Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) is an established qualitative methodology widely adopted within health-based research. However, one gap in the literature is that little has been written about IPA’s employability within educationally situated research. Our paper aims to demonstrate that IPA is a suitable methodology for education research. This paper has two parts. In the first part, the authors utilise the method of exegesis and theoretical analysis to explicate and provide clarity concerning the often-misunderstood philosophical and theoretical background of IPA. In the second part, we advocate for IPA as a suitable option for qualitative research in educational contexts. To execute this advocacy, the authors present a specific example of qualitative research that successfully employed IPA as its methodological approach and system for analysis. We present the details of a research project that utilised IPA to explore spirituality in early childhood education contexts, and in doing so the authors illustrate how the theories and methods of IPA can be actualised, thus introducing IPA into education contexts in a coherent fashion. The overall aim of the paper is to affirm IPA as a viable qualitative approach for education researchers.

In Western Australia (WA), Religious Education (RE) is a mandated learning area within the compulsory years of the Catholic school sector. RE is advocated as a curriculum subject, timetabled for and assessed alongside other subjects and focussed on developing religious knowledge and understanding. In addition to the RE lesson, faith development, or catechesis occurs through the intersection of RE and other faith-based activities in the Catholic school. In the early learning centre that caters for children prior to compulsory schooling, there is no formalised RE curriculum and educators are tasked with raising the religious awareness of children as opportunities arise. This paper presents findings from research that explored educators’ understandings of, and practices in, promoting children’s spirituality specifically in connection to RE. As a result, the paper advocates for spirituality as the starting point for developing young children’s religious beliefs. In addition, it become evident through this investigation that understandings of spirituality, religiosity and RE continue to be complex and educators require assistance to disentangle these if they are to intentionally promote children’s spirituality, and subsequently, their religious beliefs.

This paper presents findings from a qualitative investigation that sought to ascertain educators’ personal understanding of spirituality, their awareness of children’s spirituality and the pedagogical practices they used to attend to children’s spirituality. One of the key findings that emerged from this investigation was educators’ acknowledgement of wonder as a component of spirituality. However, in practice, wonder was actualised as an opportunity for pondering – for considering alternatives and thinking deeply on curriculum. Wonder is recognised in the literature as a characteristic of spirituality; it draws a person into a sense of mystery and to imagine possibilities. To ‘wonder’ is so much more than the skill of ‘pondering’. The potential of wonder in promoting young children’s spirituality needs to be more fully realised if educators are to attend to children’s needs holistically.

This investigation focussed on educators’ own personal understandings and experiences in spirituality as well as their understandings of, and practices in, promoting children’s spirituality. The context was faith-based early learning centres in Western Australia (WA) that cater for 3 and 4 year old children. The educators in these faith-based centres were the focus of the research presented in this paper. Early learning centres require their educators to implement the mandated document Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework which outlines pedagogical principles, practices and learning outcomes to assist educators in attending to children’s holistic development, including their spirituality. Interviews, observations and planning documents were analysed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Qualitative Content Analysis, respectively. Findings demonstrate a clear need for educators to experience personal spiritual formation as well as information on pedagogical practices to promote children’s spirituality.