Spaces and Places

Literature review: ‘Third Space Theory’

Summary:

• A concept developed by postcolonial theorist Homi Bhabha (1994) regarding the intersection
of communities, identities, language and education.

• Third spaces in the contexts of schools can be visualised as neutral or safe spaces in which
power between schools and parents is balanced and collaboration aimed for.

• The rebalancing of power hierarchies is thus addressed through both physical spaces and the
practices of literacies, such as through the recognition and valuing of first-language literacies
taking place inside the homes of EAL parents and children.
 • We identified a number of
recommendations relating to ‘spaces
and places’ as an outcome of the
literature review.

Recommendations • Hopefully the following slides will

provide some inspiration which you
from the literature can apply to the spaces and places
review inside and outside your school.

• The recommendations have as an

underpinning principle that of making
school environments inclusive and
welcoming spaces for refugee/recently
arrived families.
School entrances
• ‘Schools are open, welcome
spaces that visibly and explicitly
celebrate the diversity of their
communities: through actions and
behaviours of staff and students;
wall displays; welcoming
messages in entrance halls and
reception areas; roles and
responsibilities that are open to
and taken up by refugee / migrant
parents in school’
 Display boards in
classrooms &
shared spaces

• ‘Schools understand the transition

journeys of young people and their
families and encourage and promote
shared knowledge of the school
population through displays and
activities.’
Outdoor spaces and
accessing local
community provision
• ‘Where possible schools provide access to
whole family activities. This could be a visit
to the local library or another place where
access to ICT and WIFI is free.’

• ‘Schools could provide lists of local places,

or facilitate activity in local spaces that
newly arrived parents may not be aware of.
This may support knowledge,
understanding and confidence in accessing
wider community provision and entitlement
to local services.’
Parent access and
information hubs
• ‘Schools create ‘third spaces’ for home
school interaction, that is to say spaces
that bring together ideas and priorities
from home and school in dialogue to
generate new fruitful conversations about
how best to support children.’

• ‘Schools treat home school interaction as

a ‘knowledge exchange’ activity through
which teachers and parents are equal
stakeholders and work collaboratively to
create an optimum environment for
young people to thrive as learners and
citizens.’