Dr Amanda Norman has worked in the field of early childhood education for several years and has a wide range of experiences caring for children, teacher training and play therapy roles. Amanda is currently Senior Lecturer (Early Years) and leads several modules including infant pedagogies, historical and contemporary play, development and research. She is also co-lead for the UoA23 and early years cluster lead for CREATE research centre.

Prior to this she was part of the Early Childhood Programme team at a London university (7 years) teaching a range of professional and learning related modules at UG and PG level.

She has also played a key role, leading further and higher education programmes in Psychology, Health and Early Years (FDeg and Top up) within several further education (FE) colleges. She was a senior personal tutor and lead for the early years vocational programmes.

Amanda's professional experience has included working in health and social services contexts and opening and managing a successful day care nursery, for children from birth to four years old. During her appointment at the nursery she led a team of staff through curriculum delivery and several OFSTED inspections. She specialised and trained as a practicing psychologist, Assessor, PGCE/ FE, EYP,  Therapeutic Play Specialist (PG PT), SG lead, SENCO, ENCO, and TEFL supporting her professional practice as part of the senior managment team. Recently she has trained as a psychotherapeutic counsellor, currently working with families and young children part time. This has led her to be an advocate for a Person-Centred Approach when working with families.

Her subject specialism is early years, child psychology, quality and emotional care pedagogies. 

For further details regarding publications and projects please refer to her website

https://www.amandascalmscapes.co.uk/

Dr Amanda Norman's research interests primarily focus on Parent Partnership, infants emotional relationships, within and beyond the home. She is interested in perceptions of care and emotional bonds. The focus of her doctoral thesis (2011) was Symbolic Gesturing and Practitioner’s Perspectives: supporting emotional relationships with infants in daycare. 

Since this time Amanda has examined views about the complex issues of attachment and emotional discourses within group care provision, from oral history and biographical perspectives. She has also researched infant care and family relationships from the nexus of the past to its relevance with (and informing) contemporary practice. Furthermore she has extended research about infant care to include spiritual birth practices and the value of rituals around day and night time infant care.

Research methodologies include the value of ethnography, creativity  and counselling principles as a way of listening to practitioner and parents voices in early years contexts. This has culminated in several research projects, including a BA Small grabts award on Rest and Sleep Routines and Ritual as well as being granted funding to explore Transitional Objects in childhoods (Winnicott Trust, 2022).

She is also pursuing research with Twins Trust and community groups. 

Amanda is a member of several external groups including,

• Editorial Board member for Norland Educare Research Journal
• BSA Childhood colead
• International Froebel Society: Executive Member
• Froebel Travelling Tutor
• SCiP Early Years Alliance Advisory Group: Panel Member
• Alliance 4 Children: Founder and Early Years lead
• CPPG (Fit and Healthy Childhood): Contributing Member

A Senior fellow of  the Higher Education Academy (2022), Amanda is currently a supervisor for several PhD and EdD students and continues to be available for potential students wanting to research early years, infant care and relational pedagogies, professionalism and emotional health through qualitative approaches.

Sole Author Book Publications

Norman, A (2026) Being with Babies. Routledge. London

Norman, A. (2024) MotherLand: Community groups with new Mothers. US. Lived Places.

Norman, A. (2024) The Baby Room: Person centred Approach working with babies in fomal day care. US. Lived Places.

Norman, A (2023) Person Centred approach to Early years Practice. London. Routledge.

Norman, A (2023) Transitional Objects in Early Childhood. London. Routledge.

Norman, A (2022) Historical Perspectives on Infant care. London. Bloomsbury.

Norman, A (2019) Conception to Two: Development and Practice. London. Taylor and Francis.

Chapter Publications

Norman, A. Mothering and Allparents. Woven threads. US. Demetrius Press

Norman, A. (2026) Matrescence with Multiples in Infant wellbeing. London. Routledge. 

Norman, A. and James, C. (2026) Matrescence and Rituals. Relighion and Women in Britian. London. Palgarve. 

