Dr Theodora Papatheodorou
BEd, MEd, PhD, PGCE (SENs), DipHE, MBPsS
Editor in Chief, Norland Educare Research Journal
Biography
Dr Theodora Papatheodorou PhD, is Editor in Chief of the Norland Educare Research Journal.
Theodora has a long-standing commitment and passion for the education and care of young children. She was initially trained as a preschool and primary school teacher, and received postgraduate training in special educational needs in her native country, Greece. She worked as a preschool and special educational needs teacher for almost 10 years, before embarking on to her Master’s and doctoral studies in the UK. Following the completion of her doctoral studies, she joined and worked in several universities in the UK and overseas for almost 15 years.
Prior to joining Norland, Theodora was involved in international development work in the field of early childhood. She conducted consultancy for UNICEF country offices (Tanzania, Kosovo, Rwanda). She also served as early childhood care and development adviser at Save the Children UK with responsibility for early childhood programme development in Sub-Saharan, Southeast Asia, and South America countries.
Theodora has conducted extensive research that has been disseminated through conferences and publications. Her latest research is on autism in very young children, relational pedagogies, and home-based childcare.
Currently, she serves a the Research Development and Impact Manager at Bright Start Foundation.
Publications and scholarly activities
2024
Papatheodorou, T. (2024) The International Perspective of Early Childhood Education and Care. In Palaiologou, I. (ed.) The Early Years Foundation Stage. Theory and Practice (5th ed.). London: Sage
2024
Papatheodorou, T. (2024) Pedagogy in Practice. In Palaiologou, I. (ed.) The Early Years Foundation Stage. Theory and Practice (5th ed.). London: Sage
2024
Papatheodorou, T. and Prescott, A. (2024) Home-Based Support for Young Autistic Children: Overview of a Program Co-designed with Researchers, Child Therapists and Caregivers. In Papaneophytou, N.L and Das, U.N (eds) Understanding Autism Perspectives, Assessment, Interventions, and the Journey Towards Inclusion. London: Elsevier
2021
Treatment of eating disorders of infants diagnosed with autism applying the Mifne method: A Clinical Case Study. In Papaneophytou, N. And Das, U., N (Eds) Emerging Programs for Autism Spectrum Disorder. San Diego: Elsevier
2021
The International Perspective on Early Childhood Education and Care. In I. Palaiologou (Ed) The Early Years Foundation Stage. Theory and Practice. London: Sage
2021
Curriculum mapping of Early Years and Early Childhood Studies Higher Education Qualifications
2017
Costing of Introducing Universal Early Childhood Education in Kosovo, submitted to Unicef Kosovo
2016
The International Perspective on Early Childhood Education in I. Palaiologou, (Ed.) EYFS: Theory and Practice, 3rd ed., London: Sage
2015
Satellite Pre-primary Model Development and Action Planning, submitted to UNICEF Tanzania
2014
First Read programme. A Family Literacy programme (prepared for Save the Children UK in 2014)
2014
Strong Foundations: Integrated ECCD Caregiver Training programme (prepared for Save the Children UK in 2014)
2013
Enhancing Opportunities for ECD in Rwanda: Final evaluation, submitted to Save the Children Rwand
2012
Enhancing Opportunities for ECD in Rwanda: Mid-term Review, submitted to Save the Children Rwanda
2011
Creating a positive learning and behaviour environment, in J. Moyles, J. Georgeson and J. Payler (Eds) Beginning Teaching Beginning Learning (4th ed), Maidenhead: McGraw and OU press
2011
Mother tongue: children’s cultural and intellectual capital, Preschool Education Journal, book 10, published by the Chief Editorial Department for Pedagogical Publications of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, Sofia, Bulgaria, 2011 [in Bulgarian]
2010
Shifting demographics – Changing Pedagogies in Higher Education, in H. Zafroni (ed) Educazione degli adulti e realtá professionale, Milano: Catholic University of Milano (in English and Italian)
