Emily Farran
@ekfarran.bsky.social
Professor of Psychology - spatial cognition in typical & atypical development, STEM. UKRN Institutional Lead, University of Surrey. Advocate of transparent & open research.
Pinned
Emily Farran
@ekfarran.bsky.social
· Nov 28
gorodenkoff via Getty
stories.surrey.ac.uk
stories.surrey.ac.uk/YoungMindsFo...
Spatial reasoning is the ability to understand the spatial properties of objects such as their size and location, and to visualise objects and problems in the mind. Training children to think and work spatially leads to improvement in mathematics.
Spatial reasoning is the ability to understand the spatial properties of objects such as their size and location, and to visualise objects and problems in the mind. Training children to think and work spatially leads to improvement in mathematics.
Time for our annual update of "Open Research across disciplines".
pdf: www.ukrn.org/disciplines/
K Reproducibility Network (UKRN) webpages: www.ukrn.org/disciplines/
Resources to add, please use (by 30/09/25): docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
@camillakgilmore.bsky.social @priyasilverstein.com
pdf: www.ukrn.org/disciplines/
K Reproducibility Network (UKRN) webpages: www.ukrn.org/disciplines/
Resources to add, please use (by 30/09/25): docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
@camillakgilmore.bsky.social @priyasilverstein.com
September 16, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Time for our annual update of "Open Research across disciplines".
pdf: www.ukrn.org/disciplines/
K Reproducibility Network (UKRN) webpages: www.ukrn.org/disciplines/
Resources to add, please use (by 30/09/25): docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
@camillakgilmore.bsky.social @priyasilverstein.com
pdf: www.ukrn.org/disciplines/
K Reproducibility Network (UKRN) webpages: www.ukrn.org/disciplines/
Resources to add, please use (by 30/09/25): docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
@camillakgilmore.bsky.social @priyasilverstein.com
Reposted by Emily Farran
>> 2/
The ECMG has a thorough and developmentally appropriate ‘toolkit’ for developing spatial thinking from birth to 8, all **free** here: earlymaths.org/spatial-reas...
Please explore!
The ECMG has a thorough and developmentally appropriate ‘toolkit’ for developing spatial thinking from birth to 8, all **free** here: earlymaths.org/spatial-reas...
Please explore!
Spatial Reasoning
The ECMG’s spatial reasoning toolkit. What is spatial reasoning? How do we develop young children’s spatial reasoning? The answers are in the Spatial Reasoning Toolkit guidance and learning t…
earlymaths.org
July 8, 2025 at 12:49 PM
>> 2/
The ECMG has a thorough and developmentally appropriate ‘toolkit’ for developing spatial thinking from birth to 8, all **free** here: earlymaths.org/spatial-reas...
Please explore!
The ECMG has a thorough and developmentally appropriate ‘toolkit’ for developing spatial thinking from birth to 8, all **free** here: earlymaths.org/spatial-reas...
Please explore!
Reposted by Emily Farran
Giving every child the best start is about the most age and developmentally appropriate start. There’s now a plethora of international research pointing to the importance of young children’s spatial awareness as more influential on later mathematical (and wider) success, over number.
>>
>>
Spatial Reasoning
The ECMG’s spatial reasoning toolkit. What is spatial reasoning? How do we develop young children’s spatial reasoning? The answers are in the Spatial Reasoning Toolkit guidance and learning t…
earlymaths.org
July 8, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Giving every child the best start is about the most age and developmentally appropriate start. There’s now a plethora of international research pointing to the importance of young children’s spatial awareness as more influential on later mathematical (and wider) success, over number.
>>
>>
Reposted by Emily Farran
Training children's spatial skills improves their maths performance, research shows – and here are 6 ways teachers can do that
How to boost children’s spatial skills – and their maths performance
Training children’s spatial abilities improves maths performance, studies show – and new research from the University of Surrey identifies practical teaching methods to do just that
www.tes.com
June 17, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Training children's spatial skills improves their maths performance, research shows – and here are 6 ways teachers can do that
Reposted by Emily Farran
No. It’s fine.
The day was first class, with v open discussions over shared research and good to see such a wide range of folk there. Lots of action points to advance spatial reasoning across phases. 👏🏼
The day was first class, with v open discussions over shared research and good to see such a wide range of folk there. Lots of action points to advance spatial reasoning across phases. 👏🏼
May 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
No. It’s fine.
