Child Psychology

This guide will provide a very brief introduction to child psychology, and an outline of relevant material available in the IOE archives.

Introduction

Prominent educational psychologists such as Cyril Burt and Susan Isaacs, Herbert Russell Hamley and Philip E Vernon all spent time teaching at the IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society. In 1948 a Research and Training Centre was opened to carry out research on the health and psychology of young children. In 1973, Jack Tizard, the first Professor of Child Development, set up the Thomas Coram Research Unit. Child Psychology is still taught and researched today under the Faculty of Children and Health.

A brief history of child psychology

Philosophers from the 17th century discussed the minds of children in relation to education and whether humans were born with innate knowledge or were a Tabula Rosa or 'blank state'. Charles Darwin's theory of evolution encouraged the late 19th century psychologists to research evolutionary reasons for psychological development. The early 20th century saw the systems of psychology defined, and attempts were made to define the psychological stages of human development by psychologists such as Jean Piaget and Sigmund Freud.

From 1880-1950 psychologists in the UK pioneered methods for helping children and parents. James Sully, one of the leading members of the British Child Association, opened the first explicitly psychological laboratory at University College, London, which encouraged teachers and parents to bring in difficult children for assessment. Similar work was carried out in Liverpool by Cyril Burt, who was appointed in 1913 as the psychologist to the London County Council. At the suggestion of Burt, the first Child Guidance Clinic, opened in 1927 in London, shortly followed by the London Child Guidance Training in Islington, providing training for psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.

Compulsory state education also encouraged educational psychology as some teachers' implemented psychological theories to deal with the influx of children from a variety of backgrounds, and with varying abilities.

By the 1950s educational psychology had become a profession. Psychologists employed scientific methods of modern science; developed tests for measuring intelligence; provided information for government committees on school children; and made important contributions to all areas of education and child development.

Guidance

For guidance on how to use our dedicated online catalogue to browse and search archives, manuscripts and records see the archives home page.

Archive collections

Child Development Society (CDS)

The Child Development Society, formed in 1949, stemmed from the IOE’s Child Development Course. It promoted child development studies and provided a forum for ideas in relation to the young child. The collection, 1942-2004, contains administrative papers; papers re. the organisation of conferences and lectures; news letters. (RefNo: CDS)

Papers of Dorothy Gardner

Dorothy Gardner was a nursery and primary school teacher and was the Head of the Department from 1943. Her papers, 1933-1992, include annual reports of the Child Development Department; newsletters of the Child Development Society; pamphlets relating to child development; correspondence and papers relating to reading skills; and correspondence. (RefNo: DG)

Papers of Amelia Fysh

Amelia Fysh was the head of Beech Green Nursery School, which pioneered the integration of children with disabilities into mainstream schooling. Her papers, 1951-2002, mainly relate to her work at Beech Green. (RefNo: AF)

Papers of Nathan Isaacs

Nathan Isaacs lectured and wrote on child development. He was closely involved with, his wife, Susan Isaacs’ work at Malting House School. The collection, 1913-1966, includes his lectures, unpublished writings and notes, publications and correspondence. (RefNo: NI)

Papers of Susan Isaacs

Susan Isaacs was Head of Malting House School, an experimental school which fostered the individual development of children, and the first head of the Department of Child Development at the IOE. Her papers 1928-1979, contain personalia; correspondence; writings; and press cuttings concerning her role as the agony aunt 'Ursula Wise'. (RefNo:SI)

Papers of Hilde Jarecki

Jarecki worked as the Senior Professional Advisor for the London Playgroup Association. Her papers, 1945-1997, contain biographical papers, material for publication and papers relating to the playgroup associations. (RefNo: HJ)

Papers of Eileen Molony

Eileen Molony, BBC television producer. The collection comprises material relating to the production of the her television series 'The Expanding Classroom' (1969) which gave an insight into schools which were implementing some of the recommendations of the ‘Plowden Report’, 1967. (RefNo: EM)

Papers of Cynthia Reynolds

Cynthia Reynolds was the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) Advisory Teacher under the direction of the Home Economics Inspectorate from 1971. Her papers, [1970s-1980s] include material about the design and development of school and further education child development courses. (RefNo: CR)

Papers of Louis Christian Schiller

Louis Christian Schiller, Staff Inspector for Primary Education from 1945, was a promoter of progressive ideals and child-centred teaching in primary education. His collection, 1909-1986, includes papers regarding his educational ideas including notebooks, working notes, writings and scripts of his lectures; correspondence; material relating to courses for teachers; personalia; printed material, and photographs. (RefNo: CS)

Papers of Denis Herbert Stott

Denis Herbert Stott was an educational psychologist who worked on delinquency, behavioural problems, child and adolescent development, and learning difficulties. His papers include notebooks, 1940s-1950s, and a collection of Stott's published papers, 1950s-1970s. (RefNo: DS)

Records of the Institute of Education

The records of the IOE cover every aspect of the business of the IOE. The Institute collection also contains papers on the Susan Isaacs research fellowship; records of the Department of Child Development and Educational Psychology (RefNo: IE/CDE); biographies of staff at the Institute including those involved in psychology, such as Maureen Shields, Thelma Veness, Professor Philip Vernon, and Jack Tizard; publications by staff on child development and psychology. (RefNo: IE)