Research project

Leading by Listening: A Playful Approach

Supporting educators and professionals with leading change by listening to children’s voices

A lightbox with colourful buttons and feathers on top.
Status

Active

Start date

January 2024

Completion date

June 2026

We conceptualise “voice” as being multi-dimensional and believe that children can communicate their voices through their gestures, silences, body language, non-verbal communications. One of the main ways we see children expressing their voices and views is often through their play. Children can communicate through blocks, clay, sand, lightboxes, transient art, percussion instruments (to name but a few!), and these can provide us with opportunities to tune into and listen to what children are saying. By listening closely to children’s voices expressed through their play, children can influence change. 

This project page shares a framework to support educators and professionals with this aim. You can find out more about other projects which Lynsey and The Playful Researchers are involved in.

Since the beginning of 2024, Dr Lynsey Burke has been working with Head Teachers and Senior Leaders across Scotland to create a framework which will support educators and professionals to listen to and amplify children’s voices to influence change.

The framework (shared below), was piloted in 2024-2025 in a mainstream school.  It is now being piloted in the Additional Support Needs sector and with 3rd sector organisations. There is also a National network being formed to take this forward session 2024/2025. Please get in touch with Lynsey Burke if you would like to be added to the network. 

Below the framework on this page, you will find a video in which Lynsey Burke introduces the framework and gives an overview of the different stages. There is also a digital story in which you can see through the child’s eyes, to see how the framework was put into practice.  Soon, there will also be videos added here below from educators who have piloted the framework in different contexts - so watch this space! 

Selection of cards spelling PLAYFUL

PLAYFUL

Problematise

  • What is the issue and how do you know? 
  • Consider different perspectives.
  • Identify the issue and be clear about why you are listening.
  • What are your observations/professional reflections telling you?
  • What would children like to have their voices heard on?

Link & look

  • Look beyond current context, be informed by and link to literature, guidance, policies, improvement planning and other settings.
  • Look inwards, outwards and forwards (ongoing).

Action Plan to Amplify Voices

  • Co-create the plan with children: Who, where, when and how would children like to share their voices on this issue?
  • Take into account children’s preferences, interests and observations.
  • Which spaces are the children most comfortable in?
  • Which ‘language’ does the child use to express themselves?

Young children’s voices in action

  • Children engage with playful, fun, child-led methods to share their voices.
  • Opportunities here to incorporate an intergenerational perspective?
  • Role of the professional here is to model/support/scaffold – where appropriate.

Findings & Feedback

  • Capture and document children’s voices; What are the children expressing? 
  • What are the children saying in their different languages?
  • Reflecting: was that method an effective way of listening to their voices?
  • Educator/professional observes/documents/records/responds.

Understand & Interpret

  • What does all of this mean?
  • Make meaning
  • Explore interpretations
  • Avoid assumptions
  • See through the child’s eyes
  • Check in with the children about your understanding
  • Revisiting

Look to the Future

  • What happens now and next?
  • How can children’s voices influence change?
  • Where will traces of children’s voices be seen?
  • How might children like to have their voices heard in the future?

Download the Playful Framework (PDF) on the Discovery Portal website.

Videos

Dr Lynsey Burke introducing the ‘Leading by Listening: A Playful Approach’ framework

Here is Digital story which highlights how staff in Redwell Primary School used the Leading by Listening framework to influence their curriculum rationale and development of play pedagogy throughout the school. 

Feedback on the framework from range of professionals

“A great framework to ensure all relevant stakeholders can contribute and ensure everyone is represented”

Head Teacher, AHDS Conference, November 2023

“Having a framework like this really helps to focus thoughts. Loving the ideas on how to evidence this approach, and already thinking how I can use this approach for other things too!”

Depute Head Teacher, AHDS Conference, November 2023

“I found it very interesting to see all the different ways that it could be achieved with all the photo examples of different set ups. My main take away will be how there is such a huge variety of ways that children can express themselves and to be open to observing all of those.”

Participant – Children in Scotland Conference, June 2024

“As a Perinatal Support Coordinator I often hear from families there concerns when it comes to introducing their older children to baby. This framework could help to find out what they need and how they are feeling about the changing home environment.”

Participant – Third Sector organisation Professional Learning Event, October 2024

“I see it being particularly useful in listening to children in care, especially in helping them transition out of care.”

Participant – Third Sector organisation Professional Learning Event, October 2024

Download the entirety of feedback below, from Senior Leaders at the launch of the framework at the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) conference on 9 November 2023.

People

Project lead(s)

Dr Lynsey Burke

Project team

Professor Divya Jindal-Snape

Downloads

Related groups

Education and Society

Project type

Research project