The Big Listen Reports!
The Ofsted Big Listen has reported. I have summarised the main thrust of the report. They will act using 7Cs but we need to engage and make sure we…
LEYF News and CEO Blog
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
Time to Manifest on the Future of the Early Years
Having waited patiently for the manifestos from the main political parties which arrived last week, predictably they were light on detail. To be honest, we were most…
Talking Early Years – In Conversation with Professor Al Aynsley-Green
A Shout Out for Children It’s fitting that this podcast is being aired on International Children’s Day because Sir Al is a huge advocate for children over his…
What has Prison got to do with Early Years?
Many of you will have heard me say that the Early Years is a highly political space. We find ourselves addressing poverty, social services, education and housing and now I…
If Children Really Are Our Future, Why Are We Stalling?
The 16th November marked Social Enterprise Day, so Happy Social Enterprise to you all. My dream is for every business to operate like a social enterprise and never have to…
Talking Early Years: In conversation with Sarah Ronan
Can the new Early Education and Care Coalition Influence the next Government? Sarah Ronan, Director of the recently formed Early Education and Care Coalition (EECC) joined me to…
Developing Children’s Knowledge and Skills with Ofsted’s NEW Report
Ofsted has just published Report 2… …part of our series of subject-based curriculum research reviews. Do you remember the first one Best Start? This second…
Stronger in Numbers: The EECC Launch
Stronger in Numbers as the Early Education and Childcare Coalition Launches This week marks the launch of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) – a group of experienced…
What has Early Years got to do with Sustainability?
Where are you going on holiday? Will it be too hot? A realistic question as Southern Europe burns. I chose the west of Ireland where a sliver of sunshine…
The Three Sides of the Red Box Budget
Hurrah, the importance to invest in the Early Years has finally filtered deep into the Treasury and the Chancellor responded in the Budget. So that is the good bit, but…
The Continuing Saga of the Childcare Cost
We have been raising the issues of childcare funding for over 10 years. It has been so long, I am amazed at how patient I’ve remained – and…
Shaping Us Campaign – shining a light on Early Years
Ten years ago, the Princess of Wales started noticing that a poor Early Years’ experience was the common denominator across all the young people using the mental health charities she…