Dr Jennifer Waddling

I hold a PhD in Sociology of Education from Uppsala University and joined the School of Education in 2024. My research explores how social inequalities are reproduced within the education system, with a particular focus on early childhood education and care (ECEC).

I am interested in the social structures of ECEC markets and how these shape families’ choices of early childhood settings. My research employs both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine socio-geographic patterns in ECEC enrolment. I explore how families navigate ECEC markets, situating their choices within the interplay of market conditions, family dynamics, social backgrounds, and parenting cultures. My research contributes to knowledge concerning the relationship between educational marketisation and disparities in children’s educational experiences.

I am also currently working within two projects finansed by the Swedish Research Council: 

Transition between preschool and comprehensive school – Analyses of how preschool participation and socioeconomic context affect children's early educational trajectories.

Fostering Originality: Social reproduction, market adjustment and institutional autonomy in the Swedish Waldorf School.

Research interests:

• Early childhood education and care
• Alternative education
• International education
• Education policy
• Social segregation
• Children and childhood
• Parenting practices
• Family dynamics