The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World
On the 17th of November, I was invited by the Royal Foundation, Centre for Early Childhood to a lecture by Professor Robert Waldinger from Harvard University, who co-wrote the letter…
LEYF News and CEO Blog
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
Margaret Horn Debate 2025
Is the government’s offer of childcare from nine months truly in the best interests of babies or more about boosting the economy? The annual Margaret Horn debate always tries to…
The London Men in Childcare Network Celebrates its Second Birthday and Launches its Video
‘Men in Childcare is women’s business’ said a colleague at the first official meeting of the London Men in Childcare Network for 2014 which was held last…
We need one early years voice to sing in harmony for good quality childcare.
On Saturday, I read a letter in the Guardian coordinated by Early Education calling on local politicians to protect quality provision for children in…
Early Years where ‘Mary Mary quite Contrary’ is also an Environmentalist and Climatologist
Yesterday, I enjoyed watching a tranquil almost bucolic scene with rowers rowing up the Thames, families walking with their children and dogs and runners and cyclists cruising along the towpath.
The Tale of Two Michaels; ‘Le Ofsted Split’
The breakup of relationship always fascinates us. We are drawn to the details like a moth to light. The intricate relationship between the Secretary of State for Education and Ofsted…
Early Childhood Care and Education must become a Global Issue
This week had an international flavour not because I was travelling to faraway places (my next trip is Walsall) but because I spent quite a bit of time considering how…
Leading a change; a challenge or a headache?
The role of the CEO is a varied one and this week I found myself commenting on assignments LEYF staff had done on change. I was really rather chuffed by…
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…