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.
Is the Quality of New Staff Flashing Red?
The drive for the childcare expansion pushes on despite the worries about sufficient staff. However, while our concern about staff sufficiency remains flashing amber, our new flashing red is…
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…
London OBC
In 2013, I set up the Ofsted Big Conversation #OBC because I was so dismayed at how our relationship had deteriorated with our regulator. I was beyond angry at what…
Chefs to the Rescue!
A healthy population is the foundation of a strong and thriving economy, and that begins with our children. Poor diet is a leading cause of long-term illness and…
Talking Early Years: Why are Men in Childcare such a rare species?
Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things Podcast Series For International Men’s Day on the 19th November 2012, I invited as many men as I could find…
How Early Years Chefs are making an impact on food poverty
Access to good, nutritious, and balanced meals is becoming more challenging for some families each week, affecting the poorest and most deprived families the hardest. This is not just me…
Talking Early Years with June O’Sullivan: in conversation with Dr Will Norman
Walk ‘n’ Ride to Good Health It is not every day you get to talk to the Mayor’s Walking & Cycling Commissioner, but this is exactly who I…
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…
The massive impact of Health Visits
At the annual Adventures with Alice Pedagogy and Play Residential, I listened to Suzanne Zeedyck speak passionately about the importance of connecting…
Talking Early Years: What’s Age Got to Do With It?
Time to Rethink Our Ageist Attitudes What happens when a crisis just becomes the way we live? It starts to describe the staffing shortage situation. It would seem…
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…
Talking Early Years: What have Food Banks got to do with the Early Years?
Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things Podcast Series Talking Early Years: What have Food Banks got to do with the Early Years? This year, LEYF…