Dr Debbie Ravenscroft
Senior Lecturer
Biography
Dr Debbie Ravenscroft is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Chester. Her work is underpinned by a strong commitment to improving the lives of young children. As a member of the Alliance for Children and an alumna of Pen Green, she actively promotes research and engagement aimed at shaping and influencing early years policy. At undergraduate level, Dr Ravenscroft teaches across a range of programmes, including Early Childhood Studies, and is Programme Leader for the Early Childhood & Primary Education single honours degree. At postgraduate level, she contributes to the MA Early Childhood and the PGCert in Attachment, Trauma & Mental Health. She also serves as Safeguarding Lead for Childhood, Education & Professional Development and is the link tutor for students undertaking a Foundation Year. Dr Ravenscroft’s professional background includes extensive experience working with young children and families. She previously owned and managed her own day nursery and worked as an Early Years Workforce Inspector on behalf of Ofsted.
Teaching and Supervision
Dr Ravenscroft teaches across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules focused on young children and families, drawing on the specialist knowledge gained through her Master’s and Doctoral research. At postgraduate level, she contributes to teaching on adverse childhood experiences and trauma-informed practice to a multidisciplinary cohort of students seeking to broaden and deepen their expertise in supporting children and families across a variety of professional contexts. She holds a PGCert in Lifelong Learning (QTLS) and is recognised as an Advanced Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Dr Ravenscroft completed her Doctorate in December 2023. Her doctoral research examined how young children manage grief following the death of a sibling, maintaining a close connection to her professional expertise in early childhood. Her Master’s research, undertaken at the renowned Pen Green Research Base in Northampton, explored how young children’s mental health is supported in day nursery settings through the use of transitional objects. Both projects highlight her commitment to under-researched aspects of children’s lives. In particular, her work addresses the sensitive and often overlooked areas of death, bereavement, and childhood grief, which are frequently misunderstood or avoided in conversations with young children. These research interests strongly inform her teaching and underpin her contribution across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.