Background

Qualifications:

1997:  Diploma in Nursing Studies (Children's Nursing), Queen's University, Belfast

2003:  BSc (Hons) Health Studies (Bioscience), Queen's University, Belfast

2004:  Diploma in Tropical Nursing, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London

2006:  MSc Public Health Nutrition, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London

2015:  PhD, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne 

Professional Membership: 

Nursing and Midwifery Council: Registered Children's Nurse (part 15)

Fellow of the Higher Education Authority

Research

The process and impact of change in the school food policy on food and nutrient intake of children aged 4-7 and 11-12 years both in and out of school; a mixed methods approach.  Project Leaders:  Prof Ashley Adamson (PI), Prof Martin White (Co-Investigator) and Ms Martine Stead (Co-Invesitgator)

Publications

• Spence S, White M, Adamson AJ, Matthews JNS. Does the use of passive or active consent affect consent or completion rates, or dietary data quality? Repeat cross-sectional survey among school children aged 11–12 years. BMJ Open 2015, 5, e006457.
• Spence S, Matthews JNS, White M, Adamson AJ. A repeat cross-sectional study examining the equitable impact of nutritional standards for school lunches in England in 2008 on the diets of 4-7y olds across the socio-economic spectrum. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2014, 11, 128.
• Spence S, Delve J, Stamp E, Matthews JNS, White M, Adamson AJ. Did School Food and Nutrient-Based Standards in England Impact on 11–12Y Olds Nutrient Intake at Lunchtime and in Total Diet? Repeat Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS ONE 2014, 9(11), e112648.
• Spence S, Matthews JNS, White M, Adamson AJ. Did legislation to regulate school meals in England widen dietary inequalities in children aged 4-7 years? A repeat cross-sectional study. In: Public Health Science: a national conference dedicated to new research in public health. 2013, London, UK: The Lancet Publishing Group.
• Adamson A, Spence S, Reed L, Conway R, Palmer A, Stewart E, McBratney J, Carter L, Beattie S, Nelson M. School food standards in the UK: implementation and evaluation. Public Health Nutrition 2013, 16(6), 968-981.
• Spence S, Delve J, Stamp E, Matthews JNS, White M, Adamson AJ. The Impact of Food and Nutrient-Based Standards on Primary School Children's Lunch and Total Dietary Intake: A Natural Experimental Evaluation of Government Policy in England. PLoS One 2013, 8(10), e78298.
• Spence S, Shen J, Delve J, White M, Vale L, Adamson AJ. An evaluation of the effect of the New School Food Policy on children's nutritional intake and socio-economic consequences in North East England. In: 56th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Social Medicine. 2012, London: BMJ Group.
• McSweeney L, Bradley J, Adamson AJ, Spence S. The 'Voice' of Key Stakeholders in a School Food and Drink Intervention in Two Secondary Schools in NE England: Findings from a Feasibility Study. Nutrients 2019, 11(11), 2746.
• McSweeney L, Spence S, Anderson J, Wrieden W, Haighton C. Parental perceptions of onsite hospital food outlets in a large hospital in the North East of England: A qualitative interview study. PLOS ONE 2018, 13(11), E0205416.
• Spence S, Matthews JNS, McSweeney L, Rowland M, Orango P, Adamson AJ. A natural experimental evaluation of the effect of universal infant free school meals on key stage 1 pupil’s dietary intake in northeast England: a pilot study. In: Public Health Science. 2019, London: The Lancet Publishing Group.
• McSweeney L, Bradley J, Adamson A, Spence S. Exploring pupil and staff perceptions of school food and drinks: Findings from a feasibility study. In: 6th UK Congress on Obesity 2019. 2019, Leeds: Association for the Study of Obesity.
• McSweeney L, Spence S, Anderson J, Wrieden W, Haighton C. Parental perceptions of on-site hospital food outlets: A qualitative interview study. In: 5th UK Congress on Obesity 2018. 2018, Newcastle: Nature Publishing Group.