BECERA 2025 Keynote Talk

Space, voice, audience and influence: children's right to be heard in early childhood

LAURA LUNDY - Queen’s University, Belfast / University College Cork / co-Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Children’s Rights

Laura Lundy is Co-Director of the Centre for Children’s Rights and Professor of Education Law and Children’s Rights at Queen’s University, Belfast, Professor of Law at University College Cork and a barrister at law. She is co-Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Children’s Rights. Her expertise is in law and human rights with a particular focus on children’s right to participate in decision-making and education rights. Her 2007 paper in the British Educational Research Journal, “’Voice’ is not enough” is one of the most highly cited academic papers on children’s rights ever. The model of children’s participation it proposes (based on four key concepts - Space, Voice, Audience and Influence) is used extensively in scholarship and practice. The “Lundy model” has been adopted by numerous national governments, including Ireland it its national strategy and framework on child and youth participation, as well as international organisations including the European Commission, Council of Europe, World Health Organisation and UNICEF.

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BECERA 2025

make new connections ~ network with like minded individuals ~ inform and develop your own work ~ learn about the latest ECEC research ~ discuss current sector issues ~ present own research ~ grow as a professional ~ improve outcomes for children

BECERA - Foregrounding the importance of practice based research

  • About BECERA

    In 2010 CREC launched and hosted the first British Early Childhood Education Research Association (BECERA) Conference and it has been held annually ever since.

  • Conference Programme

    Our 15th Annual Conference will be hosted at the Studio in central Birmingham on 17th February and will feature keynote talks and research presentations grouped into thematic symposia.

  • Researchers' Posts

    Take a look at the guest posts written by our symposia presenters to learn more about them, their latest research projects, their wider EY interests and ways you can connect with those of similar research interests to yours.