Are Babies Too Young for Policy-Driven Childcare?
The Margaret Horn Debate is our annual opportunity to stop, think, and ask what, in the name of children’s education and care, are we really doing? I love this event…
LEYF News and CEO Blog
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
Why Nature Must Matter for Children and Early Years Education
Take a look around– concrete high-rises dominate our skylines, and even the courtyards of upscale developments are often little more than hard brick and stone. Where, then, are children expected…
The role of the modern politician
It’s 100 weeks to the next election… Remember at your peril, politicians can determine our destiny. The call to roundtables is loud and the manifesto push is in…
It was raining on men and about men all week
Last week men featured quite highly on the agenda. Along with Jai Patel and Paul Spinks, co-chairs of the London Network of Men in Childcare, I attended the APPG on…
Will I be on the same list as Sir Bob ?
Last week I was awarded an MBE for services to children and young people in London. As an Irish person, I am technically a non-National so I…
A Thank You Letter to Mr Clegg
Dear Mr Clegg, Thank you for listening to us about the potential changes to the ratios. I can honestly say we were genuinely delighted that you understood our perspective and…
Picnics, Parents and Paris
There is no doubt that the God of Weather likes children. On Saturday the 1st June, International Children’s Day, the sun shone and a light breeze made it a comfortable…
Countdown to our 1st June picnic – a plea to the weather God!
It has been described as a work of fiction by the Pre-School Learning Alliance (PSLA) but is this the best description of the Department for Education report published last week? …
Sing-along to Bob Marley as you prepare for International Children’s Day on 1st June
Thank you all who responded to my blog ‘Colleagues, it’s time we finally took control’ calling us to stand up together and Reclaim Early Years from the toxic grip…
Dear Colleagues, it’s time we finally took control.
Our Minister has done us a favour, although she may not have realised it. She has thrown down the gauntlet by challenging the sector, so now we need to take…
An inspector calls… and the sector arrives to listen and ponder.
On Friday morning I traipsed up to Camden to hear Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills announce his…
Get on the train to Brussels and make new friends.
Reading documents from the European Commission require some preparation: firstly a cup of tea and a packet of Fig Rolls; secondly some good music…
The Power of Good Old Fashioned Care: Love, Chat and Adele
A few weeks ago Wave Trust in partnership with the DfE published its report Conception to Age 2 – The Age of…
Can the Genie of the Lamp help us find the best staff in Early Years?
There was a flurry of activity at our Central Office last week because we were interviewing for new staff. We need new staff because we have increased our capacity…