Norman, A. (2024) Transional Objects. NZ Early Years. Early Years and Education Series.

Norman, A (2022) Infant Care. In Wall, K., Arnott, L. & Hall, E. (2022) Theory and Practice of Voice in Early Childhood: A Guide for the Early Years. Palgrave McMillian.

Norman, A (2023) Working with Infants. In Hayes, C. (2022) Practitioner SEFDEY Handbook. London. Routledge.

Norman, A (2022) Spiritual Humanism and Motherhood (an auto-ethnographical approach). In Bennett, Y. (2021) Women and Religion in Britain Today. Palgrave McMillan.

Norman, A (2019) Title: The value of obituaries in understanding lives. In Parnell, J. (2019) New and Alternative Ways of Writing lives Biographical research approaches. London. Palgrave McMillan.

Article Publications

A. Scherer and Norman, A. (2023) Sleep Healthcare Books: Autobiography perspectives. European Journal of Life Writing. Vo12

Norman, a (2022) Person Centred Approach to Prent Partnerships in Early Years. Chartered College. Early Years Hub.

Norman, A. (2023a) Museaums and Early Years. Early Years Educator.

Norman, A. (2023b) Museums and Early Years. Part 2. Eraly Years Educator.

Norman, A (2022) Narratives through Nature Early Years Educator. 23(9).

Norman, A (2022) Narratives through Nature Early Years Educator. 23(8)

Norman, A (2022) A Mentoring Project (part 2) Early Years Educator. 23(8)

Norman, A (2022) A Mentoring Project Early Years Educator. 23 (7) 25-27

Norman, A (2021) Spiritual Childbirth and Trust. Auto/Biography Review.

A.Scherer and A. Norman (2023) The Sleep Voices: Evaluating Parenting books. Children and Society. 37(4)

Norman, A (2020) Creating Calmscapes with Classical music. Early Years Educator. 21(9) 32-34

Byrne, J & A, Norman (2020) A transformative model of continuing professional development in a day nursery: practitioners’ perspectives on the implementation of symbolic gesturing, Professional Development in Education, DOI: 10.1080/19415257.2020.1744687

Norman, A & J, Byrne (2019) Symbolic gesturing: creating opportunities for emotional connections between practitioners and infants in day care, Early Child Development and Care, DOI: 10.1080/03004430.2019.1659787

Norman, A (2019) What a Feeling! Early Years Educator. 21 (10) 35-37

Norman, A (2016) Take a risk with Froebel. Early Years Educator. 17 (11) 34-36

Norman, A (2015) Focusing on the details. Early Years Educator. 17 (4) 28-30                   

Norman, A (2015) Rhyming with Froebel. Early Years Educator. 17 (3) 32-34

Norman, A (2015) Signs of the Community. Early Years Educator. 16 (11) 21-23               

Norman, A (2015) Observing discovery play. Early Years Educator. 16 (9) 27-30

Norman, A. (2011) The boy on the beach: building community through play, Cambridge Journal of Education, 41:2, 241-242, DOI: 10.1080/0305764X.2011.575279

Alliance 4 Children and Childrens Alliance Reports: Lead and Contributing author

Power 2 Play Report (2025)

Power of Play reprot (2024) 

Family Care (2023) The Eye View Series

Preconception Care (2023) The Eye View Series

The Family and Community Report (2022)

The Mental Health Report (2022) 

The Health and Well being of children in the Early Years (2021) WG1-EarlyYears-Oct2021.pdf (childrensalliance.org.uk)

The Physical Health Report (2021) WG1-EarlyYears-Oct2021.pdf (childrensalliance.org.uk)

All Party Parliamentary Published Reports

Clark, H., Royal, P., WEST, H., McGlone, P. F., Walker, A. P. S., Devine, S. L., Barlow, J., Albon, D. D., Elfer, D. P., Norman, D. A., Sigman, D. A., Graham, C., Hutchinson, C., Harris, D. G., Upton, L., Thomas, J., Jephcott, M., Whewell, E., Lumsden, E., Revell, E., Hodgson, A., Salt, K., Lochrie, P., Brown, P. F., Murray, D. A., Murray, D. P., Lubrano, M., Day, K. and Gribble, J. (2020) Wellbeing and nurture: physical and emotional security in childhood. APPG Fit and Healthy Childhoods.

