what is ecl?
In January 2002, the nowherefoundation hosted a conversation in London between a group of educationists, teachers and parents who wanted to explore some critical questions about children's education.
Why do children seem to lose their natural creativity as they progress through our educational systems...?
Why do so many children struggle to learn...?
How has our obsession with the politics of measurement got in our way...?
How can we enhance our children's learning and release their creative potential...?
From this heart-felt conversation came a series of initial experiments. These experiments turned into innovative research projects, funded in part by national government and local communities. These projects turned into new approaches and ways of working - both in the classroom and at home - which we call enhancingchildren'slearning.
ecl brings a truly fresh approach to how we (parents, teachers and children) experience and make sense of the world - inviting us to explore our wholeness in the service of enhanced learning and creative potential. It is designed to complement existing good practice in parenting, teaching and the provision of children's support services.
The team guiding the programmes and development of ecl brings together expertise from the world of education, systemic practice and business.
More about the ecl team
The ecl team
Jane James, Programme Director
Originally a secondary school teacher, Jane has worked in all sectors of education including early years and universities and has been a school governor for more than ten years. She has been working with systemic approaches in schools since 2003 and has taken part in three major projects funded by the UK central government Department for Children Schools and Families. Jane is also a visiting lecturer with the School of Organisational Studies at University of the West of England and works extensively in individual and organisational development, both as a consultant and a qualified leadership and executive coach
Val Culff, Core Team
During her teaching career, Val taught all ages from four to eighteen years old, and used her specialism in Drama to run projects with children and adults in schools, the youth service and in the community. As a primary school headteacher in Wiltshire, Val helped to pioneer ecl principles for six years, working closely and innovatively with families throughout the school. As she left her school in 2007, it was recognised by OFSTED as being 'Outstanding' in all areas. Now a core member of the ecl team, Val writes and researches for the project , designing, coordinating and delivering training and workshops.
Judith Hemming, Originator, Advisor and Trainer
Judith is a Director of the nowherefoundation and a key constellator and knowledge-lead for ecl. Judith co-led ecl innovation and research work between 2002 and 2007 and is also co-founder of two systemic programmes - movingconstellations and CSISS. Her main focus is to explore, innovate and teach the use of systemic and phenomenological approaches in families, schools, organisations and wider social systems. Judith runs workshops and training courses in many countries around the world and she is also a faculty member of both the International Family Constellations Intensive initiative and she runs a psychotherapy practice in London.
Alison Bell, Development Director
A marketing and development professional, Alison has worked with colleagues and clients to create strategies and formulate the programmes, communications and brands to market services and products. Specialised in Web Marketing, CRM and Branding, she has consulted in innovation and start-ups, led brand transformation (large organisations and SMEs) and set up marketing teams. Since 2005, Alison has worked across all the nowherefoundation projects. With an MA degree in Modern Languages (Cantab), Alison incorporates aspects of psychotherapy, systemic constellations and mentoring (youth and business owners) into her work.
Terry Ingham
Terry is passionate about education in all its forms. He has been directly involved in learning and development activities for over 30 years. With a Masters degree in Education, he has taught in secondary schools, trained primary heads in a local authority, led the management education programmes in a range of organisations, and more recently has helped to set up a range of trainings in systemic practices within the nowherefoundation. He is a co-founder of the enhancingchildren'slearning initiative with a specific responsibility to initiate and shape ecl research and innovation projects. A key member of the core team, Terry brings vision, strategic insight and valuable human support to team members as they explore new ways to nurture ecl as a living inquiry.
Lucinda Leachman, core team
A multi-talented individual, Lucinda brings skills in drama and storytelling, NLP, Contemporary Psychotherapy and family constellations training, as well as organisational experience working in a brand consultancy. Lucinda is reading English Literature at Bristol University, with the intention of becoming a teacher. She has been key in the administration and support of the ecl research project with Ralph Allen School, and currently organizes the DBL workshops, as well as giving support in content production, moderation and other business admin.
Jane Peterson, Advisor and Trainer
Content coming - please come back soon
Ellie van der Est, Core Team (Netherlands)
Content coming - please come back soon.