Francesca Brown-Cornwall

Lecturer

Health, Education, Policing and Sciences

I’m an academic within the Department of Psychology and Education at the University of Staffordshire, with over a decade of experience across higher education and early childhood. My career began in Early Years practice, progressing through senior and management roles before moving into higher education in 2012. Having both studied and taught on Foundation Degree provision in Early Years, I have maintained a strong commitment to connecting theory, research and practice, and to supporting the professionalisation of the early childhood workforce. Since joining the University, I have taught across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including Early Years, Primary Education, Early Years Teacher Status, Academic Professional Apprenticeships and Masters-level provision, across full-time, part-time and distance learning routes.

My teaching and pedagogic practice are grounded in playful, multi-modal, immersive and embodied approaches to learning. I developed my Tech and Tactile approach, which has informed a range of higher education initiatives, including Innovator roles within the Staffordshire Centre for Pedagogic Practice and the development of staff learning and development programmes. I work collaboratively with our award-winning, net-zero Woodlands Nursery, using the shared forest classroom to create authentic learning opportunities for university students and partner institutions. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Microsoft Certified Educator and an active member of international disciplinary and research networks. I also contribute to the wider academic community as an External Examiner.

I am research active, with particular interests in higher-order thinking, playful and embodied learning, early childhood development, and the relationship between research and practice. My doctoral research explored higher-order thinking and the smile and laughter response in two-year-old children, and I am currently focused on disseminating this work in accessible and meaningful ways for practitioners, educators and families. I am particularly interested in how research can move beyond academic publication to influence everyday practice and create more joyful, responsive and inclusive learning experiences.

Alongside my academic work, I am an expressionist artist and qualified Art Therapy Life Coach, bringing creativity, reflection and wellbeing into my professional practice. Prior to higher education, I worked extensively within early childhood services, including supporting children with complex needs and leading teams that achieved and maintained Outstanding Ofsted judgements. I have also provided training and consultancy across early childhood, further and private education settings, with a particular interest in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Across my academic, professional and creative work, I remain committed to helping educators and practitioners develop the knowledge, confidence and creativity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and learners.

Professional memberships and activities

Invited Expert for E-Learning & Pedagogy Programme (JISC)
Invited Expert for Learning & Teaching Practice Experts Group (JISC)
European Early Childhood Education Research Association (ECEERA)
British Education Research Association (BERA)
MIE Expert Community
Health & Social Care Management (IHSCM) as an associate member

Academic qualifications

PhD - June 2026 Thesis titled 'Higher Order Thinking and the Smile and Laughter Response in Two-Year-Old Children'
2017 - PGCHPE
2014 - MA in Education
2011 - BA(Hons) Early Childhood Studies (Top –Up) Degree
2009 - Foundation Degree in Early Years

Expertise

Special Education Needs and Disabilities, Inclusion and Diversity
Care and Education of Children Aged 0-8.
Contemporary Early Years Practice
Educational Technology in Early Years and Higher Education

Research interests

I am a hybrid researcher whereby my research interests crosscut psychology and education subjects and methods. I am currently disseminating research on thinking (higher order and executive functioning) in two-year-old children and their smile and laughter response.

Co-Production and Creative Research Methods
Technology in Early Years/Higher Education

Grants

Two grants from the Staffordshire Centre of Learning and Pedagogic Practice.
One grant from Connected Communities.

Teaching

• SEND Pathway Leader of BA (Hons) Education Studies and BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies

• Course Leader for BA (Hons) Education/Early Childhood Studies Top-Up (distance learning)

• BA (hons) Education Studies

• BA (hons) Early Childhood Studies,

• BA (hons) Early Childhood Studies with Early Years Teacher status

• PGCE in EYTS

• BA (hons) Primary Education

• Academic Professional Apprenticeship

• Guest lecturer PGCE, PGCHPE, MA

Publications

Brown-Cornwall, F. (2025) Exploring the Joyful Path to Development, [Online] Available at Exploring the Joyful Path to Development — CREC

Basford, J. Brown-Cornwall, F (2024) Digitally Enabling Pedagogies: traversing typologies and training trajectories. BERA Conference, 12th September University of Manchester

