Appendix C: Participant Information Sheet

Appendix C: Participant Information Sheet

Research Study Title (draft)

“‘Early Reading – is that what we do with under-threes?’

Insights, Challenges and Controversies of EYTTs”

You are being invited to take part in a research project about the experiences and challenges of Early Years Teacher Trainees supporting and teaching under-threes with early reading. Before you decide to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Please do ask if there is anything that is not clear, or if you would like more information. Take time to decide whether or not you wish to take part.

Thank you for reading and for your consideration.

This proposed research study is to enable a group of Early Years Teacher Trainees studying on the Graduate Employment-Based Early Years Teacher Status Route (over a part-time, 12 months training route) to explore, evaluate and reflect upon their experiences in supporting very young children with early reading in their role as an EYT in a private, voluntary, independent (PVI) or state funded early years setting.

The purpose of this study is to find out how Early Years Teachers support those early reading skills of the youngest children in their care and ‘teach’ early reading to under-threes in the context of the setting. I hope to achieve a shift in thinking about early reading and make a contribution to the field of study to enhance practice and review provision for early reading within the EYFS. The core research questions are:

• 
  How do Early Years Teacher Trainees support very young children with early reading?
  
• 
  What are Early Years Teacher Trainees’ views and beliefs about reading and how does this influence their practice with under-threes?
  
• 
  What are the experiences and challenges of Early Years Teacher Trainees in supporting very young children with early reading?
  

It is important to know about these experiences and give Early Years Teacher Trainees the opportunity to reflect upon these experiences and any challenges faced, in order to make better provision for under-threes and plan future professional development to shape the new Early Years Teacher Status (September 2014). The purpose of the research study is to find out about the experiences of EYTTs in supporting very young children with early reading and explore any challenges that arise, which involves investigating how EYTTs approach early reading with babies and under-threes in practice.

I would like to gain your voluntary informed consent as a participant in the research, which includes you as a trainee and your settings. You have been chosen as participants as you are all trainees on the EYITT Early Years Teacher Status Graduate Employment-Based Route. You already have a breadth and depth of experience to contribute to this research project from your work with very young children.

It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you do decide to take part you will be given this information sheet to keep (and be asked to sign a consent form) and you can still withdraw at any time without any impact, or your study in any way. You do not have to give a reason at any point of withdrawal.

It is important to clarify that participants have the right to withdraw at any point in the research process. The survey will have an anonymous point of return and there will also be an alternative offer of a hard copy with a box in a central position for return to attempt complete anonymity. Your choice to participate in this research at all stages is not linked in any way to your teacher training journey and there is no obligation to take part.

The research journal (Zine) will capture your day to day experiences in practice. It is entirely up to you how often you write or how much you write. It is also up to you how much you wish to share with the researcher.

In January or February 2016, a final focus group will take place with participants to finalise experiences, thoughts and impact or changes to practice and provision. All participants will also be asked to submit all research journals (Zines) to the researcher in January/February 2016.

The audio and/or video recordings of your activities made during this research will be used only for analysis and for illustration in conference presentations and lectures. No other use will be made of them without your written permission, and no one outside the project will be allowed access to the original recordings.

Please complete the survey and ensure that all consent forms are read carefully, signed and shared with the researcher. If you wish to continue to take part in the next stage of the research process, please complete the survey response form with your name, email address and contact telephone number. I will be in touch soon to discuss mutually convenient interview arrangements.

If you have changed jobs in the meantime, this does not affect the data or research project, as it is about your experiences as an Early Years Teacher Trainee and not linked directly to the setting. Although, please be aware you will need to ask the setting’s permission to use the data using the signed consent form.

I do not think there will be any potential for any physical/psychological harm or distress to participants in taking part in this research. However, please be reassured that at any point participants may withdraw from this process, without needing to give a reason.

Whilst there are no immediate benefits for those participating in the project, it is hoped that this work will give you as an Early Years Teacher Trainee, the opportunity to reflect upon your experiences and practice and understand any challenges faced. It is hoped that these experiences and reflections will influence and impact upon better provision for under-threes and to plan future professional development for you, as a former trainee (similar to an NQT) so that we can continue to support your professional development in all areas.

The purpose of the research study is to find out about your experiences in supporting very young children with early reading and explore any challenges that arise.

What if something goes wrong?

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the research study or raise a complaint about the research project, please contact:

Karen Boardman, Principle Researcher, Edge Hill University/EdD, University of Sheffield

Karen.boardman@edgehill.ac.uk

If you feel that your complaint has not been handled to your satisfaction by the Principle Researcher, the Supervisor will then follow the appropriate channels for the next stage of the complaint.

Dr Rachael Levy, Research Supervisor, University of Sheffield

r.levy@sheffield.ac.uk

Will my taking part in this project be kept confidential?

All the information and data collected about you during the course of the research will be kept strictly confidential. You will not be able to be identified in any reports or publications. No-one from the University Team will know that are taking part in this research, unless you discuss it, as this information will be kept strictly confidential. All data will be kept in a secure and safe place during the length of the research study. You will also be asked to approve all the data (your interview transcripts, in particular) being used and only your approved versions will be used in the research.

The results of this research study will be part of my own Educational Doctoral Thesis. The results will be published as part of this thesis and are also likely to be contained in a Journal Publication at a later point. You may request a copy of the published results if you wish. You or your setting will not be identified in any report or publication. Findings of the research will be shared with all participants.

This study has been ethically approved by the University of Sheffield’s Ethics Review Procedure. The University’s Research Ethics Committee monitors the application and delivery of the University’s Ethics Review Procedure across the University.

Karen Boardman, Principle Researcher

T: 01695 584020

Early Years Professional Support Team

EarlyYearsPartnerhsip@edgehill.ac.uk

T: 01695 654342

You will be given a copy of the information sheet, a signed consent form to keep, a consent form to share with your setting Manager/Owner and a Letter to share with Parents, Carers and Families. Please do give all signed consent forms to the researcher on request.