D is for Disadvantaged: What Does that Mean?
“Disadvantage” is one of those terms we bandy about in policy papers and conference keynotes, but what do we mean by it? Do we understand the lived reality behind the…
LEYF News and CEO Blog
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
The Power of Intergenerational Nurseries
Talking Early Years: June O’Sullivan and Sue Egersdorff The world is changing fast. Technology is accelerating how we live, work and even care, but in that rush, you…
The UK Budget: It’s all about the Working People!
When the Labour Party won the election Bridget Phillipson MP the Secretary of State for Education told us that: Early years is about more than just childcare –…
What does Ofsted’s ‘Outstanding’ tell us about childcare in deprived areas?
Have you read the recent Nesta report yet? The findings suggest that 44% of children reside in what are termed “childcare deserts”— areas where childcare…
Talking Early Years: In Conversation with Ofsted
In this podcast I talk to Wendy Ratcliff and Sam Sleeman-Boss from Ofsted about the Big Listen, refreshed handbooks, new complaints procedure and the research review…
Could Social Enterprises fix the Childcare System?
Why the social enterprise model could be the solution to fixing England’s broken childcare system by expanding access to the communities that need it most. England is…
Talking Early Years: In conversation with Professor Alison Clark
Slow Pedagogy Slow pedagogy calls for compassion where we actively do something to address suffering. …
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…
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…
Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability
Learn How to Cultivate Eco-Conscious Young Minds Some of you may already be aware that LEYF established the London Institute in Early Years (LIEY) some time ago, and…
The Sustainability Community of Practice has launched
The Sustainability Community of Practice has launched, so Join us and help Save the Planet for the Children On the 16th of July, my colleague Nick Corlett and I were…
Talking Early Years: In Conversation with Sally Hogg
Baby, It’s Time Do you think babies are a focus of care and education policy enough? Do we have a baby policy blind spot? We think…
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…
London OBC – Discussing Big Issues That Matter
The London OBC was held on the 24th of May and attended by Caroline Dulon (London Regional Director), Linda du Preez and Christine Davies (both Early…