Dr. Amanda Gummer PhD, BA (Hons), PCHE

Amanda has a PhD in psychology and the Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education.  She has worked with children and families in a variety of settings since 1993 including running a family support charity in London, teaching children with special educational needs and working as an Associate Lecturer in Child Development for the Open University.

Amanda established FUNdamentals in 2004 to help organisations involved with children understand more about child development. FUNdamentals is a research-based consultancy, specialising in play and parenting. Amanda has recently launched the FUNdamentals Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation to promote healthy, natural child development.  In addition, she is also a member of the Play Research Network, The International Toy Research Association (presenting a paper at the World Congress in Greece, July 2008), Play England and the National Toy Council and has been involved with parliamentary policy on children’s issues, recently contributing to and editing a report on adoption policy for the Conservative Party.  Amanda has presented a range of seminars on child development, and she has been interviewed on the BBC and by several newspapers and radio stations.

Recent articles and interviews include:

BBC Breakfast, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, Creative Steps, Toys N Playthings, Toy News, Nursery Today, Families Herts, KidSoup TV, BBC Radio Jersey, Three Counties Radio

Recent Seminars and Presentations include:

Flagship lecture at Shephall Children’s centre (March 2010)

Toy Fair Preschool License Press Conference (Jan 2010)

FUNdamentals Parent Support Programme in association with Jersey Childcare Trust and The Bridge, Jersey (Oct 09)

BPA Baby and Child show, Excel Exhibition Centre (October 09)

NATLL Annual Conference, Play Matters (Keynote Speech) (Oct 09)

Early Years Education Annual Conference, Manchester University (Sept 09)

Price Waterhouse Coopers Family Network (Sept 09)

Credit Suisse Family Network (Sept 09)

Hanson Renouf Family Conference, Jersey (July 2009)

BTHA Conference ‘What a difference a toy makes’, BAFTA (June 09)Practical Pre-school Awards (2006 - 2008)

BPA Baby and Child Show (2007, 2008)

For copies of the articles or notes from the seminars, please email press@fundamentalsonline.co.uk