​Research, development and project work

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​​Dr Jane Yeomans has substantial experience of research, development and project work, through the following:

  • ​Completion of her own PhD
  • ​Supervision of doctoral students; to date all Jane's students have been awarded a pass
  • ​Teaching critical reading and academic writing to doctoral students
  • ​Involvement in research, development and project work as a Local Authority Educational Psychologist. Jane held a specialist senior post for research and development (R&D). Some examples of the R&D work undertaken were a project to examine the practice of consultation in a multi professional support service, support for an assistant psychologist evaluating the SEAL programme in the Local Authority, a project to look at the impact of a nurture group in a Key Stage 3 setting (this was written up in a peer reviewed journal)
  • ​Carrying out literature searches and reviews on specific topics
  • ​Writing and tutoring the Enquiry module for Real Training. This module forms the dissertation element of the Master's programme and therefore focuses on students implementing a piece of practitioner research
  • ​examination of doctoral theses as internal examiner at the University of Birmingham and as external examiner at the University of Manchester, UCL, University of Exeter and the Institute of Education.

​What might research, development and project work look like?

​Clearly this work will be responsive to the needs of the organisation that commissions the work. However, it can take a variety of forms, such as:

  • ​A literature review. This entails a search of relevant academic literature on a particular topic with the findings presented in writing
  • ​A short term project looking at a specific intervention or initiative (for example, looking at the outcomes of an intervention to address some aspect of SEND over one or two terms;
  • ​A longer piece of research that looks at an aspect of the organisation as a whole (for example, looking at a school's behaviour management policies and approaches; looking at whole school policy and practice for meeting pupils' social, emotional and mental health needs; looking at a school or setting's approach to inclusion)​. This type  of research might be spread over an academic year.

​What kind of activities would take place?

​This depends on what's being investigated. The kind of activities that might take place are:

  • interviews
  • focus groups
  • questionnaires
  • ​data collection before and after an intervention is implemented

​All of the above might involve pupils, staff and parents at a school or setting.


What does Jane bring to research, development and project work? We could just do it ourselves!

​Jane brings a wealth of experience of this type of work and her involvement is likely to have the following benefits:

  • ​Being able to work with you to help you to identify exactly what the focus of your concerns are so that the research or project has clear boundaries and focus
  • ​Knowing how to make sure that the work meet the highest ethical standards, in accordance with BERA (British Educational Research Association) guidelines
  • Knowing what kind of approach to research is best suited for the agreed focus
  • Knowing what kind of methods are most suitable for the kind of data that is needed
  • ​Knowing how to analyse the information and data obtained
  • ​Being able to write up a clear and readable account of the research

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​How does it happen and what does it cost?

​If you are interested in some research, development or project work then the first step is to contact Jane. Jane will give a free telephone or email consultation in order to find out if she can help and to think about some possible ways of doing so.

​If you then wish to proceed, a follow face to face consultation will be arranged. This will last around an hour and a half. The purpose of this meeting is:

  • ​to clarify precisely the focus of the work
  • ​to agree broadly how the work will be carried out
  • ​to agree the timescale, the amount if time that Jane will give to the work and the cost for this time

​​There is a charge of ​£150.00 for this meeting, which includes some travel time and costs and the preparation of a written summary and quote.


Jane's publications


Arnold, C. and Yeomans, J (2005) Psychology for Teaching Assistants. Stoke: Trentham Books. Second Edition published 2012.

Yeomans, J. and Arnold, C. (2006) Teaching, Learning and Psychology.  London: David Fulton

Arnold, C., Yeomans, J. and Simpson, S. (2009). Excluded from School: Complex Discourses and Psychological Perspectives. Stoke: Trentham Books.

Yeomans, J. and Bowen, P. (2002). Accelerating the progress of failing readers: an evaluation of the ENABLE-Plus programme pilot study. British Journal of Special Education, 29, 4.

Yeomans, J. (2008). Dynamic Assessment Practice: Some suggestions for follow up. Educational Psychology in Practice, 24, 2, 105-114

Cooke, C., Yeomans, J. and Parkes, J. (2008). The Oasis: Nurture Group Provision for Key Stage 3 pupils. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 13, 4, 291-303


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