The Friendship Quilt: Sewn with Stories, Kindness and Belonging
The year 2023 marked our 120th anniversary, celebrating a long and fascinating history that began in 1903 when a group of doctors and almoners came together to tackle poverty in…
LEYF News and CEO Blog
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
Rights, Relationships and Respect: A Timely Book for EY Professionals
There are some books that arrive at exactly the right moment, and Babies’ and Toddlers’ Rights in Practice by Mary Moloney,…
The free childcare debate – an open letter
Dear Mr Goodwill Last week, as I watched the debate on thirty hours “free childcare” initiated by Ruth George MP sitting on…
A Pedagogical Postcard from Italy
On the 29 August three LEYF managers and I boarded a luxury Easyjet to attend the EECERA Conference in Bologna. Any of you who are kind enough to read my…
Celebrate Because We Are Worth It!
I do not subscribe to the L’Oreal line ”because you are worth it”. I reckon you have to earn that accolade. But at last weekend’s…
Encouraging Sixth Formers To Become the Next Entrepreneurs
I enjoy Desert Island Discs especially if I have been up long enough to have started doing something useful like baking. This week, I caught the words…
Come and Join the Ofsted Conversation And Put Your Mind At Ease
I am looking forward to the London OBC on the 19th of September at 2pm hosted by Bain London, 40 The Strand,…
Welcome Tracy Brabin, to the wonderful world of early years education!
On Friday 4th August at LEYF, we had our first conference in three years. We were joined by 450 staff who all came to catch up and reconnect whilst enjoying…
With a dash of imagination and a sprinkling of leadership…the recipe for Early Years success!
What do you do when you want to have the best cakes to eat at the annual LEYF Conference? You ask the chefs to bake them!…
Six Steps to Influencing and Creating a Strong Voice for Children
While dusting the other day, in true Mrs Beeton fashion, I came across my recent trophy for the NMT Award, “Most Influential Person in Early Years 2017”.
What’s in a Name?
Last week I chaired a Roundtable with policy advisers, local authorities, council organisations and child poverty campaigners about the implementation of the 30 Hours and the challenge of getting the…
Choosing a Prime Minister
It was an interesting start to a short week. A Tuesday morning visit from Jeremy Corbyn. It may sound a bit grandiose when I say that I have met two…
When is an entitlement not an entitlement? When it’s 30 Hours Childcare!
A previous election manifesto addition was to promise parents 30 hours of free childcare. This is an annual increase from 570 to 1140 hours, whether 30 hours term time or…
Six Steps For A World Leading Early Interventionist Childcare Strategy
The election fever has begun. Well, less of a fever and more of a virus at the moment. The manifesto writers are busy locked in a darkened room trying to…