The day was first class, with v open discussions over shared research and good to see such a wide range of folk there. Lots of action points to advance spatial reasoning across phases. 👏🏼
The day was first class, with v open discussions over shared research and good to see such a wide range of folk there. Lots of action points to advance spatial reasoning across phases. 👏🏼
Reposted by Emily Farran
Exciting day today of maths education professionals meeting members of DfE and other key institutions providing material for schools, to relay the importance of spatial reasoning & how they’re going to take the research onboard.
At the moment we have a number-heavy curriculum.
It needs to change.
At the moment we have a number-heavy curriculum.
It needs to change.
May 22, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Exciting day today of maths education professionals meeting members of DfE and other key institutions providing material for schools, to relay the importance of spatial reasoning & how they’re going to take the research onboard.
At the moment we have a number-heavy curriculum.
It needs to change.
At the moment we have a number-heavy curriculum.
It needs to change.
Reposted by Emily Farran
With thanks in abundance to @ekfarran.bsky.social and University of Surrey 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Exciting day today of maths education professionals meeting members of DfE and other key institutions providing material for schools, to relay the importance of spatial reasoning & how they’re going to take the research onboard.
At the moment we have a number-heavy curriculum.
It needs to change.
At the moment we have a number-heavy curriculum.
It needs to change.
May 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
With thanks in abundance to @ekfarran.bsky.social and University of Surrey 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Reposted by Emily Farran
How does training spatial abilities impact #mathematics?
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
www.ucl.ac.uk
May 10, 2025 at 8:39 AM
How does training spatial abilities impact #mathematics?
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
Reposted by Emily Farran
Our new paper is just out in Behavior Research Methods! tinyurl.com/54jutzvd - with Louise Ewing, @ekfarran.bsky.social, Michael Papasavva, Ines Mares & @marielsmith8.bsky.social . We present data from 607 children aged 5-12 completing the Cambridge Face Memory Test for Children... 1/3
Exploring the development of face recognition across childhood via logistic mixed-effects modelling of the standardised Cambridge Face Memory Test - Behavior Research Methods
Individual differences in face identity recognition abilities are present across the lifespan but require developmentally differentiated methods of assessment. Here, we examine the empirical validity ...
tinyurl.com
April 11, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Our new paper is just out in Behavior Research Methods! tinyurl.com/54jutzvd - with Louise Ewing, @ekfarran.bsky.social, Michael Papasavva, Ines Mares & @marielsmith8.bsky.social . We present data from 607 children aged 5-12 completing the Cambridge Face Memory Test for Children... 1/3
Reposted by Emily Farran
How does training spatial abilities impact #mathematics?
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
April 17, 2025 at 2:04 PM
How does training spatial abilities impact #mathematics?
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
Reposted by Emily Farran
How does training spatial abilities impact #mathematics?
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
Spatial abilities and mathematics: From the lab to the classroom
Join us for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, presented by Emily Farran.
www.ucl.ac.uk
April 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
How does training spatial abilities impact #mathematics?
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
Join us on June 3rd for the Centre for Language, Literacy and Numeracy: Research and Practice's summer lecture, with @ekfarran.bsky.social!
Get your ticket now: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/events/2...
@ioe.bsky.social
Reposted by Emily Farran
Part 4 draws our superb series on #spatialreasoning to a close. Find age and stage ideas on composition and decomposition - fitting shapes together and taking them apart www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/feat... #Nurseryworld thanks to @ekfarran.bsky.social and the team
Spatial reasoning, part 4: Working out how things fit together - Nursery World
Construction and jigsaw puzzles involve children in fitting shapes together, or into gaps. As they do this, they learn about shape properties, estimate size and develop rotation skills, say Dr. Cather...
www.nurseryworld.co.uk
April 3, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Part 4 draws our superb series on #spatialreasoning to a close. Find age and stage ideas on composition and decomposition - fitting shapes together and taking them apart www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/feat... #Nurseryworld thanks to @ekfarran.bsky.social and the team
Reposted by Emily Farran
🚨 I'm hiring! 🚨
Passionate about motor learning in #dyspraxic and typically developing #children? Become a Research Assistant @modilab-surrey.bsky.social @surreypsychology.bsky.social
🗓️ Apply by 12th Feb
🔄 Spread the word!
jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
#neurojobs
Passionate about motor learning in #dyspraxic and typically developing #children? Become a Research Assistant @modilab-surrey.bsky.social @surreypsychology.bsky.social
🗓️ Apply by 12th Feb
🔄 Spread the word!
jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
#neurojobs
Job Vacancy at the University of Surrey: Research Assistant in Neurodiversity & Motor Skills Development
The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research. We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ours...
jobs.surrey.ac.uk
January 27, 2025 at 5:21 PM
🚨 I'm hiring! 🚨
Passionate about motor learning in #dyspraxic and typically developing #children? Become a Research Assistant @modilab-surrey.bsky.social @surreypsychology.bsky.social
🗓️ Apply by 12th Feb
🔄 Spread the word!
jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
#neurojobs
Passionate about motor learning in #dyspraxic and typically developing #children? Become a Research Assistant @modilab-surrey.bsky.social @surreypsychology.bsky.social
🗓️ Apply by 12th Feb
🔄 Spread the word!
jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...
#neurojobs
Very honoured to be awarded the Developmental Psychology Section Impact and Engagement Award by The British Psychological Society. The award is for my work on the importance of spatial reasoning for mathematics.
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
University of Surrey on LinkedIn: #surreyshapes
Congratulations to Professor Emily Farran who has been awarded the 2024 Developmental Psychology Section Impact and Engagement Award by The British…
www.linkedin.com
January 28, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Very honoured to be awarded the Developmental Psychology Section Impact and Engagement Award by The British Psychological Society. The award is for my work on the importance of spatial reasoning for mathematics.
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
With Catherine Gripton, Sue Gifford, Alison Borthwick and Andrea Lancaster, I've been working with Nursery World on a series of four articles on spatial reasoning.
The first one is now out: www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/feat...
For more on spatial reasoning: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
The first one is now out: www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/feat...
For more on spatial reasoning: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
Spatial reasoning part 1: Using the outdoors to develop this essential skill - Nursery World
In the first of this four-part series, Professor Emily Farran, Catherine Gripton, Sue Gifford and Alison Borthwick consider the spatial possibilities of outdoor play
www.nurseryworld.co.uk
January 10, 2025 at 12:51 PM
With Catherine Gripton, Sue Gifford, Alison Borthwick and Andrea Lancaster, I've been working with Nursery World on a series of four articles on spatial reasoning.
The first one is now out: www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/feat...
For more on spatial reasoning: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
The first one is now out: www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/feat...
For more on spatial reasoning: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
Reposted by Emily Farran
For everyone who is new, here’s the directory where you can find a list of starter packs and connect with people who have the same interests:
Bluesky Starter Packs - Bluesky Directory
Browse a list of Bluesky Starter Packs. Discover and connect with your community on Bluesky
blueskydirectory.com
January 9, 2025 at 5:02 AM
For everyone who is new, here’s the directory where you can find a list of starter packs and connect with people who have the same interests:
Reposted by Emily Farran
January 8, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Reposted by Emily Farran
**Coming soon**
New website on early maths from earlymaths.org
AND
easy and appropriate research informed assessment indicators for spatial reasoning ChIPs.
Take a look at our number and pattern ones👇🏼
New website on early maths from earlymaths.org
AND
easy and appropriate research informed assessment indicators for spatial reasoning ChIPs.
Take a look at our number and pattern ones👇🏼
ECMG
Early Childhood Maths Group
earlymaths.org
January 8, 2025 at 8:20 AM
**Coming soon**
New website on early maths from earlymaths.org
AND
easy and appropriate research informed assessment indicators for spatial reasoning ChIPs.
Take a look at our number and pattern ones👇🏼
New website on early maths from earlymaths.org
AND
easy and appropriate research informed assessment indicators for spatial reasoning ChIPs.
Take a look at our number and pattern ones👇🏼
Excited to write for The Conversation UK. I talk about the latest TIMSS findings, geometry, and the importance of spatial play.
"English children lag behind in geometry – parents can help them learn through play" theconversation.com/english-chil...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
"English children lag behind in geometry – parents can help them learn through play" theconversation.com/english-chil...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
Policy briefings | University of Surrey
www.surrey.ac.uk
January 8, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Excited to write for The Conversation UK. I talk about the latest TIMSS findings, geometry, and the importance of spatial play.
