Mrs Beth Tarleton
MPhil
Expertise
I'm a Senior Lecturer in the School for Policy Studies and am programme director for the Masters in Policy Research and Social Work Research. My research focuses on the support available to parents who have learning difficulties.
Current positions
Senior Lecturer
School for Policy Studies
Contact
Press and media
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Biography
I joined the Norah Fry Centre for Disability studies over 25 years ago. Since then I have worked on a wide range of projects related to the support available for adults with learning difficulties. Over the last 20 years, my main research focus has the support available to parents who have learning difficulties/disabilities and I have been co-ordinator of the Working Together with Parents network that provides free support to professionals working with parents with learning difficulties. I supported the WTwPN to move to Research in Practice in 2025.
I spent many years making easy information as part of the 'Plain Facts' project (funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation). I enjoy working closely with people with learning difficulties whenever possible and my projects are always advised by parents/people with learning disabilities.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Resources for social workers working with parents with learning difficulties project
Principal Investigator
Description
A key finding from a recently completed project investigating ‘how adult services engage with parents with learning disabilities’ (Summary attached) found that social workers often felt they had little…Managing organisational unit
School for Policy StudiesDates
01/05/2024 to 30/04/2025
How do Adult and Learning Disability social workers engage with parents with learning difficulties?
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School for Policy StudiesDates
01/03/2022 to 31/03/2024
Substituted parenting: What does this mean in the family court context?
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
School for Policy StudiesDates
01/11/2021 to 30/04/2023
Fathers with Learning Disabilities
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
As adults with learning disabilities are living more independently in community settings, more are choosing to start a family and have children, but because of their learning disability sometimes need…Managing organisational unit
School for Policy StudiesDates
01/09/2015 to 01/09/2016
Tackling disabling practices: co-production and change
Role
Researcher
Description
It is based at Norah Fry Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Bristol, and led by Val Williams. Our work also involves key partners including Disability Rights UK…Managing organisational unit
School for Policy StudiesDates
01/04/2015 to 31/05/2018
Thesis supervisions
Exploring newly qualified primary school teachers’ experiences of SEND training in their initial teacher training programme and support in their first years of teaching
Supervisors
‘Once we’ve just connected, we are broken apart’
Supervisors
The Role of Social Workers in Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities in Saudi Primary Schools
Supervisors
Primary school teacher mental health and well-being and support for this throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
Supervisors
"It is also about living as well [and] with all of that homework you don't get the chance to...find what you actually want to do with your life"
Supervisors
“It’s not that big of a problem...so we’re not going to do anything.” An inclusive grounded theory study exploring the help-seeking behaviours of adolescents in school for their emotional well-being.
Supervisors
Teaching Assistants’ experiences of supporting pupils in a mainstream primary school context
Supervisors
“My Dad wants me to do the scrap, but I don’t want to”
Supervisors
Exploring Young People’s Experiences of Alternative Provisions with Horses
Supervisors
An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the experiences of fairness amongst adults with learning disabilities when engaging with services responding to domestic violence and abuse.
Supervisors
Publications
Recent publications
26/05/2026Chapter 8: Right to Family Life for Parents with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities
Born into Care
Supporting Parents with a learning disability- the role of adult services: Research Briefing (2026)
Supporting Parents with a learning disability- the role of adult services: Research Briefing (2026)
More Parents With Intellectual Disabilities than we Thought
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
Substituted parenting
Child and Family Law Quarterly
Unseen and Invisible? Issues of Recognition for Parents With Intellectual Disabilities Accessing Social Work and Social Care Services for Adults in England
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities
Teaching
I am currently Senior Tutor for Postgraduate students in the School for Policy Studies at the University of Bristol.
I was programme director for the Masters in Policy Research and Masters in Social Work Research until 2025 and have run the Masters level units regarding 'Introduction to Qualitative Methods' and 'Inclusive Research with Disabled People' and undergraduate unit 'Disability and Society' and Guided Independent Study (Literature review). All of these units drew on my extensive experience of applied social research with disabled people.
Related people
Emeritus Professor Val Williams
Emeritus Professor
School for Policy Studies
Dr William Turner
Associate Professor
School for Policy Studies
Emeritus Professor Pauline Heslop
Emeritus Professor of Intellectual Disabilities Studies
School for Policy Studies
Dr Marcus Jepson
Associate Professor in Qualitative Health Science
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Dr Joe Webb
Senior Lecturer
School for Policy Studies