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Foundations for the Future: West Yorkshire's Early Years Workforce Plan
We have partnered with West Yorkshire Combined Authority to create an Early Years Workforce Plan, detailing an outline moving forward for the early years workforce across West Yorkshire. We are now on a mission to bring these ambitions set out in the plan into action.
STRONGER PRACTICE HUB: SEPTEMBER 2025 NEWSLETTER
September news from St Edmund's Early Years Stronger Practice Hub.
Communication support for early years children… whose job is it anyway?
As we say farewell to Helen Rush and congratulate her on her new role working on the language and communication project Talking Bradford, read her blog on how communication supports children's development.
Case Study: Building Connections through the Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
In this case study, we explore Alex Leigh's journey with our Early Years Stronger Practice Hub and how she has grown professionally and personally through our community.
Tales That Spark Thinking: The Impact of TWITCH at Grass Roots Day Nursery
At Grass Roots Day Nursery in Sowerby, Halifax, we’ve always believed in the power of stories — not just as a tool for language development, but as a gateway to connection, curiosity, and emotional growth. This year, our involvement in the TWITCH (Talk With Tales for Children) pilot project, led by the Education Endowment Foundation, has deepened that belief and offered new ways to support our children’s development.
TWITCH is designed to enhance children’s oral language skills through structured storytelling and discussion. It focuses on vocabulary acquisition, narrative comprehension, and the kind of rich, reflective talk that builds thinking skills. For us, it’s been a natural fit.
Ready, Set, School! Why Preparation Matters
Starting school is a huge step in a child’s life. According to the EYFS, the transition from nursery to Reception should support children’s emotional well-being, communication skills, and readiness for more structured routines.
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) also highlights the importance of a “positive transition experience”, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. With only a few weeks to go, what activities can you do to ensure they are ready?
Stronger Practice Hubs...Here to stay!
Stronger Practice Hubs are here to stay and early years is being seen as a priority by the Government! Helen Rush, St Edmund's Early Years Stronger Practice Hub Lead, shares some exciting news! Stronger Practice Hubs have confirmed funding for another three years. The future for early years is looking bright, hear what Helen has to say...
Supporting Multilingual Learners in Early Years Settings
Supporting MLLs effectively starts with educators. We need to feel confident and brave enough to try different ways of communicating. Read the full blog to hear Sian Hudson's experiences and guidance for practitioners working with multilingual families.
50 Things to Do Before You’re Five features in new report, "Everything to Play For: A Plan to Ensure Every Child in England Can Play"
Centre for Young Lives have released the second report in the Raising the Nation Play Commission: "Everything to Play For: A Plan to Ensure Every Child in England Can Play". Our 50 Things to Do Before You're Five initiative have been mentioned within the report supporting the mission for play to be at the heart of the country.
Starting Reception: A new definition can help Early Years Settings share their ethos with parents.
As many children enter their final term before starting school, parents often worry about academic skills like writing names or counting to 20. But a new set of guidelines from leading early years organisations aims to shift the focus. Developed to support parents, educators, and primary staff, the initiative addresses the mismatch in expectations, highlighted by a Kindred Squared survey showing 90% of parents felt their child was ready for school, while only a third of teachers agreed. The goal? Clear, accessible guidance to help everyone support children’s development and ease the transition into Reception.
New 'State of Play' Interim report is published by the Raising the Nation Play Commission
Birth to 19 has been listed as a contributor to the Raising the Nation Play Commission's Interim Report, 'State of Play'.
Supporting children with Language & Communication: Understanding Your Role in Identifying a Need
Currently in the UK 1.9 million children are struggling with talking and understanding words. Early identification and intervention is the key to closing the gap. Early Years Practitioners play a vital role in supporting children with speech, language and communication needs, however many practitioners report that they don't feel confident in being able to identify and support children.
DfE launch updated Toilet Training Guidance, as we provide webinar and resources.
As a response to our needs analysis, we delivered a very timely webinar, two days after the DfE guidance update, on “Supporting your families with toilet training." The DfE guidance is full of useful milestones and tips, with this one being particularly pertinent if we are to address the challenge of children starting reception in nappies. “Starting toilet training after 2 and a half to 3 years can make it harder for some children to learn this new skill.” To sit alongside our webinar, we developed a handout for practitioners, as requested by them.
Birth to 19's response to the Government's Child Poverty Task force
Birth to 19 published their response to the Government's Child Poverty Task force.
Promoting Cultural Capital & Community Engagement in Early Years Settings
Building cultural capital helps children develop the knowledge, experiences, confidence and communication skills that will prepare them for their future success. It is seen as a way to help children achieve goals, become successful in society, and rise up the social ladder (social mobility). The bottom line is, it is about giving children the best possible start to their early education.
Reading levels for children at a 'crisis' point
Rebecca Oberg, Director: Institute for the Early Years comments on the importance of sharing books for children to improve reading levels.
Nurturing Excellence in the Early Years: The Value of Apprenticeship Training Rooted in Evidence Informed Practice
As the Executive Headteacher of two outstanding nursery schools, who have employed apprentices for many years, Sian Hudson talks about the value they bring, developing the next generation of skilled early years educators.
EALC supports the publication of Parenting Through Adversity Practice Guide (0-10)
EALC supports the Department for Education in partnership with Foundations' new published practice guide Parenting Through Adversity.
EALC partners with Speakers for Schools
EALC will work with the UK's leading social mobility start-up
Making sense of Self-regulation
Julia Revels, an independent consultant in the early years discusses self-regulation.
Birth to 19's response to the Government's Plan for Change
Government Plans for Change – Birth to 19 Response:
"We are impressed with the bold vision that the Government has laid out in its Plan for Change. The scale of the challenge is immense, but the opportunities for progress are even larger. We look forward to the opportunities to work with the Government both regionally and nationally, to deliver a strategic approach which tackles child poverty and improves life chances for all our children.” Read our full response here
What Really Matters for Babies?
Julia Manning-Morton is an independent consultant, author, lecturer and trainer in early years care and education, whose writing and teaching is focused on enabling and enthusing early years educators to develop practice and provision that supports the wellbeing of children from birth to three years old.
The Leader's Role in Supporting Staff Wellbeing
Rebecca Oberg discusses how crucial the leaders role is in staff wellbeing.
Response to The Play Commission's Call for Evidence: Reimagining Our Ambitions for Children's Play
Birth to 19 responds to The Play Commission's Call for Evidence, providing their recommendations.
Autumn Conference Recap
On October 12th, Bradford Birth to 19's Stronger Practice Hub hosted a conference for early years workers focused on oracy and literacy. The conference also saw the launch of Friends of 50 Things, a new and exciting opportunity for partners and settings!
EALC Director to Chair NIHR research project!
Kathryn Loftus is the Chair of a £289,000 NIHR research project
Listen to our director Kathryn Loftus talk EALC and Act Locally!
Kathryn was invited to speak about EALC and our Act Locally project on the 'Frank and Stan Chat'
Reflections on Leadership Outside
Kathryn Solly, a former early childhood teacher discusses leadership outside.
Free breakfast in primary schools government rollout scheme
With many children coming to school every day unprepared and hungry, the government have set forth a scheme to be launched as early as September 2025 for free breakfasts to be provided in up to 750 schools.
World Mental Health Day, 10th of October
World Mental Health Day is on Thursday, the 10th of October. It is a day for you to speak with others and raise awareness for mental health issues. This year's theme is mental health in the workplace and we are sharing ways to open up about mental health at work.