Children and young people

FUTURE THINKERS

About us

The members of the Children and Young People Network share a common aspiration: to contribute to research and knowledge-building that will ultimately lead to improving children's and young people’s opportunities, experiences and outcomes.

Rooted in a recognition of the immense diversity in the lives of children and young people, our research responds to an urgent need to better understand those lives from multiple perspectives, and to explore and identify ways of supporting children and young people as they negotiate the challenges, transitions and opportunities of these vital phases of their development.

Mission

Our mission is to work collaboratively to advance understanding and positively impact the lives of children & young people.

Vision

Our vision is to cultivate a dynamic and thriving research community that is committed to improving the life experiences with and for children & young people.

Who we work with

Children, young people, parents and families
Young people as researchers
Vulnerable groups
Migrants
Travellers
Teen parents
Children with disabilities
Looked-after children
Children from families with low incomes
Children with parents in UK armed forces
Health and education practitioners
Charities
Social care practitioners
The police
Commercial partners

Our Research

We conduct research locally, nationally and internationally, and examine how the contexts, cultures and spaces in which children and young people live, learn, play and work impact on their health, development and identity. This includes the opportunities and risks afforded by the digital and physical environments, the effects of discourses about children and young people, and the impact of broader social, economic, educational and health inequalities.

Research Themes:

Education and development

Schooling
- Schools in UK and internationally
- Higher education
- Early Years education
- Inclusive education
- Professional learning in schools
Informal education and learning outside school
Home-school learning
Pedagogy, learning and development
- Cognition
- Motivation
- Physical education
- Social learning
- Arts and creativity
- Motor development
- Neurology
- Language development
- Attachment
- Literacy
  - Literacy skills development
  - Literacy difficulties
Educational wellbeing
Educational psychology
SEND
Assessment

Health, lifestyle and wellbeing

Mental health/wellbeing
Reproductive/sexual health
Visual health
Auditory health
Sleep
Health in schools
Children with specific health conditions
Interventions
- Safeguarding and child protection
  - Risk
  - Injury prevention
  - Substance misuse
  - Adolescent drinking
  - Violence
  - Intimate partner violence
Health assessment
Lifestyle
- Parenting
  - Care of new-borns
  - Pregnancy
  - Family feeding practices
  - Sleep practices
- Children’s use of technology
- Diet
- Exercise
  - Sport
  - Exercise psychology

Children’s and young people’s worlds

To read about our wide-ranging research agenda, our values and aims, please see our strategy.

News

A green field filled with bright red poppies

04 November 2024

Lest we forget: How are Remembrance Day commemorations evolving in schools?

As Remembrance Day approaches, schools are preparing to engage students with one of the most solemn events in our national calendar.

06 October 2024

Children and Young People Research Network wins prestigious grant

Supporting young people in Oxford through nutrition and equality

15 July 2024

Oxford Brookes and community-based professionals support families with food and nutrition

Oxford Brookes University is spearheading new initiatives to support families with food and nutrition in response to the rising cost of living.

silhouettes of school children with a yellow background

01 July 2024

Local secondary schools learn about Oxford Brookes' research

Local students explore university life through interactive research activities at Oxford Brookes University.

See all news

Join the network

Become a member of the Children and Young People network.

Discover more: Our purpose and membership benefits

Discover more - for Brookes staff/students only

Who can join?

Academic staff, including Early Career Researchers
Professional services staff
Research students, including PhD and Masters students

How to join

External partners: work with us

If partners outside of Oxford Brookes University are interested to work with the Children and Young People network, please contact us via the email cypnetwork@brookes.ac.uk