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…
If you are happy and you know it come to work
Given that January is the month when we have a collective “Blue Monday” and the highest number of disgruntled workers reach for the job vacancies, we need…
My 2014 New Year blog
Many New Year blogs begin with a set of resolutions. I avoid this because I never make resolutions. I have learned to make promises to myself to do some nice…
What happened when Santa got stuck up the Chimney?
When Santa got stuck up the chimney He began to shout, ‘I’ll tell Mr Gove and he will explode if you don’t let me out.
Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) The Embodiment of Great Leadership
“A leader. . .is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are…
Will the Chancellor become the Fairy Godmother to Cinderella Childcare on Thursday?
What is important about Thursday? Well, it’s the Chancellor’s autumn statement. I wonder whether he will still need to rely on the bursts of fast food energy which got him…
Stonehenge, Farms and Icebergs: Developing Successful Growth Strategies
I am rarely found up at 6am on a Saturday unless I am on my way back from some lively event but this Saturday I headed off to Paddington Farm…
Will Technology Based Networks Lead to a New Age of Enlightenment and an Early Years Wiki?
Last week was a week of networks and networking. On Wednesday I was at an event organised by the Social Business Trust (SBT.) It was called ‘Social…
Come and Celebrate ‘Creative Connections’ at our Event this Thursday
Some weeks are pretty gloomy but this one had some really lovely highlights. The first was midweek when I gave a keynote speech to Essex County Council…
Next steps in The #OfstedBigConversation
DISCLAIMER:(!) I know that today is not my usual ‘blog day’ but we wanted to pass on the latest developments with Ofsted. Normal blog service will resume on Monday… …
Welcome to the Institute of Early Years: A Global Portal Connecting EY Colleagues – Help us shape it to meet your interests
For the past year, a small group of us have been mulling over how to create an international open-source space which connects people involved in all aspects of Early Years…
An Early Years Conference – A platform for play and a good craic!
It’s been a while since I attended a two day conference where I could participate. My recent pattern has been to attend a conference as a presenter and if possible…
First Thoughts on June’s #EYManifesto : Let’s start the Next Big Conversation
We have just had the party conferences and watched as each party started to position itself in readiness for the next election. They are all hard at work shaping their…