School of Psychology

Experience Excellence Studying People


Child Development Unit

CDU Newsletter
Announcement

Announcement

Announcement

Two-year old becomes 2000th recruit for KCDU.

Welcome

How do children learn language? How do children learn about social conventions? How do children develop conversational skills? How do children know what others see and believe?



At the University of Kent, we are looking at how children learn about their world, about other people and about the language they hear around them. We run a variety of studies with various age groups of children between 12 months and 10 years. We are always looking for parents who might be willing to bring their child in for a one-off session at some point in the future.

Child interacting with a puppet

If you sign up your child’s details, we wait until your child approaches an age suitable for a particular study. At this point, we will contact you and explain to you all there is to know about that study. If you decide to join in, we will make an appointment for a time that is convenient for you and your child.

When you come, we offer you refreshments in a relaxing, child-friendly environment. Studies are generally short and children usually really enjoy taking part. Your child leaves with a ‘Young Scientist’ certificate. This is a fun, interesting and maybe educational experience! There is no obligation once you have signed up, and you have the right to withdraw your details at any time.

All studies have received ethical clearance from the Faculty of Social Science Ethics Committee at the University of Kent and all Child Development Unit staff have received clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau to work with children. If at any point you change your mind and wish to withdraw from taking part in a project, this is totally acceptable and can be done immediately.

Meet the team

KCDU Team

Dr Kirsten Abbot-Smith

Dr Erika Nurmsoo

Professor Adam Rutland

Professor Dominic Abrams

Dr Lindsey Cameron

Dr Mike Forrester

Nicola Abbott (PhD student)

Emma Borthwick-Hunter (Research Assistant)

Rebecca Croll (PhD student)

Amanda Norman (Part-time Assistant to Dr Nurmsoo and Dr Abbot-Smith)

Sally Palmer (Research Assistant and PhD student)

Gulcin Yilmaz (Research Intern working with Professor Rutland)

Ronke Adeyanju (Master's student with Professor Rutland)

Angelique Eydam (Master's student)

Charlotte Guy (Research Experience student)

Georgina Allen (Final year project student with Dr Forrester)

Charlotte Bartlett (Final year project student with Dr Abbot-Smith)

Tamsin Carter (Final year project student with Dr Abbot-Smith)

Suada Dika (Final year project student with Professor Rutland)

Victoria Erble (Final year project student with Dr Forrester)

Hayley Foster (Final year project student with Professor Rutland)

Sebastian Hore (Final year student working with Dr Abbot-Smith)

Vicky Leahy (Final year project student with Dr Nurmsoo)

Hassina Pokardas (Final year project student with Dr Forrester)

Egle Saviciute (Final year project student with Dr Abbot-Smith)

Sarah Young (Final year project student with Professor Rutland)

Contact us

If you’d like to bring your child in at some point, either sign up by clicking on the link below or call 01227 827424 or email


Touch screen task

Alternatively, you can send your contact details using the address below. We will contact you shortly to give you more details about the study, take your child(ren)’s date of birth and sign you up if you wish to continue. Your data will be stored confidentially on a secure database and will not be passed to a third party.

Child Development Unit
School of Psychology
Keynes College
University of Kent
CANTERBURY
CT2 7NP

How to find us

The Child Development Unit is in Keynes College at the University of Kent, just a short walk from the bus stop and car park

From Canterbury West Station

Turn right when you come out of the station and walk along to the end of the road (approx 2 minutes' walk).

  • Walking
    This will take you 25 minutes but it is uphill. Turn right into St Dunstan's Street and keep on in the same direction over the level crossing, past the mini roundabout and up the Whitstable Road and St Thomas' Hill. Near the top of the hill turn right into the University Road and keep going until you reach the main University bus stop. Then take the next turning on the left. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space has a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

  • By bus (allow approximately 15 minutes when there is no traffic)
    If you look left down St Dunstan's Street towards the Westgate Tower, you’ll see a bus stop on the other side of the road. The buses come approximately every 5 minutes during term time and take about 7 minutes to get the University. Both the Unibus and the number 4X (but not the 4 or 4A) call at the University and both are easy access with buggy space near the front. Get out at the main University bus stop and turn right when you step off the bus and then take the next turning on the left. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

    To get back to the station, take the Unibus or number 6X bus from the main University bus stop where you were dropped off. Again, both are easy access with buggy space.

Driving from Wincheap

(approximately 5 minutes when there is no traffic)

Turn left at the ring road roundabout (opposite the castle). Turn left at the next roundabout up Rheims way. Turn right at the next roundabout down London Road. Turn left at the end and go up Whitstable Road, then at the top of the hill turn right into University Road. Go straight ahead and then take the first left turning after the main bus stop. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

Driving from Ashford

(approximately 30 minutes when there is no traffic)

Take the A28 in the direction of Canterbury. If you wish to avoid driving through Wincheap and the Canterbury ring road, then you can turn left off the A28 when you see ‘Kid’s Kingdom’ on your right. From there you can reach the Child Development Unit within 10 minutes if you take the following route.

