Overview
This is an exciting collaborative project between the Geographic Data Science Lab and the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted). It seeks to address real societal challenges and inform No10 policy discussions through the innovative use of quantitative data approaches and unique Ofsted datasets.
About this opportunity
The project aims to build a national-scale model to assess the optimal location for future early childhood education (ECE) provision and achieve specific labour market outcomes in England. The project involves a partnership with the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted), and will seek to improve future ECE provision. Our focus is on formal ECE for children aged 0-4, their households and ECE providers, including nurseries and childminders. Specifically, the project seeks to:
O1: To quantify the extent of spatial mismatch between supply and demand for ECE, and identify its contextual underpinning factors;
O2: To determine the optimal location for ECE expansion based on specific intended labour market outcomes;
O3: To evaluate the impact of specific ECE policies on labour market participation across different population subgroups, to inform the design more inclusive policies.
Training:
Technical and professional development training will be provided as part of the PhD in quantitative data science, programming and artificial intelligence skills, as well as interpersonal skills such as time management, project organisation, leadership, data visualisation and communication.
Who is this opportunity for?
The project requires the following essential quantitative and data science skills, including the capacity to analyse and model geographic data, GIS, and coding skills in R and / or Python. Desirable skills include knowledge and experience in gravity or spatial interaction modelling, simulation and artificial intelligence methods; and, experience in writing research academic articles and working in research projects.
Further reading
Heckman, J.J., 2006. Skill formation and the economics of investing in disadvantaged children. Science, 312(5782), pp.1900-1902.
UK Parliamentary, 2021. Early childhood education and care. Postnote, 649, Aug. The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Westminster, London.
Rowe, F., Lovelace, R. and Dennett, A., 2024. Spatial interaction modelling: A manifesto. In A Research Agenda for Spatial Analysis (pp. 177-196). Edward Elgar Publishing.