and an affiliated professor at Stockholm University, Sweden. Working with the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC) in Brussels, he founded the EMCC provocations series.

Higher Education presents significant challenges for disabled faculty. This book highlights the structural barriers that create challenges for faculty and demonstrates ways in which we can improve on current practice. Staff face a competitive environment which is increasingly characterised by long working hours and the use of standardised metrics to monitor and evaluate performance. The author underlines this issue as well as covering a range of subjects including the stigma associated with disability, workplace discrimination, the decision to disclose a disability, and access to workplace accommodations. The book:.Amplifies the voices and experiences of disabled faculty.Examines the representation of disability and how this affects both disabled and non-disabled audiences.Provides a range of personal accounts of visible and invisible disabilities by those working in Higher Education.Argues for changes to current practice through advice, support and guidance for those impacted by disability.Features a chapter which addresses the structural and operational issues that systematically disadvantage disabled academicsThe book aims to inform and advise those interested in disability within Higher Education. It is of relevance, not only to those who identify as disabled, but also to senior management, policy makers and students of disability studies or education. "Gayle Brewer's Disability in Higher Education is a clear, concise, accessible yet detailed exploration of the realities of disability in the Academy."Nancy Hansen, Professor, Director Disability Studies, University of Manitoba, Canada"I am proud to endorse Dr Brewer's much-anticipated work on Disability in Higher Education. This book exposes the barriers, stigma and discrimination that disabled academics face daily, overtly and covertly, in a profession we are passionate about".Dr Hamied Haroon, Chair, National Association of Disabled Staff Networks (NADSN)Gayle Brewer is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Liverpool, UK. Her research interests focus on personality and romantic relationships, and she also conducts research addressing education and the student experience.

Meaningful conversations are at the heart of both coaching and good mental health care. This book is a must if you work in the mental health field and want to develop your coaching skills. Using case studies, example techniques and reflective questions, Jenny brings coaching conversations to life and inspires readers to coach well with confidence. The book offers guidance that is accessible to people employed in clinical and non-clinical contexts. The skills learnt can be applied to informal coaching style conversations or to more formal coaching sessions. The book: - Provides an overview of coaching and its importance - Includes step-by-step methods for facilitating great coaching conversations - Examines clinical mental health contexts and the role of coaching in recovery-focused care (with advantages for service users and practitioners) - Considers how coaching approaches benefit the workforce of mental health organizations Jenny uses her knowledge and experience as a psychiatrist and coach to help readers use coaching principles effectively and appropriately in mental health contexts. This book is essential reading for those who support and stretch people to meet their goals in mental health settings and beyond. "This book will be valuable in supporting practitioners in improving their personal effectiveness as organisational leaders, supervisors, managers or clinicians."Paul Tiffin, Professor of Health Services and Workforce Research, University of York, UK"This is an excellent book about the use of coaching to support mental health."Mike Slade, Professor of Mental Health Recovery and Social Inclusion, University of Nottingham, UK"The author has written with impressive clarity ... I recommend it highly."Russell Hodgson, Mental Health Nurse and MBCT TeacherDr. Jenny Forge is a medical doctor and has been a consultant psychiatrist in the NHS for 25 years. She is a professional certified coach and also has a role in training doctors and NHS workforce development. Jenny previously held a post as clinical lecturer in developmental psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, UK. Fifty percent of author royalties from this book are donated to Oxfam.

"Drawing on research, theory and survivor wisdom, A Psychosocial Understanding of Self Injury and Trauma provides a clear, down-to-earth and practical guide to supporting people who self-injure."Helen Spandler, Professor of Mental Health, UCLan UK; Editor, Asylum: the radical mental health magazine"This is a very welcome book, which is authoritative and engaging in equal measure."Andrew Reeves, Professor in Counselling Professions and Mental Health, The University of Chester, UK"In this accessible and instructive book Long has made excellent use of her inter-disciplinary knowledge to invite readers to engage with critical thought around self-injury."Fiona Stirling, Lecturer in Counselling, Abertay University, UK"Maggie Long's wise and humane study of self-injury offers an important contribution to understanding how personal wounds may come to be 'written on the body'."Liz Frost, Co-editor of Journal of Psychosocial Studies; Associate Professor of Social Work, UWE, Bristol, UKThis book is a key resource for any student or practitioner in the helping professions who wishes to develop a holistic understanding of self-injury. Debunking common myths and stereotypes, Long uses an interdisciplinary approach to help readers understand the people behind the symptoms. The impact of interpersonal, societal, and intergenerational trauma is considered in depth, as are the key practical implications for research, policy and practice this understanding of self-injury brings.Though primarily aimed at Counselling and Psychotherapy students, Long considers the challenging processes of help-seeking more broadly, providing useful strategies for responding to self-injury disclosures for practitioners in a range of roles where counselling skills are used, including those in Social Work, Youth Work, Teaching and Nursing. Maggie Long is a lecturer at Ulster University, Ireland. Her work is cross-border and interdisciplinary, drawing on her background in both sociology and counselling.

This book explores the foundations of modern primary education and the role that society and culture has had in shaping it. Dismantling assumptions about what education has been or 'should' be, Tony Birch outlines what the core principles are that underpin high quality education to provide a holistic approach. Supporting leaders, practitioners and those studying primary education, this book: - Explains key issues in primary education and what drives them- Highlights the importance of pedagogy and leadership to enrich education- Builds on the existing frameworks in schools to encourage an holistic approach- Emphasises the importance of seeing the range of a child's potential outside of academic expectations Understanding Primary Education as a Whole is an essential resource for leaders and those studying primary education who want to understand the changing nature of their schools, classrooms and children. "All of those leading primary education at whatever level can learn from Tony Birch's analysis of history and competing influences on primary education. This book is systematic, comprehensive and thoughtful."Dr. Alison Borthwick, UK and International Freelance Education and Mathematics Consultant"As well as being wise, this book is also engaging, accessible and essentially practical. Read it!"Professor Emeritus David Hopkins, www.profdavidhopkins.com"Tony reminds us of the complexity and challenge of primary education, the battles that have been fought around it and the changes in systems and practice that have occurred as a consequence."Michael Tonge MA, Chief Executive Prestolee Multi Academy Trust, UKTony Birch is Director of Birch Education and a Senior Associate of the Association of Education Advisers. He established Bolton Council's award-winning Curriculum ICT team, was Head of School Improvement and also Assistant Director responsible for Education and Learning.