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Helen Bilton

Professor Helen Bilton

University

  • Professor of Outdoor Learning and Play

Institute of Education

  • Director PGCert Healthcare Education

 

 

 

Areas of interest

  • Early Years Education: 3,4,5 year olds
  • Outdoor play and provision for the Early Years and Primary
  • The environment for learning and teaching
  • Playtime, break-time, recess: making it more successful for children, staff, teaching and learning
  • Oral Language development in the outdoor environment
  • Children interacting with staff outside
  • Gender: boys and girls in class and outside, interests and control of the environment
  • Behaviour Management: individual class management and whole school approach
  • Support staff (nursery, primary and secondary): roles and responsibilities in the class and at break times. Please see: Supporting Successful Learning in Primary Schools, Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary Schools
  • (FutureLearn on line courses) Primary course listed in Class Central’s list of ‘the best online courses of all time’ classcentral best online courses of all time Highest rated online course/MOOC of all time from top Universities around the world, 18,373 online courses

Postgraduate supervision

Masters and PhD/EdD Level Supervision offered in these areas:

  • Early Years Education: 3,4,5 year olds
  • Outdoor play and provision for the Early Years and Primary
  • The environment for learning and teaching
  • Playtime, break-time, recess: making it more successful for children, staff, teaching and learning
  • Support staff (nursery, primary and secondary): roles and responsibilities in the class and at break times
  • Oral Language development in the outdoor environment
  • Children interacting with staff outside
  • Gender: boys and girls in class and outside, interests and control of the environment
  • Behaviour Management: individual class management and whole school approach

PhD and EdD Students, with Topics/Titles of their Research:

  • Helen Gormley The development of children’s mathematical literacy through continuous provision during the reception year. Wilkie Calvert PhD Studentship
  • Elida Kalpogianni (from Greece, by distance PhD): Preschool teachers’ attitudes and perceptions regarding play, in day care nurseries in Greece: the development of a play promotion programme and its’ effects on teachers’ attitudes and practice.

Awards and honours

Websites/blogs

https://drhelenbilton.com

Selected publications

Books:

  • Bilton, H., Bento, G. & Dias, G. (2017). Brincar ao ar livre. Opportunidades de desenvolvimento e de aprendizagem for a de portas. Porto: Porto Editora.
  • Bilton, H., Bento, G. & Dias, G. (2017). Taking the first steps outside. Under threes learning and developing in the natural environment. Abingdon: Routledge. https://tactyc.org.uk/books-reviews/
  • Bilton, H. & Crook, A. (2016). Exploring outdoors ages 3-11. A guide for schools. Abingdon: Routledge.
  • Bilton, H. (2014). Playing outside. Activities, ideas and inspiration for the early years, (2nd edn). Abingdon: Routledge. Citations 30.
  • Bilton, H. (2013). Miss I want that bike. In: S. Featherstone (Ed.), Getting ready for phonics. L is for sheep. (pp. 105-112). London: Bloomsbury Publishing plc.
  • Bilton, H. (2013). Setting the scene for child initiated learning out-of-doors. In: S. Featherstone (Ed.), Supporting child- initiated learning. Like bees not butterflies. (pp.73-79). London: Bloomsbury Publishing plc.
  • Bilton, H. (2010). Outdoor learning in the early years. Management and innovation (3rd ed.). Abingdon: David Fulton Publishers/Routledge. Citations 288, ResearchGate 31.9% research interest, 1467 reads.
  • Bilton, H. (2008). Setting the scene for child initiated learning out-of-doors. In: S.& P. Featherstone (Eds.), Like bees not butterflies. Child-initiated learning in the early years (pp.75-81). London: A and C Blacks.
  • Bilton, H. (2006). Miss I want that bike. In: S. Featherstone (Ed.), L is for Sheep (pp.107-114). Leicestershire: Featherstone Education.
  • Bilton, H. (Ed), James, K., Marsh, J., Wilson, A. & Woonton, M. (2005). Learning outdoors. Improving the quality of young children’s play outdoors. London: David Fulton Publishers. Citations 23.
  • Bilton, H. (2004). Playing outside. Activities, ideas and inspiration for the early years. London: David Fulton Publishers.
  • Bilton, H. (2003). Movement as a vehicle for learning. In: L. Miller, & J. Devereux (Eds.), Supporting children’s learning in the early years. Open University Reader. London: David Fulton Publishers.
  • Bilton, H. (2003). Physical development. Open University Study Topic 12, Foundation Degree in Early Years. Buckingham: Open University.
  • Bilton, H. (2002). Outdoor play in the early years. Management and innovation (2nd ed.). London: David Fulton Publishers.
  • Bilton, H. (1998). Outdoor play in the early years. Management and innovation. London: David Fulton Publishers.
  • Bilton, H. (1989). A curriculum without bounds. Reading: Berkshire County Council.

Articles in refereed journals:

  • Bilton, H. & Watts.M. (2019). Early stem education: practice and prospects, Early Child Development and Care, 190(1), 1-2, DOI: 10.1080/03004430.2019.1653547. Orcid views 481.
  • Bilton, H. & Waters, J. (2017). Why take young children outside? A critical consideration of the professed aims for outdoor learning in the early years by teachers from England and Wales. Social Sciences, 6 (1). 1. ISSN 2076-0760. Orchid downloads 7276. Research Gate Research Interest 5.6.
  • Bilton, H. (2014b). What is outside? The Early Years Foundation Stage in England: Outdoor facilities, organisation and staff attitudes. American Journal of Educational Research, 2, (10), 942-949. doi:10.12691/education-2-10-14. Citations 1.
  • Bilton, H. (2014a). The aims of early years outdoor education in England: A conceptual and empirical investigation. International Journal of Education and Social Science, 1, (3), Oct, 38-50. Research Gate Research Interest 7.8.
  • Bilton, H. (2012). The type and frequency of interactions that occur between staff and children outside in Early Years Foundation Stage settings during a fixed playtime period when there are tricycles available. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 20, (3), 403-421. doi: 10.1080/1350293X.2012.704763. Citations 18.

Briefing papers:

Articles in practice journals:

Review of the literature:

Conference Presentations:

 

Staff Story: https://www.reading.ac.uk/education/Stories/ioe-helens-story.aspx

Importance of Outdoor Play https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwBxJaabtsU&list=PLZWYaq mWwsGFVqiGrSTJAiqBvLro 2Nc&index=4

Publications

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