 Clark, H., Royal, P., WEST, H., Randall, D. V., Silk, P. M., Patnail, D. A., Shahid, S., Yelling, D. M., Coleman, N., Wright, C., Kay, S., Bagnall, P., Sigman, D. A., Adams, S., Albon, D. D., Murray, D. A., Murray, D. P., Hodgson, A., Hill, R., Whewell, E., Palmer, G., Lee, D., Javor, A., Lubrano, M., Salt MBE, K., Lochrie, P., Thomas, J., Jephcott, M., Norman, D. A., Manners, D. L., Pearson, J., Murray, J. and Howells, D. K. (2019) Mental Health Through Movement. APPG Fit and Healthy Childhoods.

CLARK, H., ROYAL, P., WEST, H., Jephcott, M., Norman, A.,T HOMAS, J., Glazzard, J., Smith, S., Albon, D., Javor, A., Flint, S., Hutchinson, C., McGlone, F., Day, K., Brown, F., Lewis, L., Salt, K. (2019) Children's mental health beyond the green paper: the role of practice based evidence. APPG Fit and Healthy Childhoods.

 CLARK, H., ROYAL, P., WEST, H., Randell, V., Norman, A., et al (2018) Mental health in childhood. APPG Fit and Healthy Childhoods.

Conference Paper Presentations and invited talks

A.Norman (2025) Rest and sleep routines and rituals. IFS. Germany

A.Norman (2025) Digital Parenting: Navigating social media as a new parent) Winchester. UK.

A.Norman (2025) Rest and Sleep in the home. BSA Autobiography. UK

A. Norman (2025) Power 2 Play Alliance 4 Children, UK

A. Norman (2024) Power of Play. Childrens Alliance, uk

A.Norman (2023) First Years of Life. Childrens Alliance. Annual Conference. Worcester. Uk

A.Norman (2023) Mother and Baby Homes in the 1970s. Annual Conference. SCHCY. Canada

A.Norman (2023) Transitional Objects and Health and Wellbeing. Annual Conference. BECERA. UK

A.Norman (2023) Autoethnographical perspective on a teaching and learning project. Annual Conference. BSA Auto/biography

A.Norman (23/12/2022) Invited speaker. Twin Talk. Steve Harris Breakfast Show. Solent Radio

A.Norman (2022) Invited key speaker. Working with Babies: online course for professionals working with babies. BELMAS.

A.Norman (2022) Experiential Teaching. BSA Auto/Biography. Christmas Conference invite and 10/2023

A.Norman (2022) Beach Babes: An Oral History of childhood and play living on the coast. BSA Auto/Biography Annual Conference. Oxford. UK (accepted July 2022).

A.Norman (2022) Transitional Objects. BSA Auto/Biography Annual Conference. Oxford. UK. (accepted July 2022).

A. Norman (2022) Maternal lives from past to present. Maternal Bodies. Womens History. Foundling Museum. London

A.Norman (04.01.2022) Invited Speaker. Twin Talk. Radio Solent Steve Harris Breakfast Show

A. Norman (2021) Transitional Objects. Paper, poster presentation. Winnicott Trust. UK. Accessible https://winnicott-trust.org.uk/posters/

A. Norman (2021) Troubles lives: maternal letters. Annual Conference. SSCIP. Historical Childhoods International Conference. Sep. 2021. Australia, Paper presentation Accepted

