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…
Talking Early Years: In conversation with Salas Balde
Workout to Help with Salas… and Bring Kindness to the World Life is very serendipitous and leads to meeting some very engaging people who want to do something helpful…
If Children Really Are Our Future, Why Are We Stalling?
The 16th November marked Social Enterprise Day, so Happy Social Enterprise to you all. My dream is for every business to operate like a social enterprise and never have to…
Talking Early Years: In Conversation with Stephen Gribben
I was introduced to coaching by Stephen Gribben many years ago. It was an interesting experience, and one I was not too sure how to make the best…
London OBC Blog October 2023
The London OBC October 2023 Thank you those who attended the London OBC meeting on the 25th October. It was interesting to receive comments from many attendees…
International Chef’s Day: A shout out to the Early Years Chef
The Halloween decorations are up and pumpkins are for sale in the supermarkets, but before we start watching scary movies in the dark there’s another day to get excited about…
Talking Early Years: In conversation with Solitaire Townsend
Transforming Business to Create a More Sustainable…
What does mental health look like for a small child?
As a former psychiatric nurse who trained and worked at the Maudsley Hospital, I realised quickly that mental health was the Cinderella service of the NHS. Years later, I…
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…