Helena Bunn Psychology

Dr Helena Bunn

Programme Director - Professional Practice & Placements

Programme Director

Academic & Professional Tutor

Department of Psychology & Human Development , School of Childhood and Social Care

Helena graduated in Psychology from University of Bucharest, Romania, before moving to England and completing a Professional Doctorate Programme in Educational and Child Psychology. She currently works as a Programme Director at the University of East London and as a Senior Educational Psychologist within a Local Authority.

Qualifications

  • Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificate, Cardiff University Law School (2018)
  • Professional Doctorate in Educational and Child Psychology, University of East London (2011)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Research Methods, Open University (2007)
  • Bachelors/Licence in Psychology (University of Bucharest, Romania) (1998)

Areas Of Interest

  • Wholistic professional development in educational psychology
  • Post-traumatic growth in education
  • Complex medical needs and education
  • Deprived family nurturing and important life transitions
  • Assessment – formulation - diagnosis
Helena Bunn Psychology

Overview

Helena is an educational psychologist by background, with extensive experience across the public, academic and legal sectors. She has a keen interest in the interlinked topics of complex medical needs, post traumatic growth, school transitions and supporting wholistic development in the profession. Whilst keeping some of her time for professional practice, Helena is also an integrative researcher, and this is reflected in her diverse research activity. She responds to practice needs and uses a mixture of traditional and emancipatory methods when involved in research. She leads group research projects, provides mentoring to early career researchers and practitioners, and gets involved in consultancy projects to Local Authorities.

RESEARCH

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  • Key Outcomes for Learners in Norfolk’s SEMH Specialist Resource Bases and Autism Bases, Utilising the FLOURISH Framework - collaborative participatory study between the University of East London and Norfolk County Council Educational Psychology & Specialist Support (2023).
  • Evaluation of the Tree of Life in Schools Programme in City & Hackney (2023)
  • The self-advocacy transition project (research lead)
  • Traumatic events, psychological growth and resilience (research lead)
  • Effectiveness of ARROW intervention in children with literacy difficulties (research lead)
  • Cross-cultural validation of student, parent and school personnel school climate survey in no-continental United States contexts (co-researcher)
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PUBLICATIONS

Recent conference presentations

  • Bunn, H. (2023, January 2023, January 12-13). Post-traumatic growth in children diagnosed with a life threatening / life limiting condition. A systematic literature review. [Conference presentation]. British Psychological Society, Division of Educational and Child Psychology Annual Conference. Nottingham, UK.
  • Zaniolo, A. & Bunn, H. (2023, January 12-13). From Espoused Values to Action: Reflections and Implications for Practice from an Empirical Study on EPs’ views and Experiences in Promoting Inclusive Education. [Conference presentation]. British Psychological Society, Division of Educational and Child Psychology Annual Conference. Nottingham, UK.
  • Somner, L. & Bunn, H. (2023, January 12-13). The Outcomes Project, a Collaborative Participatory Study Between Academia and Practice – is this One Way to Enhance Professional Practice? [Conference presentation]. British Psychological Society, Division of Educational and Child Psychology Annual Conference. Nottingham, UK.
  • Bunn. H. & Trevisan, I. (2021, January 14-15). Complex Medical Conditions and Psychological Effects in Children and Young People [Conference presentation]. British Psychological Society, Division of Educational and Child Psychology Annual Conference. (online).
  • Bunn, H., Trevisan, I. & Dhingsa, D. (2021, January 14-15). My New School transition intervention – learning from the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions [Poster presentation]. British Psychological Society, Division of Educational and Child Psychology Annual Conference. (online).

