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

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)

• 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.