"English children lag behind in geometry – parents can help them learn through play" theconversation.com/english-chil...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
"English children lag behind in geometry – parents can help them learn through play" theconversation.com/english-chil...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
Reposted by Emily Farran
It is with profound sadness that we share the devastating news that Eleanor Maguire passed away on January 4th. She was a phenomenally brilliant neuroscientist, with immense passion for her work and many remarkable accomplishments. We will miss her terribly.
www.online-tribute.com/EleanorMaguire
www.online-tribute.com/EleanorMaguire
Eleanor Maguire | 1970 - 2025 | Online-Tribute.com
Learning and memory are so fundamental to us, so enmeshed throughout cognition, that ‘solving’ memory, unpacking its neural mechanisms and being able to conceptualise it fully will, I believe, res…
www.online-tribute.com
January 6, 2025 at 11:22 AM
It is with profound sadness that we share the devastating news that Eleanor Maguire passed away on January 4th. She was a phenomenally brilliant neuroscientist, with immense passion for her work and many remarkable accomplishments. We will miss her terribly.
www.online-tribute.com/EleanorMaguire
www.online-tribute.com/EleanorMaguire
Great to see the FREE Primary Spatial Reasoning SKTM Programmes advertised. These programmes feature our spatial reasoning toolkit: earlymaths.org/spatial-reas...
For more on my thoughts on TIMSS and geometry: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
For more on my thoughts on TIMSS and geometry: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
December 16, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Great to see the FREE Primary Spatial Reasoning SKTM Programmes advertised. These programmes feature our spatial reasoning toolkit: earlymaths.org/spatial-reas...
For more on my thoughts on TIMSS and geometry: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
For more on my thoughts on TIMSS and geometry: www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
Reposted by Emily Farran
We have just opened recruitment for the REF 2029 panels. There is no nomination process and we invite you to put yourself forward 2029.ref.ac.uk/news/ref-202...
REF 2029 main and sub-panel recruitment – REF 2029
2029.ref.ac.uk
December 16, 2024 at 2:23 PM
We have just opened recruitment for the REF 2029 panels. There is no nomination process and we invite you to put yourself forward 2029.ref.ac.uk/news/ref-202...
Reposted by Emily Farran
‘Simply put, children with good spatial reasoning skills are better at maths’: @ekfarran.bsky.social says the latest Timss rankings should inspire a focus on spatial reasoning in English maths curricula
Timss: could a focus on spatial reasoning improve maths scores?
The latest Timss international rankings show English pupils' weakness in key areas of maths – and our lack of focus on spatial reasoning is a major factor, argues Emily Farran
www.tes.com
December 9, 2024 at 9:43 AM
‘Simply put, children with good spatial reasoning skills are better at maths’: @ekfarran.bsky.social says the latest Timss rankings should inspire a focus on spatial reasoning in English maths curricula
Had a wonderful week discussing navigation with the great & good of navigation research from across the world. Ernst Strungmann Forum: “Navigation Research; Mapping the Future” (esforum.de/forums/ESF38...). I Iearned a lot & met so many inspirational people. Thank you Nora Newcombe for inviting me.
Our group after a week long Strüngmann Forum in Frankfurt! Group 1 rocks!! @russellepstein.bsky.social @andrejbicanski.bsky.social @lukaskunz.bsky.social @flaviodonato82.bsky.social @ekfarran.bsky.social and others I can’t find yet on Bluesky
December 8, 2024 at 7:28 PM
Had a wonderful week discussing navigation with the great & good of navigation research from across the world. Ernst Strungmann Forum: “Navigation Research; Mapping the Future” (esforum.de/forums/ESF38...). I Iearned a lot & met so many inspirational people. Thank you Nora Newcombe for inviting me.
Delighted to write for the Times Education Supplement.
Timms: Could a focus on spatial reasoning improve maths scores?
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
Timms: Could a focus on spatial reasoning improve maths scores?
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
Timss: could a focus on spatial reasoning improve maths scores?
The latest Timss international rankings show English pupils' weakness in key areas of maths – and our lack of focus on spatial reasoning is a major factor, argues Emily Farran
www.tes.com
December 8, 2024 at 7:23 PM
Delighted to write for the Times Education Supplement.
Timms: Could a focus on spatial reasoning improve maths scores?
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...
Timms: Could a focus on spatial reasoning improve maths scores?
www.tes.com/magazine/tea...
For more: www.surrey.ac.uk/spatial-reas...