Dr Karen Morris

Biography

Dr Karen Morris had careers as a primary teacher and an educational psychologist before joining the University of Winchester in 2010. As a Senior Educational Psychologist, she developed specialisms in the areas of Early Years and of autistic spectrum differences.  She worked extensively in providing continuing professional development for those working in schools and Early Years settings and it is partly enjoyment of this work that led her to come to Winchester, where her teaching initially included work-based students.  

Whilst working at the University of Winchester, Karen completed a doctorate (DEdPsy) at UCL.  

Karen was the Programme Leader for Childhood Studies from 2010 to 2020. She led the 2012 validation of the Foundation degree in Childhood Studies and in 2014 she and the team validated a BA (Hons) Childhood Studies ‘Top Up’. Both programmes were multidisciplinary with team members bringing a variety of perspectives. Karen emphasised psychology within her contributions.

Karen gained Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) in 2019. 

Areas of expertise

• Early Years
• Special Educational Needs
• Social and Emotional Development
• Working with Parents
• Flourishing - Positive Psychology
• Educational psychology
• Helping non-traditional students to flourish in higher education 

Publications

• Morris, K. (2017) Attachments and Relationships. In: Moyles, J., Payler, J. & Georgeson, J. (eds) ed. Beginning Teaching, Beginning Learning. Maidenhead. Open University McGraw Hill .
• Morris, K. (2015) Promoting Positive Behaviour in the Early Years, Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Conferences

• Morris, K. (2016) Best friends forever? What teachers need to know about best friendship in primary school. Paper presented at Education and Childhood Studies: Research, Practice and Impact Conference, University of Portsmouth. 
• Norman, A. & Morris, K. (2016) Values of an emotional culture in early years educational contexts.   Comenius Values and Education International conference. University of Winchester.
• Morris, K. (2015) Self Determination Theory and the Promotion of Positive Behaviour. Children and Childhoods International Conference, University Campus Suffolk.
• Morris, K. (2014) Promoting Positive Behaviour with a focus on the importance of Autonomy. Paper presented at symposium on promoting social, emotional, behavioural and mental health in Childhood and Education, University of Portsmouth.
• Morris, K. (2014) Deci and Ryan's Self-determination theory and its implications. Annual SENCo Conference. University of Winchester.
• Morris, K. (2012 and 2013), Autistic Spectrum Differences in Girls. Guest speaker presentation at Southampton City Council’s conference, Including Pupils with Autism