معرفی
Paul Ramchandani is LEGO Professor of Play in Education, Development and Learning at the University of Cambridge and Director of the PEDAL Research Centre. He also works as a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in the UK National Health Service. Previously, he was Professor of Child and Adolescent Mental Health at Imperial College London.
His educational background includes:
- D.Phil. Developmental Psychopathology (University of Oxford)
- M.Sc. Public Health (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
- M.Med.Sc. (University of Leeds)
- MRCPsych (Royal College of Psychiatrists)
- B.M. (University of Southampton)
Professor Ramchandani's research focuses on early child development with particular emphasis on play in children's learning and development, early intervention to promote positive child mental health, and parental playfulness in the early years. His work aims to directly improve the lives of babies, children and their families through psychological interventions and observational studies of parents and young children. The research is conducted in collaboration with local authority staff, teachers, healthcare workers and is supported by funding from the LEGO Foundation, the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), the Nuffield Foundation and NESTA.
Analysis of his recent publications shows a strong focus on understanding play in various contexts - hospitals, schools, and homes - and how it impacts children's development, learning, and mental health. There's particular attention to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's play experiences, as well as cross-cultural perspectives on play in Global Majority countries. His work also explores the relationship between parenting interventions, particularly video-feedback approaches, and child outcomes.
His professional recognition includes:
- Practitioner Review Editor, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
- Department for Education Scientific Advisory Council
- Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) Member
- Royal College of Psychiatrists Member
Professor Ramchandani leads several significant research projects including "Parental playfulness and the development of play in children's lives" funded by the LEGO Foundation, "Healthy Start Happy Start" (a randomized controlled trial of a Video Feedback intervention) funded by NIHR, "Play and Health in Hospital" funded by LEGO Foundation, and "Transforming Effective Early Educational Interventions" funded by the Nuffield Foundation and NESTA. He works with an interdisciplinary team of colleagues including teachers, psychologists, and health professionals at the PEDAL Research Centre.
At the PEDAL Centre, he oversees research on play in early relationships, play and health, play and learning in schools, play, communication and neurodiversity, and play and policy. The Centre aims to translate research into real-world impacts by developing tools and resources for families, communities, and practitioners, and by initiating changes in services, policy, and practice.
