Rachel Nesbit is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and a researcher passionate about the role of play in supporting children’s health, wellbeing, and development. Before joining the Department of Psychology as a Lecturer in 2023, Rachel was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow as part of Professor Helen Dodd’s UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, where she led a work package examining the barriers and facilitators influencing children’s opportunities for adventurous play in schools.

 

Her research focuses on children’s outdoor free play, with a particular interest in adventurous play and how school break times can provide opportunities for children to experience the physical, social, and emotional benefits of play. Rachel explores the complex factors that shape children’s access to play opportunities, including how schools can create spaces and cultures that support meaningful play for all children. She uses a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including large-scale surveys, interviews, and observational studies, to understand children’s experiences of play and inform approaches that promote equitable access to play.

 

Rachel is committed to ensuring that all children have opportunities to engage in rich, playful experiences and has shared her expertise on children’s play through national media, podcasts, newspapers, and evidence submitted to the UK Parliament. Her research has also contributed to national conversations about children’s wellbeing in schools and was recently cited in the UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) report on Children’s Wellbeing in Schools. Through her research and teaching,

 

Rachel works to highlight the importance of high-quality play environments and support greater recognition of play as an essential part of children’s wellbeing.