2010
The Pedagogy of Play(ful) Learning Environments: Turning Spaces into Places, In Moyles, J. (Ed.) Thinking About Play: Developing a Reflective Approach. Maidenhead: OU press & McGraw-Hill
2010
Play and the Achievement of the Potential, in J. Moyles (ed.) The Excellence of Play, 3rd edition, Maidenhead: OU press & McGraw-Hill
2010
Sensory Play, Report to Play to Z, Chelmsford: Anglia Ruskin University
Events and public engagement
10/07/2024-11/07/2024
Presentation at Child and Family Wellbeing at the Children and Childhood Conference
Papatheodorou, T. (2004) Child and family wellbeing. Exploring theoretical perspectives. Paper presented at the panel discussion on Child and Family Wellbeing at the Children and Childhood Conference (10-11 July, Ipswich UK)
30/06/2024
Keynote at Verso Una Nuova Pedagogica dei Nonni: Un progretto Partecipativo Conference
Papatheodorou, T. (2024). Grandparents and young children. A relationship for learning of life and for life. Invited online keynote address at the Verso Una Nuova Pedagogica dei Nonni: Un progretto Partecipativo Conference (30 June, Corato Italy)
24/05/2024-26/05/2024
Keynote at World Conference on Research in Teaching and Education
Papatheodorou, T. (2024) Relational pedagogy and its Educative Power. Invited online keynote address at the 7th World Conference on Research in Teaching and Education, 24-26 May (Munich, Germany)
13/10/2023
OMEP Peru/ChidreNinos Conference
Dr Papatheodorou will speak on children with autism at the conference.
07/07/2023 – 09/07/2023
Home-based educarers – Knowledge brokers and social capital bridgers.Dr Papatheodorou presented a paper at the sixth World Teaching Education Conference in Zurich.
15/06/2023 – 07/06/2023
Beyond human relationality Exploring relationality with nature in early childhood educationDr Papatheodorou presented a paper at the RCEN Conference in London.
12/03/2023 –16/03/2023
Intervening Early: Development of a Metamorphic Support Framework for Young Autistic Children.Dr Papatheodorou presented at the International Oxford Round Table Symposium, Oxford.
07/04/2022
Relational pedagogy in early Childhood care and education (Σχεσιοδυναμική Παιδαγωγική στην προσχολική αγωγή & εκπαίδευση).
Invited paper at the Aristoteleion University Webinars, Thessaloniki, Greece.
09/12/2022 – 11/12/2022
Behaviour matters… and why this is not all we need to focus on!Invited paper at the Bright Start Foundation Conference in Athens, Greece
09/12/2022 – 11/12/2022
Autism in very young children Sensory and affective reciprocity in child and caregiver interactions – Implications for assessment and support.Invited paper at the Bright Start Foundation Conference in Athens, Greece
12/07/2022 – 15/07/2022
Pedagogy A Relational Encounter and Ethical StancePaper presented at 74th World Assembly and OMEP International Conference in Athens, Greece
12/07/2022 – 15/07/2022
Home-Based Child Care: What is it? What are the Challenges? Could it offer an alternative model of childcare?Paper presented at 74th World Assembly and OMEP International Conference in Athens, Greece
11/06/2022 – 13/06/2022
Relational foundations of home-based childcare.
Paper presented at the RCEN conference.
2020
Relation-Centered Education Network ConferencePapatheodorou, T. and Luff, P. (2020) Relational ways of being and knowing- Ethical encounters with self and others, Discussion table at the RCEN online conference 6-8 June 2020.
2017
Hellenic OMEP conferencePapatheodorou, T. , Zafeirakou, Stellakis, N. and Paizis, N (2017) Early Childhood Education and Care Services in Greece at times of Financial Crisis, Self-organized symposium at the 11th Hellenic OMEP conference, Athens Greece, 3-5 November 2017
2015
The establishment, implementation and management of satellite centres
Impact of Early Learning – Exploratory Field Visits: Key findings, Presentation at the workshop ‘The Establishment, Implementation and Management of Satellite Centres, organized by UNICEF and the Ministry of Education Tanzania
