Diahann Gallard
Diahann qualified as a Primary school teacher in 1997 and taught for six years as a class teacher in Foundation, Key Stage One and Key Stage Two. Whilst teaching she completed a postgraduate qualification in Early Years Education and a psychology degree (with research focussing on ASD and Systemizing/Empathising Quotients in pre-school children). Whilst studying psychology Diahann had her first article published in ‘Psychtalk’ (the student journal for The British Psychological Society). Diahann then worked for a short period as a research assistant for the LJMU School of Psychology, liaising with schools and overseeing testing with Reception children on a funded project (looking at working memory and mathematical attainment) before going on to completed an M.A. in Education (with research focussing on emotional intelligence). Diahann now lecturers about early education, development and the needs of the child at LJMU.
Diahann is involved with various research projects at present including
- Evaluation of outdoor learning opportunities in local Primary schools, researching and documenting different contexts and approaches
- Evaluation of a forest school initatives and perspectives of school staff
- Piloting of various studies into child-animal interactions/Anthrozoology in Primary schools
- Evaluation for the Liverpool City Region Poverty and Life Changes Strategy
Diahann is in the final phase of her PhD studies and her research centres on the current status of animal experiences in Primary schools.
Current Post
Senior Lecturer in Early Years Education
Qualifications
B.Ed. (Hons) Primary Education
P.G. Cert. (Early Years Education)
B.Sc. (Hons) Applied Psychology
M.A. in Education
LJUM Advanced Mentor recognition
Certificate - Introduction to Play Therapy (PTUK accredited CPD)
Certificate - Introduction to Animal-Assisted Interventions (SCAS accredited CPD)
Certificate - Companion Animals in Therapeutic Practice(SCAS accredited CPD)
PhD [in progress]
Courses (Subjects) taught
In 20012/13
Modules I lead:
5112EDSTUD SUPPORTING CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION IN THE EARLY YEARS
5101EDSTUD DEVELOPING EMPLOYMENT SKILLS
6104EDSTUD CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS
6113EDSTUD LEARNING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
Modules I also teach on:
5104ECHILD EFFECTIVE PEDAGOGYa supervisor for 6101EDSTUD INDEPENDENT PROJECT
- Peer Learning Group leader in Level 5 and 6
Professional and Research Interests
Diahann is a graduate member of The British Psychological Society (BPS), the General Teaching Council (GTC) and Early Education (The British Association for Early Childhood Education).
Diahann is also a member of the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) which is a multi-disciplinary group that promotes studies of human-animal relationships through published research, meetings and disseminated data.
Diahann's areas of interest for research are the early years of education, educational psychology and educational anthrozoology.
Professional activity/Consultancy/successful bids
In March 2010 Diahann spent time with Reggio Children in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Diahann was able to engage in dialogue with the practitioners of ‘Reggio’, the world renowned early years pedagogy and provision that informed the English EYFS. A particular highlight was attending a keynote speech by Carla Rinaldi (President of Reggio Children in Reggio Emilia) which has greatly influenced her viewpoint for the value of environment, dialogue and relational pedagogy in the early years and the development of two new modules 5104ECHILD Effective Pedagogy and 5112EDSTUD Supporting Creativity and Imagination in the Early Years. In March last year Diahann spent time in Denmark as part of an international study group and she was able to see quality early years outdoor provision first-hand. This has led to her current research into the recent policy and practice shift in England towards a nature pedagogy in the early years and the development of a new module 6113EDSTUD Learning inside and outside.
Diahann works with various publishers as a reviewer for books, drafts and proposals for forthcoming educational texts.
Publications
Articles:
Gallard, D. (2012). Re-engaging with animals in Primary schools. SCAS Journal: Society for Companion Animal Studies, Vol XXIV, 3.
Book Chapters:
D. Gallard. How People Learn. In Kassem, D., Mufti, E., & Murphy, L. (2008). Education Studies: An Introduction to Key Issues. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.
D. Gallard. The Psychology of Childhood. In Kassem, D., Murphy, L., & Taylor, E. (Eds). (2009). Childhood and Youth Studies: Critical Issues. London: Routledge.
D. Gallard & A. Garden. The Psychology of Education. In Dufour, B. & Curtis, W. (Eds). (2011). Studying Education: An introduction to the key disciplines in education studies. Berkshire: Open University Press.
Conference papers:
Oral presentation
Gallard. D. (2012). Teacher attitudes to animals in Primary Education in England. The International Society for Anthrozoology (21st Annual Conference), University of Cambridge
Accepted for oral presentation
Gallard. D. (2011). Animal-child interaction opportunities in English Primary schools. The International Society for Anthrozoology (20th Annual Conference), Indianapolis, USA.