A. Norman (2021) Troubles lives: maternal letters International Auto/Biographical Study group. Annual Conference, July 2021, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman and W. Crocker, (North Western University, Ontario, Canada) (2021) Narratives of Nature: Student voices British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference. online, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2019) Practitioner’s narratives using symbolic gesturing though a Froebelian lens. International Auto/Biographical Study group. Annual Conference, July 2019, Oxford, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2019) Narratives of Nature. British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference. Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman and M. Levereux (2019) A Breath of Fresh Air. Infants and health outdoors.  British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference. Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2018) Past present and Future lives: the obituary in education. International Auto/Biographical Study group. Annual Christmas Conference, London, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2017) Rhyming with Froebel: A way of exploring emotions. British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference, February 2012, Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A.Norman and K.Morris (2016) Values in early Years. LT Cornelius Annual Conference. University of Winchester. UK. Paper Presentation.

A. Norman (2016) Taking A risk with Froebel: A way of exploring emotions. British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference, February 2012, Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2015) Fairy Stories and Emotional Literacy. ILT. August: Paper presentation

A. Norman (2014) Discovery Play and the role of the practitioner:  Using a non-directive approach while observing children at play. British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference, February 2012, Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2012) Symbolic Gesturing: How practitioner’s narratives within research can inform practice. British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference, February 2012, Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2010) Symbolic gesturing in early education.  European Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference, September 2010, Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2011) Enhancing the student experience through peer mentoring relationships across sites of learning, Roehampton RUCert internal conference. London, England. Paper presentation.

A. Norman, C. Griffin, and S. Flannery Quinn (2010) Enhancing the student experience through peer mentoring relationships across sites of learning, Roehampton Annual Learning and Teaching Conference. London, England. Paper presentation.

C. Griffin, S. Flannery Quinn, & A. Norman (2010) Facilitating a Peer Mentoring Programme Using a Community of Learning Model, Staff and Educational Development Teaching and Learning Assessment Conference. Leeds, UK. Paper presentation.

S. Flannery Quinn, C. Griffin, & A. Norman (2010) Understanding the development of professional knowledge and dispositions of students in a university-based early childhood studies peer mentoring programme: Recognising emotion, identity, and learning through informal dialogues in a community of learning, Roehampton Educational Research Conference. London, England. Paper presentation.

Chaired Conferences

A.Norman (2019) Exploring Health and Well Being in childhood. University of Winchester. UK.

A.Norman (2017) International Communities. Early Years Research Centre. University of Winchester. UK.

Reviewer of Journal: Journal of Early Childhood Research

Programme Leader BA (Hons) Childhood Studies Programme (2019-2024)

MA Early Years Pathway

Modules leading

International perspectives

Health and Young Children

Early Years Curriculum

Play

Pregnancy to Three

Pre-school to school and Transitions

Leadership and Teamwork

Extrenal Examiner Panel Member (2022)

Northampton University

PG Infant and Family Mental Health Programme

External Examiner Roles

Northampton University

External Examiner. PG/MA Infant and Family Mental Health Programme

Reading University

External Examiner. PG EYTS and PG/ Masters in Early Years (2021-)

Suffolk University (East Coast College)

External Examiner. FdA in Children’s Health, Play and Wellbeing (2018-2022)

University of Bedfordshire

External Examiner. BA Early Childhood Studies (2016 -2020)

Newman University, Birmingham

External Examination. Validation Panel external examiner (2016). Foundation Degree Early Years.

Qualifications

Doctorate in Education (EDd) Southampton University

PG Diploma Froebel Practice (PGDP) University of Roehampton

PG Certificate in Play Therapy (PGCPLT) PTUK, England

Early Years Practitioner Status (EYP) University of Winchester

PG Diploma in Psychology (PGDipPsych) (conversion course) Open University

Masters in Education (MEd) (counselling and special education) Bristol University

Batchelor of science Health with Studies of Religion (BSc) Bath Spa University

BTEC Early Years Education

Infant Mental health Warwick University

Teaching and Porfessional Qualifications

Teaching in Higher Education (Roehampton) (RUCert)

