Support for Early Years settings in Yorkshire and The Humber
St Edmund’s Early Years Stronger Practice Hub is one of a number of Stronger Practice Hubs designated by the Department for Education (DfE) across England. Our main aim is to help pre-Reception Early Years settings adopt evidence-based practice improvements to address key Covid recovery issues, and build trusted networks for sharing effective practice. We will do this by:
- Establishing local networks of settings to share knowledge and effective practice.
- Proactively sharing information and advice on evidence-based approaches, for example, through newsletters, blogs, events and social media.
- Acting as a point of contact for bespoke advice, and signposting to other funded support.
- Working with the Education Endowment Foundation to select evidence-based programmes to fund and make available to settings
Join our hub to get events and opportunities straight to your inbox.
(Please note, signing up to any events/networks from our Hub means that you are also signing up to the Hub).

Talk to us!
Not sure whether an offer is right for you or a staff member? Have you identified a need in your setting that you would like to discuss? Facing a challenge and don't know where to look for support?
You can request a call back from us, where you will receive guidance, advice and where relevant, be signposted to funded opportunities developed to enhance your practice. To book a call in with us, email sph@stedmundsbradford.org.uk to arrange a time that is convenient for you.
Read our latest blogs!
Read all Stronger Practice Hub news
Specialist Learning Networks
Our Specialist Learning Networks provide the opportunity to meet other professionals with a shared interest in a specific area of learning, build professional relationships and participate in professional discussions, gain access to valuable resources, share ideas and learn about the latest trends and CPD opportunities.
They are delivered in a variety of ways at a variety of times, including face-to-face or virtual sessions. Some will have inspiring guest speakers, while others will have focused discussions.
Please note, when signing up to our Specialist Learning Networks, you are signing up to our Hub.
EARLY YEARS LEADERS AND MANAGERS
Are you the leader of a nursery or a playgroup? A leader of practice as a childminder or in an EYFS group setting? Are you looking for high-quality, evidence-informed professional development opportunities that will enhance your ability and knowledge about how young children learn?
Join our Leadership Network.
Outdoor Play and Learning
This network provides an opportunity to come together with others, to explore how to support children's development in the outdoors and playful approaches to learning.
CHILDMINDING
This network is here for childminders to come together to share goals and challenges. Led by Alex Leigh, a practicing childminder from Leeds.
SEND
This network will bring together early years educators from across the sector to work supportively together, sharing the challenges and joys of working with children with SEND and their families.
early years essentials
Meeting every half term, for just 45 minutes, we will share exciting playful activity ideas - with a little of bit of the "why it works well" When you have attended all of the sessions, you will get a wonderful resource bag, worth around £100, linked with each of our network themes.
school based nurseries
The School Based Nurseries Network is a dedicated space for school-based nursery settings to connect, collaborate, and support one another.
Visitor Sessions
Our Visitor Sessions provide an opportunity for you to spend time at another setting where you will:
- Meet with other early years educators, share ideas and be inspired by the environment and one another
- Take a tour and find out more about the ways others work and how they use resources and spaces inside and outside
- Ask questions and engage in professional discussions to develop your practice
Choose from a range of settings (Special School / Childminder / PVI / Nursery School / Academy School Foundation Stage) and a range of days and times - we hope we have provided something to suit everyone.
Webinars
Our webinars are designed to provide an opportunity to explore a topic, highlighted through our needs analysis, in depth. Delivered by, or in partnership with, the St Edmunds Stronger Practice Hub team, these sessions will include space to discuss and reflect on learning throughout. They will be available to re-watch, share at staff meetings, and we encourage you to use the opportunities given during the recording to pause and reflect with your team.
PAST WEBINAR RECORDINGS
Upcoming Events
Evidence Informed Professional Development Programmes
View more Evidence Informed Professional Development Programmes
sph@stedmundsbradford.org.uk
01274 494898
Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, St Edmunds Nursery School and Children’s Centre, Washington St, Bradford, BD8 9QW