Supporting ECEC for Infants Under Two
What We Learned from the Nursery World Webinar The Governments policy to expand “childcare” for children from 9 months by funding 30 hours ECEC is driving demand and anxiety in…
LEYF News and CEO Blog
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
Leading A Greener and Award-Winning Future for Children
We are delighted to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise – Sustainable Development because it recognises our commitment to sustainability and social justice in Early Years. The award celebrates…
The Consultation Dilemma: How to Get it Right
There is a lively debate afoot about consultation. It broke at the Firm Foundations and has now hit twitter so risks turning into 140 character soundbites. It has…
I’ll Drink to That!
If anyone ever asked me what my favourite Champagne was, I would have struggled to answer and probably remark on the benefits of the affordable Prosecco. However, since my recent…
Murder in the Playground
Waiting for the bus the other day I stood and read a shocking poster. It reminded me of a conversation I had with a colleague earlier this week. It occurred…
Goodbye to a Very Dear Friend and Great Supporter of Early Years
I have been asked many times about who has influenced my life and I am usually publicly quite non-committal and say “friends”. However, my dearest friend who shared my passion…
The Easter Egg Sugar Rush
Soon the whole country will be taking part in a giant Easter Egg hunt. A collective response to a marketing campaign that has replaced the reason for Easter…
More men in early years education. That’s the plan.
It might be understandable if we were frustrated by slow progress given our first report on the state of men in childcare. However, it’s not in my nature to give up…
Now that Mr Hinds has discovered the error of the ways in education when will he have the same epiphany about Early Years?
The new Secretary of State for Education Damian Hinds MP has admitted that school funding is “tight” and an issue for headteachers. He agreed that it is “vital” for…
Gender inclusivity? Don’t forget the men!
“What nobler employment, or more valuable to the state, than that of the man who instructs the rising generation.” – Cicero I wrote my first blog about men in childcare in…
Language is the golden route to educational success
We all assume that everyone will learn to talk. It’s part of being human but actually there are levels of success when it comes to language. We can all learn…
International Women’s Day; Champagne, Sex Toys and Birmingham ….
I am a girl from the late 70s. Feminism was a bit of a cult. Indicators of membership included buying the Spare Rib magazine and books from Virago. Meetings were…
What has love got to do with it?
Valentine’s Day is another marketing dream. A flurry of hearts and fluffiness is thrust upon us. The UK spends over a billion pounds on the stuff. Foolish…
Attention to retention – Ministers leading by example?
Welcome Nadhim Zahawi, the latest in a long line of Childcare Ministers. So let’s imagine we are going to have the perfect interview with the newest Minister. The sector…