Teaching in Further Education (PGFE)

Educator Froebel Practices (Roehampton) (PG Cert)

Early Years Professional (PG EYP)

IAIM Infant Massage Instructor

Hypnotherapist and Counsellor

Endorsed Froebel Travelling Tutor with The Froebel Trust

Senior and National Teaching Fellow of Higher Education

SSCIP

Squiggle Trust

Winnicott Trust

Oral History Society

TACTYC

Froebel Trust

History of Childhood

BSA Auto/Biograhical Study Group

BECERA

Infant Mental Health Research Group

National Early Years Forum

British Psychilogical society (BPS)

WAIMH

Play therapy UK (PTUK)

A.Norman (2022) Beach Babes: An Oral History of childhood and play living on the coast. BSA Auto/Biography Annual Conference. Oxford. UK (accepted July 2022).

A.Norman (2022) Transitional Objects. BSA Auto/Biography Annual Conference. Oxford. UK. (accepted July 2022).

A. Norman (2022) Maternal lives from past to present. Maternal Bodies. Womens History. Foundling Museum. London

A.Norman (04.01.2022) Twin Talk. Radio Solent Steve Harris Breakfast Show

A. Norman (2021) Transitional Objects. Paper, poster presentation. Winnicott Trust. UK. Accessible https://winnicott-trust.org.uk/posters/

A. Norman (2021) Troubles lives: maternal letters. Annual Conference. SSCIP. Historical Childhoods International Conference. Sep. 2021. Australia, Paper presentation Accepted

A. Norman (2021) Troubles lives: maternal letters International Auto/Biographical Study group. Annual Conference, July 2021, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman and W. Crocker, (North Western University, Ontario, Canada) (2021) Narratives of Nature: Student voices British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference. online, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2020) Maternal Lives: Letters from The Women’s Guild. Social History. Foundling museum. Accepted. (re-scheduled)

A. Norman (2019) Childhood. British Sociological Association / Auto/biographical study group. Summer Conference, July, Oxford, UK. Paper presentation

A. Norman (2019) Past Present and Future Lives. British Sociological Association / Auto/biographical study group. Christmas Conference, December, London, UK. Paper presentation

A. Norman and Levereux, M (2019) A Breath of Fresh air: Infant Care and the Outdoors British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference, Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation

A. Norman (2019) Narratives in Nature. British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference,  Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation

A. Norman (2017) Rhyming with Froebel: A way of exploring emotions. British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference,  Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2016) Taking A risk with Froebel: A way of exploring emotions. British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference,  Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2015) Fairy Stories and Emotional Literacy. ILT. August: Paper presentation

A. Norman (2014) Discovery Play and the role of the practitioner:  Using a non-directive approach while observing children at play. British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference,  Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2012) Symbolic Gesturing: How practitioner’s narratives within research can inform practice. British Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference, February 2012, Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman  (2010) Symbolic gesturing in early education.  European Early Childhood Education Research Association Annual Conference, September 2010, Birmingham, UK. Paper presentation.

A. Norman (2011) Enhancing the student experience through peer mentoring relationships across sites of learning, Roehampton RUCert internal conference. London, England. Paper presentation.

A. Norman, C. Griffin, and S. Flannery Quinn (2010) Enhancing the student experience through peer mentoring relationships across sites of learning, Roehampton Annual Learning and Teaching Conference. London, England. Paper presentation.

C. Griffin, S. Flannery Quinn, & A. Norman (2010) Facilitating a Peer Mentoring Programme Using a Community of Learning Model, Staff and Educational Development Teaching and Learning Assessment Conference. Leeds, UK. Paper presentation.

S. Flannery Quinn, C. Griffin, & A. Norman (2010) Understanding the development of professional knowledge and dispositions of students in a university-based early childhood studies peer mentoring programme: Recognising emotion, identity, and learning through informal dialogues in a community of learning, Roehampton Educational Research Conference. London, England. Paper presentation.