Drive straight ahead until you get to the crossroads in Chartham Hatch, where you’ll turn right in the direction of ‘Harbledown’. This is quite a narrow road and at the end (just before you drive over the A2) also extremely winding. When you see Kent College Infant and Junior School on your right, turn left and then immediately right onto the A2050. Then you’ll immediately turn left at a set of traffic lights to follow the signs to ‘Rough Common’. Drive straight on through Rough Common until you reach the mini roundabout at the end, where you’ll turn right into Whitstable Road. Keep on past St Edmund’s school and then turn left into University Road. Drive straight ahead and then turn left after the main University bus stop. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

Driving from Sittingbourne

(approximately 30 minutes when there is no traffic)

Take the B2163 past Faversham and then the A2 to Canterbury. When you get to Upper Harbledown branch left, then merge onto the A2050. Very soon after, you reach a set of traffic lights where you turn left to follow the signs to ‘Rough Common’. Drive straight on through Rough Common until you reach the mini roundabout at the end, where you’ll turn right into Whitstable Road. Keep on past St Edmund’s school and then turn left into University Road. Drive straight ahead and then turn left after the main University bus stop. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

Driving from Sandwich

(approximately 30 minutes when there is no traffic)

Take the A257 to Canterbury. When you get to the ring road roundabout opposite the castle, go straight ahead. Turn left at the next roundabout up Rheims way. Turn right at the next roundabout down London Road. Turn left at the end and go up Whitstable Road then at the top of the hill turn right into University Road. Go straight ahead and then take the first left turning after the main bus stop. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

By bus from Whitstable or Herne Bay

You will need to take the number 6X bus (not the 6 or 6A). This takes around 25 minutes from Whitstable and 50 minutes from Herne Bay and there is a bus every 30 minutes. All buses are easy access with buggy space near the front. Get out at the main University bus stop and turn right when you step off the bus and then take the next turning on the left. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

To get home, take the number 4X bus from the main University bus stop where you were dropped off. This service follows the number 6X route in the opposite direction, with a bus every 30 minutes, and is also easy access with buggy space.

From Faversham by train and bus

The train from Faversham goes every half hour, takes 11 minutes and arrives at Canterbury East. You then take the Unibus or the bus number 4X (not the 4 or 4A) from near Canterbury East Station on the main ring road. (Leave East station, go right, follow the road around, passing a club/pool centre/car park, until you reach the main road and see the bus stop). There is a 4X bus every half hour and a Unibus every 7-8 minutes during University terms (or every 15 minutes during the holidays). The bus trip to Keynes college takes 10 minutes and drops you off almost outside the door of the Kent Child Development Unit.

Driving from Hythe

Take the M20 to Ashford and then the A28 in the direction of Canterbury. If you wish to avoid driving through Wincheap and the Canterbury ring road, then you can turn left off the A28 when you see ‘Kid’s Kingdom’ on your right. From there you can reach the Child Development Unit within 10 minutes if you take the following route:

Drive straight ahead until you get to the crossroads in Chartham Hatch, where you’ll turn right in the direction of ‘Harbledown’. This is quite a narrow road and at the end (just before you drive over the A2) also extremely winding. When you see Kent College Infant and Junior School on your right, turn left and then immediately right onto the A2050. Then you’ll immediately turn left at a set of traffic lights to follow the signs to ‘Rough Common’. Drive straight on through Rough Common until you reach the mini roundabout at the end, where you’ll turn right into Whitstable Road. Keep on past St Edmund’s school and then turn left into University Road. Drive straight ahead and then turn left after the main University bus stop. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

From Chatham by train and bus

The trains from Chatham leave at 26 and 58 minutes past the hour, take around 45 minutes and arrive at Canterbury East station. You then take the Unibus or the bus number 4X (not the 4 or 4A) from near Canterbury East Station on the main ring road. (Leave East station, go right, follow the road around, passing a club/pool centre/car park, until you reach the main road and see the bus stop). There is a 4X bus every half hour and a Unibus every 7-8 minutes during University terms (or every 15 minutes during the holidays). The bus trip to Keynes college takes 10 minutes and drops you off almost outside the door of the Kent Child Development Unit. Get out at the main University bus stop and walk up towards the main campus, then take the next turning on the left. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College.

Driving from Dover

From Dover, take the A2 to Canterbury. If you wish to avoid the congested traffic in Wincheap, then do not come off at the A28 turn for Canterbury but continue to the Harbledown turn-off where you will turn off onto the A2050. Very soon after, you reach a set of traffic lights where you turn left to follow the signs to 'Rough Common'. Drive straight on through Rough Common until you reach the mini roundabout at the end, where you'll turn right into Whitstable Road. Keep on past St Edmund's school and then turn left into University Road. Drive straight ahead and then turn left after the main University bus stop. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. As you come into Keynes College car park, the Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and is on your right, opposite the main entrance.