Books and journals

  • Ang, F & Bunn, H (under review). Parental experiences of professional involvement for children and young people with selective mutism and their preferred support. Submitted to Educational Psychology in Practice.
  • Ajewole, S. & Bunn, H. (under review). Exploring the Lived Experience of Black Young People in a Predominantly White Secondary School. Submitted to Educational Psychology in Practice.
  • Zaniolo, A. & Bunn, H. (under review). Educational Psychologists’ Views and Role in Promoting Inclusive Education. A Framework for Reflection and Practice. Submitted to Educational Psychology in Practice.
  • Edwards, P., Bunn, H. (2022). 'We have to carry on'. A participatory research project with young people enrolled on a supported internship program during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Educational and Child Psychology. 39(4).
  • Ng, R., Bunn, H. (2022). 'Autism doesn't come with a manual, it comes with a parent who never gives up':  A Family Resilience Perspective to Exploring the Views of Black and Minority Ethnic Parents of Children with Autism. Debate, DECP. 182, pp.6-22.
  • Greenblatt, R., Gumbs, S., Lemboye, S., Blanchard, J. and Bunn, H. (2021). Educational Psychology in the Virtual World: A Small Study on Practice Adaptations During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Potential Benefits for Future Services. Educational Psychology Research and Practice. 7 (2), pp. 1-11.
  • Kombou, E., Bunn, H. (2021). What are Nurture Group Staffs’ Experiences of How Their Resilience is Supported in School ? International Journal of Nurture in Education, 7. ISSN 2059-0466.
  • Speed, E, Thomas, M, Bunn, H. (2021). The English Baccalaureate and devaluation of the arts in school: students’ perceptions of subject value, and the psychological and social impact. Educational and Child Psychology, 38 (1). ISSN 0267-1611.
  • Wagner, K., Bunn, H. (2020). Academic progress through the lenses of children with SEN: an IPA study. Educational Psychology in Practice, 36 (1), 52-68. DOI: 10.1080/02667363.2019.1674250
  • Bunn, H., Turner, G., Macro, E. (2019). The Wellbeing Toolkit Training Programme: A Useful Resource for Educational Psychology Services? Psychology in Russia. State of the Art, 12 (4), 210-228. DOI: 10.11621/pir.2019.0413.
  • Rae, T., Bunn, H., Walshe, J. (2019). The Essential Guide to Positive Psychology with Young People (Hinton House Essential Guides) ISBN: 978-1-906531-84-3
  • Bunn, H, Boesley, L. (2019). My New School transition to high school for children with special educational needs in England – findings and ideas for practice. Support for Learning, 34 (2), 128-147.
  • Winter, S., Bunn, H. (2019) Work to be done? A survey of educational psychologists exploring their contribution to special schools for profound and multiple learning difficulties. British Journal of Special Education, 46 (1), 53-75 DOI:10.1111/1467-8578.12252
  • Ackerley, S, Bunn, H. (2018) Changing School Culture and Practices – an Action Research Project with Soft System methodology Used by Educational Psychology. DECP Debate, 169, 7-19
  • Bunn, H & Robinson, M. (2017). Children with complex medical conditions and their school experiences - a tentative model. DECP Debate, 165, 15-23
  • Bunn, H, Davis, D & Speed, E (2017). High school transition – an intervention that empowers children with special educational needs and improves school practice. Support for Learning, 32 (3)
  • Robinson, N., Bunn, H. & Gersch, I. (2017). A preliminary study on using the “Little Box of Big Questions (2012)” for children with social, emotional, behavioural and moderate learning needs. Educational Psychology Research and Practice, 3(2), 2-18
  • Bunn, H (2015). Complex medical conditions: issues for parents and what can be done in practice? DECP Debate, 154, 45-53
  • Nita, N., Stafie, C., Agrigoroae, D., Savin, A., Popovici*, H., Damian, B., Vacaru, L (2004). Psihopedagogia pentru persone cu cerinte educative speciale. Strategii de educatie integrata. Piatra-Neamt. Romania: Alfa.
  • Popovici, H. (2002). Strategic issues at the contemporary challenging teenager: theoretical aspects and work experiences. In Petre Andrei University, Jubilee Session of the Faculty of Psychology and Social Work — ‘Petre Andrei Days’, 10 years anniversary of the School of Psychology, Scientific Reports. Iasi, Romania.
  • Popovici, H. (2000). Looked after children need us: how do we help them?, in Educator-infant-family relation in the educational action (risks and social problems), Bucharest: Semne Publishing House.
  • Popovici, H., & Popovici, C. (1999). Specific issues in social and professional integration of young people with Special Education Needs, in Youth and socio-professional integration. Bucharest: Semne Publishing House

*Popovici is Helena’s maiden name.

