Academic critiques

Trainees are required in Year 2 to write academic critiques of interventions or intervention approaches in use with children and young people, considering both the psychological theory that the approach draws upon (or could be said to draw upon) and any existing research into its effectiveness. Critiques listed below (with keywords) have either received a distinction grade or, in a few cases, are particularly strong pieces of work with minor revisions made following feedback. Click on 'Read more' for a link to download the paper.

To browse a complete list of critiques with author details, click here.

Precision Teaching for maths: An academic critique (2023)
Mathematics, Precision Teaching
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Does Reading Aloud to a Dog Improve Children’s Reading Outcomes? An Academic Critique (2023)
Reading
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Pyramid Club: An Academic Critique (video)
Internalising behaviours, Mental health, Pyramid Club
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Intensive Interaction: An Academic Critique (video)
Autism, Intensive interaction
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Academic Critique of the ‘FUN FRIENDS’ programme
CBT, Emotional wellbeing, FRIENDS For Life
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Flipped learning in secondary school mathematics- is it worth the flip? (2021)
COVID-19, Flipped learning, Mathematics
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Tree of Life: A Tool for Therapeutic Growth? (2021)
Tree of Life
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We Thinkers! Series: An Academic Critique
ADHD, Autism, Theory of Mind
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Academic critique of Paws b, a mindfulness based intervention for children
.b, Mindfulness
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FRIENDS for Life: An Academic Critique
Anxiety, CBT, FRIENDS For Life
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Reciprocal Teaching: An Academic Critique
Reading, Reciprocal Teaching
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Pillars of Parenting: an academic critique.
Parenting
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Attention Autism for children and young people on the autistic spectrum: A critique of the current evidence-base.
Attention, Autism
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Jolly Phonics: An Academic Critique
Jolly Phonics, Phonics, Reading
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The Homunculi approach. A flexible cognitive behavioural therapy programme for young people on the autism spectrum or with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Autism, Homunculi
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Pharmacological and Psychological Interventions for Attentional Difficulties
ADHD, Attention, Behaviour, Medication
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Cued Spelling: Is it Worth the Wait?
Spelling
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Applied Behavioural Analysis interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder
ABA, Autism, Behaviour
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Future Selves interventions: A critique of the current evidence base (2015)
Behaviour, SEBD
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Numicon: A mutli-sensory approach to supporting the development of arithmetical cognition
Mathematics, Numicon
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Wordshark: A Computer-Assisted Programme
Reading, Spelling, Wordshark
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Cogmed Working Memory Training: To what extent is it supported by research and theory?
Cogmed, Working memory
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Using Cognitive-Behavioural Approaches to Anger Management with Young People
Anger management, CBT, Therapeutic intervention
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To what extent can Social Storiesℱ be considered an effective school-based intervention and who may benefit from their use?
Social skills, Social Stories
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Mindfulness in Schools
.b, Mindfulness
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Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing, Therapeutic intervention
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Therapeutic Story-writing
Children in care, Emotional wellbeing, Therapeutic intervention, Therapeutic Storywriting
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Video Interaction Guidance
Video feedback, VIG
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Brain GymÂź
Brain Gym
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Implementing Social Stories with a preschooler without ASD
Pre-school, Social skills, Social Stories
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Cool Kids
CBT, Cool Kids, Therapeutic intervention
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Nurture Groups
Attachment, Emotional wellbeing, Nurture Groups, Social skills
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PATHS Pre-school
Emotional wellbeing, PATHS, Social skills
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Memory magic: Is it just a bunch of hocus pocus? (2015)
Memory Magic, Working memory
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Paired Reading
Paired Reading, Reading
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