Kids’ Own Seek Researcher for Early Years Creative Play and Arts Study

Kids’ Own is seeking a researcher to explore the potential for creative play through meaningful arts engagement, with early years Traveller children and their families.

Kids’ Own is delighted to have been awarded funding from the Katherine Howard Foundation through the Children’s Promise One Year Grants Programme 2024 to commission the above scoping study. The scoping study will be partly facilitated through creative consultation with Kids’ Own associate artists, who have experience in working with early years children. Groups of children and families will be convened by two Traveller support organisations including Tipperary Rural Traveller Project and another organisation, to be confirmed.

The aim of this scoping study is to allow Traveller parents’ voices to be heard specifically on issues like the importance of play and creativity in young children’s development, and more broadly on how early childhood education and supports could meaningfully include priorities for Travellers in terms of their culture and community. We want this research to recognise and honour the central role parents and families play in children’s early learning, and to provide an opportunity for Traveller parents to explore and voice what this looks like for their families and within their community.

Kids’ Own is now seeking an early years researcher to document and chart the development, progress, and findings from this project, and make recommendations based on the findings from the study. Our aim is to provide a report that is a useful document for organisations across sectors to respond to and build on.

We welcome applications from experienced researchers who have relevant expertise and a good knowledge of the early years sector, arts, and children’s rights sectors.

How to apply:

Applicants should send a detailed CV, along with a cover letter outlining their interest in this piece of work, with reference to relevant experience, their research/evaluation ethos, methodological approach, rationale for application, and any other relevant details.

Criteria for selection will be based on, but not limited to, the following:

• Previous research/evaluation experience.
• Experience or understanding of the early years arts context and vision/ethos for this particular project.
• Knowledge and understanding of the contextual framework for this project, both theoretical and practical.
• Proposed methodology.

Timeline: the research will take place between October 2024 and March 2025. Creative consultations have been tentatively planned for consecutive days in October 2024 and February 2025. The final report must be submitted by the beginning of May 2025.

Fee: there is a set fee of €4,000 for this work (including up to 6 days where creative consultations with children and families, facilitated by Kids’ Own Associate Artists, are taking place). There will be additional funds available for travel and other expenses to be confirmed with the successful applicant(s).

Deadline: Friday 4th October at midnight.

How to apply: Please send a cover letter detailing your experience, approach, and interest in the role, along with a CV to ciara@kidsown.ie

Shortlisting will apply and online interviews will take place in early October.

Funding for this work has been provided by the Katherine Howard Foundation, Children’s Promise One Year Grants Programme 2024.