Special Educational Needs

  •  
  • Bunn, H., Turner, G., Macro, E. (2019). The Wellbeing Toolkit Training Programme: A Useful Resource for Educational Psychology Services? Submitted to Psychology in Russia. State of the Art, 12 (14), 204-222.
  • Ackerley, S, Bunn, H. (2018) Changing School Culture and Practices - an Action Research Project with Soft System methodology Used by Educational Psychology. DECP Debate, 169, 7-19
  • Wagner, K., Bunn, H. (2019). Academic progress through the lenses of children with SEN: an IPA study. Educational Psychology in Practice, 35 (4), DOI: 10.1080/02667363.2019.1674250
  • Rae, T., Bunn, H., Walshe, J. (2019). The Essential Guide to Positive Psychology with Young People (Hinton House Essential Guides) ISBN: 978-1-906531-84-3
  • Bunn. H., Boesley, L. (2019). My New School transition to high school for children with special educational needs in England - findings and ideas for practice. Support for Learning, 34 (2), 128-147. DOI: 10.1111/1467-9604.12244
  • Winter, S., Bunn, H. (2019) Work to be done? A survey of educational psychologists exploring their contribution to special schools for profound and multiple learning difficulties. British Journal of Special Education, 46 (1), 53-75 DOI:10.1111/1467-8578.12252
  • Bunn, H & Robinson, M. (2017). Children with complex medical conditions and their school experiences - a tentative model. DECP Debate, 165, 15-23
  • Bunn, H, Davis, D & Speed, E (2017). High school transition - an intervention that empowers children with special educational needs and improves school practice. Support for Learning, 32 (3) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1467-9604.12167
  • Robinson, N., Bunn, H. & Gersch, I. (2017). A preliminary study on using the 'Little Box of Big Questions (2012)' for children with social, emotional, behavioural and moderate learning needs. Educational Psychology Research and Practice, 3(2), 2-18
  • Bunn, H (2015). Complex medical conditions: issues for parents and what can be done in practice? DECP Debate, 154, 45-53
  • Nita, N., Stafie, C., Agrigoroae, D., Savin, A., Popovici, C., Damian, B., Vacaru, L (2004). Psihopedagogia pentru persone cu cerinte educative speciale. Strategii de educatie integrata. Piatra-Neamt. Romania: Alfa.
  • Popovici, H. (2002). Strategic issues at the contemporary challenging teenager: theoretical aspects and work experiences. In Petre Andrei University, Jubilee Session of the Faculty of Psychology and Social Work - 'Petre Andrei Days', 10 years anniversary of the School of Psychology, Scientific Reports. Iasi, Romania.
  • Popovici, H. (2000). Looked after children need us: how do we help them?, in Educator-infant-family relation in the educational action (risks and social problems), Bucharest: Semne Publishing House.
  • Popovici, H., & Popovici, C. (1999). Specific issues in social and professional integration of young people with Special Education Needs, in Youth and socio-professional integration. Bucharest: Semne Publishing House
  • Children with complex medical conditions and their school experiences - a tentative model. Bunn, H., Robinson, M.. 2017. DECP Debate 165. 12-20. 
  • High school transition - an intervention that empowers children with special educational needs and improves school practice. Bunn, H., Davis, D. & Speed, E.. 2017. Support for Learning, 32(3). 231-244. 
  • Complex medical conditions: issues for parents and what can be done in practice? Bunn, H.. 2015. DECP Debate 154. 45-53. 
  • Nita, N., Stafie, C., Agrigoroae, D., Savin, A., Popovici, C., Damian, B., … Vacaru, L (2004). Psihopedagogia pentru personae cu cerinte educative speciale. Strategii de educatie integrate. Piatra-Neamt. Romania: Alfa.
  • Popovici, H. (2002). Strategic issues at the contemporary challenging teenager: theoretical aspects and work experiences. In Petre Andrei University, Jubilee Session of the Faculty of Psychology and Social Work - 'Petre Andrei Days', 10 years anniversary of the School of Psychology, Scientific Reports. Iasi, Romania.
  • Popovici, H. (2000). Children looked after need us: how do we help them?, in Educator-infant-family relation in the educational action (risks and social problems), Bucharest: Semne Publishing House.
  • Popovici, H., & Popovici, C. (1999). Specific issues in social and professional integration of young people with Special Education Needs, in Youth and socio-professional integration. Bucharest: Semne Publishing House.

MODULES

  • PY8111: Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice 1 (Module co-lead)
  • PY8112: Professional Practice Placement in Educational and Child Psychology 1 (Module lead)

SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES

  • Doctorate research focused on a small sample of children and parents who have experienced school life where the child has a complex medical condition
  • Collaborative research projects focused on evaluation of intervention programme (e.g. FRIENDS)
  • Organisational change projects delivered in special and mainstream schools
  • Research focused on improving teaching strategies and pupils specific interventions, whilst working in Romania

EXTERNAL ROLES

  • Senior Educational Psychologist, Norfolk County Council
  • Expert Witness - Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal and Family Court cases
  • Honorary Treasurer - British Psychological Society, Division of Educational and Child Psychology national committee

Publications

The last four years of publications can be viewed below. 

Full publications list

Visit the research repository to view a full list of publications

Research repository