Brown-Cornwall, F. (2024) Higher Order Thinking and the Smile and Laughter Response, [Online] Available at Higher-order thinking and the smile and laughter response – Kinderly

Basford, J. Brown-Cornwall, F. (2023) Digital Educators: Figuring an identity in the world of Higher Education, Society for Research into Higher Education Conference, November 2023

Brown-Cornwall, F. (2023) YOUniversity, Tech, Tactile & Talented People, Staffordshire University Learning and Teaching Festival

Basford, J. Brown-Cornwall, F. (2023) Typology Avatars: Choose Your Adventure, Staffordshire University, Summer Learning and Teaching Festival, June 2023

Brown-Cornwall, F. (2023) Tech and Tactile Approach to Learning and Teaching, AdvanceHE LTConf23, Keele University, Available at Tech and Tactile Approach to Learning and Teaching (edgehill.ac.uk)

Brown-Cornwall, F. Coombe-Boxall, M (2023) The Power of Partnership Coaching, [Online] available at https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/scolpp/2023/04/28/the-power-of-partnership-coaching/

Basford, J. Brown-Cornwall, F. (2023) So What’s The Learning: People Places and Pedagogies, [Online] Available at https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/scolpp/2023/01/27/so-whats-the-learning-1-people-places-pedagogies/

Cartoon (yes, a cartoon!) report & blog on the SUMEC project can be viewed:

• https://doi.org/10.25416/NTR.22717528.v1

• https://doi.org/10.25416/NTR.22717666.v1

SCoLPP blog: https://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/scolpp/2023/04/28/the-power-of-partnership-coaching/

Brown-Cornwall, F. (2023) Planning and Organising for Learning and Positive Behaviour, In, The Early Years Handbook for Students and Practitioners, Routledge: London. Available to purchase The Early Years Handbook for Students and Practitioners: An Essential (routledge.com)

Brown-Cornwall, F. (2023) Higher Order Thinking and the Smile and Laughter Response in Two-Year-Old Children, [Online] Available at Higher Order Thinking and the Smile and Laughter Response in Two-Year-Old Children — CREC

Brown-Cornwall, F. (2022) ‘Student and Lecturer Reflections on Merging the Physical and Digital Classroom with a Tech and Tactile Approach’, IPiHE, Vol.4 (3) at http://journals.staffs.ac.uk/index.php/ipihe/index

Brown-Cornwall, F. Coombe-Boxall, M. (2022) ‘SUMEC: Building the Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Programme into HE Staff Development’, IPiHE, Vol. 4 (3) at http://journals.staffs.ac.uk/index.php/ipihe/index

Brown-Cornwall, F. Coombe-Boxall, M. (2022) The Staffordshire University Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Coaching (SUMEC) Programme, DCG Spotlight on digital capabilities: Digital skills, a priority or lip service? UCISA Conference, Online, April 2022

Brown-Cornwall, F. (2022) STEAM in the EYFS, BSME Webinar

Cornwall, F. Coombe-Boxall, M. (2021) What is SUMEC? SUMEC Showcase, June, Staffordshire University

Cornwall, F. (2021) Frans Favourite Four Activities Powered by Microsoft, SUMEC Showcase, June, Staffordshire University

Cornwall, F. (2021) Myth Busting part 2 and Tech and Tactile Approach, School of LSE Blended Learning Conference, May, Staffordshire University

Cornwall, F. (2021) DigiLearn Sector: A ‘Tech and Tactile’ approach to teaching – pandemic update!, [online] Available at Guest post – DigiLearn Sector: A ‘Tech and Tactile’ approach to teaching – pandemic update! – CCL Blog (uclan.ac.uk)

Cornwall, F. Coombe-Boxall, M. (2021) MIEExpert Update, UClan DigiLearn Conference, March, University of Central Lancashire

Cornwall, F. (2021) Smile and Laughter Response in Two-Year Old Children, SEFDEY Conference, March, Staffordshire University

Cornwall, F (2020) Tech and Tactile Approach to Teaching in HE, UClan DigiLearn Conference, September, University of Central Lancashire

External profiles

ORCID