Driving from Ramsgate

By car from Ramsgate take the A299 to Canterbury. When you get to the roundabout of Sturry Road and Tourtel Road turn right into Kingsmead Road and then go straight ahead up St Stephen's Road, over the railway line and past the playground next to the Church until you get to a junction with St. Stephen's Hill, where you should turn right. Drive right up the hill, past the Archbishop's school until you get to Giles Lane, where you should turn left. Drive right along Giles Lane, past the Gulbenkian Theatre until you get to University Drive, where you should turn left and then the first right past the taxi stand. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

Driving from Whitstable

When driving from Whitstable, just follow the signs to Canterbury and drive straight ahead. After you pass through Blean, keep on past St Edmund's school and then turn left into University Road. Drive straight ahead and then turn left after the main University bus stop. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

Driving from Maidstone

From Maidstone you'd take the A249, then the M2 and then the A2 to Canterbury. When you get to Upper Harbledown branch left, then merge onto the A2050. Very soon after, you reach a set of traffic lights where you turn left to follow the signs to 'Rough Common'. Drive straight on through Rough Common until you reach the mini roundabout at the end, where you'll turn right into Whitstable Road. Keep on past St Edmund's school and then turn left into University Road. Drive straight ahead and then turn left after the main University bus stop. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

Driving from Gillingham

From Gillingham take the A278 in direction of M2 then the M2 and then the A2 to Canterbury. When you get to Upper Harbledown branch left, then merge onto the A2050. Very soon after, you reach a set of traffic lights where you turn left to follow the signs to 'Rough Common'. Drive straight on through Rough Common until you reach the mini roundabout at the end, where you'll turn right into Whitstable Road. Keep on past St Edmund's school and then turn left into University Road. Drive straight ahead and then turn left after the main University bus stop. This is the little drive which goes up to Keynes College. There you will see a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with a collapsible bollard and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside.

 

For further directions to the University please see information at www.kent.ac.uk/maps. For maps of the campus see www.kent.ac.uk/maps/canterbury/downloads.html.

For the current bus timetables see the Stagecoach website.

The postcode of Keynes College is CT2 7NP and there is a car park right outside the college. The Child Development Unit parking space is marked with orange cones and will be close to the main entrance of Keynes College, which has a glass frontage and has a taxi drop-off point directly outside (see below).

Front of Keynes College

The entrance to the Child Development Unit is to the left of the main entrance to Keynes. You’ll walk past a thick yellow pole up a gentle slope with bamboo growing to the side of it and round a corner where you’ll see the entrance to the Child Development Unit. There you’ll see a buzzer. If you press that buzzer, we’ll be able to see and hear you and you’ll be able to hear us. We will come and let you in immediately.

Map

Things to do

Below are some ideas for fun child activities on the University of Kent Canterbury campus.

1. Have a drink or a snack in Dolce Vita

Dolce Vita is located in Keynes College (just a 2 minute walk from the Child Development Unit). Come in through the main entrance to the college and keep going, passing Reception on your right. Go on out through the double doors directly in front of you and the entrance to Dolce Vita is straight ahead. (Warning: Dolce Vita does get very busy around lunchtime.)

2. Feed the ducks on Keynes pond

Keynes pond is just outside Dolce Vita. To get there, come into Keynes College through the main entrance, passing Reception on your right, and then go on out through the doors directly in front of you.

3. Go for a walk to the Gulbenkian

The Gulbenkian theatre/café/bar (marked J10 on the campus map) is about a 7 minute (adult-paced) walk from the Child Development Unit. It serves good lunches and snacks, and outdoor seating is available.

4. Take a picnic to Eliot slopes

If the weather is good, you can run around on the hill just past the Kent Law School (the building labelled J15 on the campus map). This overlooks the town and the Cathedral and you will also find the Canterbury labyrinth here (see the square marked P on the campus map). Children love running round its winding paths.

To find the labyrinth:

  • From Eliot College, follow the footpath between the College and Becket Court. The labyrinth is on your left.
  • From the bus stops at the top of University Road, walk up to the roundabout and bear right to Eliot College. Keep right, and follow Eliot footpath, starting between the College and Becket Court.
  • On foot or bicycle from the city, follow the footpath up towards Eliot College; the labyrinth will be on your right.

The labyrinth is wheelchair accessible; parking for wheelchair users is at Eliot College.
Pay and display parking is on Giles Lane.

children playing on labyrinth

Sign up

If you would like to register yourself and your child with the Child Development Unit, please click on the link below.

 

Child interacting with a teddy

Vacancies

There are no vacancies at present.

 

 

 

School of Psychology - Keynes College, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NP

Tel: +44 (0)1227 824775; Fax: +44 (0)1227 827030 or Email the School

Last Updated: 10/05/2012