Talking Early Years: In conversation with Frank Cottrell-Boyce
If you have been frog marched through books, why would you ever read for pleasure? The award-winning author and screenwriter Frank Cotterell-Boyce is the 13th Children’s Laureate of…
LEYF News and CEO Blog
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
Lessons We Must Learn to Better Protect Our Children
In Memory of Genevieve Meehan Tonight, BBC One North West and Yorkshire will air an investigative programme titled How Safe Are Our Nurseries? It follows the heartbreaking story of Genevieve…
Margaret Horn Debate 2024
Is Modern Parenting fit for purpose? “Be worthy of imitation” Rudolph Steiner (1861-1925) Every year we host the Margaret Horn Debate where we consider a compelling subject highlighted…
Talking Early Years: In Conversation with Sarah Ronan
Let’s really make change the only option: Become part of the ECEC movement Sarah Ronan is the director of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) – an organisation…
Modern Parenting: Evolution or Fad?
Parenting has always mirrored societal changes, often influenced by trends and fads. But while society evolves, children remain remarkably consistent in their needs. So, do certain parenting approaches truly stand…
Talking Early Years: In conversation with Eunice Lumsden
Change the Way you Greet them There is a lot of concern about recently qualified staff who appear…
Talking Early Years: Time for a Parent State!
Two Thirds of Parents Express Concerns About What Their Children Eat It seems strange…
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…