Dr Leah O’Toole

    Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education

    School of Education
    (01) 474 7405

    Biography

    Dr Leah O’Toole is a Lecturer in Early Childhood Education in the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education in Maynooth University, Ireland. With an academic background in Psychology, her research interests include extending bioecological theory to incorporate interdisciplinary thinking with a focus on quality early childhood education. She is the co-author of books including Introducing Bronfenbrenner: A Guide for Practitioners and Students in Early Years Education, and Supporting positive behaviour in early childhood settings and primary schools: Relationships, reciprocity and reflection, as well as a number of book chapters and journal articles. Her work challenges neoliberal conceptualisations of early education and care (ECEC), and advocates for high quality ECEC based on relational, holistic and inclusive approaches, for example through the Erasmus+ funded THRIECE (Teaching for Holistic, Relational and Inclusive Early Childhood Education) project. Her doctoral study investigated transitions in early childhood and parental involvement in children’s education, and she subsequently led a team commissioned by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and National Parents’ Council (NPC) to investigate experiences and practices around parental involvement in Ireland. She is the Programme Coordinator of the BA in Early Childhood Teaching and Learning in Maynooth University.

    Books

      Year Publication
    2019 Supporting Positive Behaviour in Early Years Settings and Primary Schools: Relationships, Reciprocity and Reflective Practice.
    O'Toole, L. and Hayes, N. (2019) Supporting Positive Behaviour in Early Years Settings and Primary Schools: Relationships, Reciprocity and Reflective Practice. London: Routledge. [Details]
    2019 Parental involvement, engagement and partnership in their children's education during the primary school years.
    O’Toole, L., Kiely, J., McGillicuddy, D., O’Brien, E. and O’Keeffe, C. (2019) Parental involvement, engagement and partnership in their children's education during the primary school years. Dublin: National Council for Curriculum and Assessment / National Parents Council. [Details]
    2017 Introducing Bronfenbrenner: A Guide for Students and Practitioners in Early Years Education.
    Hayes, N., O'Toole, L. and Halpenny, A. (2017) Introducing Bronfenbrenner: A Guide for Students and Practitioners in Early Years Education. London: Routledge. [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2019 'Animating systems: The ecological value of considering Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model of development'
    O'Toole, L., Hayes, N. and Halpenny, A. (2019) 'Animating systems: The ecological value of considering Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model of development' In: Barnett, R. and Jackson, N (eds). Ecologies for Learning and Practice: Emerging Ideas, Sightings and Possibilities. London: Routledge. [Details]

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2019 '‘To learn with’ in the view of holistic, relational and inclusive education'
    Nowak-Lojewska, A., O’Toole, L., Regan, C. and Fereira, M. (2019) '‘To learn with’ in the view of holistic, relational and inclusive education'. Problemy Wczesnej Edukacji / Issues in Early Education, 251 (1):151-162 [Details]
    2014 'A bioecological perspective on educational transition'
    O'Toole, L. (2014) 'A bioecological perspective on educational transition'. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 140 :121-127 [full-text] [Details]
    2013 'Pedagogy or Politics: Cyclical Trends in Literacy and Numeracy in Ireland and Beyond'
    O Breachain, A. and O'Toole, L. (2013) 'Pedagogy or Politics: Cyclical Trends in Literacy and Numeracy in Ireland and Beyond'. Irish Educational Studies, 32 (4):401-419 [full-text] [Details]

    Published Reports

      Year Publication
    2021 Parental Involvement, Engagement and Partnership in Children’s Education during the Primary School Years: Final Report.
    Kiely, J. O’Toole, L. Haals-Brosnan, M., O’Brien, E. Z., O’Keeffe, C. and Dunne, C. (2021) Parental Involvement, Engagement and Partnership in Children’s Education during the Primary School Years: Final Report. Marino Institute of Education, Dublin. [Details]