Despite the extensive research evidence about the importance of high-quality Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), English policy makers continue to promote nurseries for the 'childcare' they provide, rather than the transformational effects they can have in areas of socio-economic challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate if and…

This paper reports on a study in which we interviewed eleven student teachers who were mothers. We wanted to understand the challenges the women faced in combining Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and motherhood, and about the factors that sustained them through the course. Participants faced practical and emotional challenges, including financial…

Widening participation has opened higher education (HE) to diverse learners, but in doing so has created challenges negotiating situations of disadvantaged positioning compared with peers conforming more closely to the ideal "bachelor boy" student. As one of the most financially vulnerable groups of students, lone parents occupy a doubly…

Background: In the United Kingdom (UK), it is predicted that economic cuts and a subsequent increase in child poverty will affect those already on the lowest incomes and, in particular, those living in lone-parent families. As a result, the informal pedagogic encounters within the family that contribute to the development of physical…

This mixed method paper explored the effect of family structure on children's physical activities and sedentary pursuits. It furthers the limited understanding of how family structure impacts on children's time in, and reasons behind engaging in, certain physical activities. Children from three inner city comprehensive schools in the Midlands,…

This article presents the author's reply to the comments of Bragg, Allington, Simmons and Jones to his article "Transaction and transformation at Trinity" (Pike, 2010) wherein he reported a case study of Trinity Academy, which serves a former mining community and social priority area near Doncaster in South Yorkshire. In 2008, just…

The report makes use of rich administrative data (the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study) which records children's exact date of birth and home postcode (used to identify the admissions policy in each lone parent's local authority). It improves on previous studies by estimating the precise timing (relative to the date on which part-time nursery…

This article presents findings from a qualitative study of the impact of gender on the doctoral experience. Eight women who had recently completed or who had almost completed a PhD were interviewed about their experiences. Seven studied part time and one full time. It was found that being a mother had profound implications for doctoral-level…

Reviews existing studies on motherless families in four English-speaking industralized countries: Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States. (BR)

Examined the social composition of an unselected sample of 282 English 8- to 16-year olds involved in intensive training in football, swimming, tennis, and gymnastics. Found that working-class children and those from single-parent families were underrepresented in all sports. Concluded that financial considerations and difficulties in accessing…

A total of 37 school-age children reared in 27 lesbian households were compared with 38 school-age children reared in 27 heterosexual single-parent households. Investigated were subjects' psychosexual development and emotions, behavior, and relationships. Results indicated groups did not differ in gender identity, sex role behavior, or sexual…

Claims that increasing numbers of children are growing up in stepfamilies. Discusses research concerns, specifically the context of step situations, comparison groups when studying stepfamilies, specific issues for consideration, and policy development. Claims that understanding how families manage change and supporting all families to provide…

This study investigates the differences in the degree of low academic achievement of third and fourth graders living with single-parent families from 11 industrialized countries. The United States ranks first among the countries compared in terms of the achievement gap for children in single- and two-parent families. After controlling for…

This paper, building on information from Portsmouth, Blackpool, and other coastal England towns with transient populations, summarizes data on four theorized indicators of social and economic deprivation that affect families with school-age children. The four indicators measured disruption, housing, family status, and neighborhood. Methods…

Given that in a community, there will be some parents who make use of preschool provision and some who do not, are there any discernible differences or similarities between the two groups of parents? Do the reasons parents offer for use or disuse, however cogent they may be, mask a more fundamental difference between families who do not take part…