Packed lunches: I just want the right to say no!
Do you want the right to ban packed lunches from your setting because of Health & Safety concerns? The recent legal challenge to the Early Years in February, was…
LEYF News and CEO Blog
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
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…
Worry less about what a Minister can do for us; it’s what we can do for the Minister that should matter
There is a cry from some parts of the sector, about a yet to be appointed Childcare Minister. Why? As a sector the meddling of politicians who are uninformed (except…
Reading and Writing Float on a Sea of Talk: So Lets Ensure More Conversations
Last week I spoke at the UK National Literacy Conference. My role was to share how we support children to become literate in LEYF nurseries.
Why Community Nurseries Play their Part in Social Integration
Earlier this year I joined the Social Integration Commission and today they published their report called ‘How integrated is modern Britain.’ I was very pleased to be…
Where does Early Years fit in the ‘British Values’ in Education Debate?
Mr Gove seems unable to avoid controversy and so began another educational debate when he decided that schools would need to promote ‘British values.’ As ever, Early Years education was…
The International Periscope : Learning About, Around and Seeing Obstacles
Returning from a week’s holiday on a crowded EasyJet flight from Milan, I glanced at my emails and despite the sterling work of my efficient EA, was…
Visiting the Farmer in his Den
Last week I visited Paddington Farm in Glastonbury Somerset of which I am Chair. It’s a lovely 43 acre organic farm which is run as a social…
What is teaching and who are the teachers in Early Years?
Recently, the Chief Inspector for Schools, Sir Michael Wilshaw launched the Annual Report on Early Years 2012-13 with a fairly controversial speech. He threw down the gauntlet…
The #OfstedBigconversation – London
The London Big Conversation was hosted last week at LEYF and an informed and lively audience greeted three inspectors. Led by Debbie Jones, Regional Director for London and National…
The Power of Communication
Over the weekend, I was re- reading my leadership book with a view to updating it when I spotted this quote by Malaguzzi and thought just how apt it is.
If we want to improve the lives of poor two year olds, we need to have an intelligent Ofsted conversation
‘More nursery education should be carried out in schools to prepare children better for later education and help bridge the gap between rich and poor’ the Chief Inspector of schools…
An Invitation to the London #OfstedBigConversation
The London conversation will take place at 9.30 on Friday the 11th April at LEYF Head Office (121 Marsham St, SW1P 4LX). The aim of the ‘Conversation’ is to identify…
What would St Patrick say if he was a Social Entrepreneur?
This week, I had the opportunity to be featured on the BBC Sunday Politics Show as an example of a social enterprise. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03xjvvm/Sunday_Politics_London_16_03_2014/ (51.20 mins) Like anyone who ever…