Our research and insights

Gathering global experience and sharing our knowledge to improve quality and inclusivity of education for all

4 results

High-quality education in the early years

High-quality early years education – in the first five years of life – is a hugely important foundation for lifelong learning and behaviour. An increasing number of governments around the world are recognising its importance and are reorientating their understanding of early years provision to focus on not just childcare, but more on early education. Here, we consider this growing interest and the importance of high-quality training and development for early years educators in optimising their environments and thereby giving children a strong start in life.

Supporting play in early years settings

A child’s early years – between birth and age five – are fundamental to their development, laying a foundation for future learning, skills and behaviours. Early years educational provision is therefore hugely important, and play is at the heart of effective provision. Supporting play in early years settings is crucial: it improves children’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional wellbeing and helps them to learn about the world and themselves, laying the groundwork for their future learning and development potential. In this commentary, we consider not only the importance of play, but what this means for early years practitioners and how these practitioners can best be supported through effective professional development.

Insights

Building on Success: supporting early years practitioners in Covid-19 recovery

The early years sector has faced multiple challenges in recent months, with disruption from the pandemic converging with staff shortages, increased safeguarding concerns, higher numbers of children identified with additional needs, and a new statutory framework to implement, as well as pressure to ensure businesses remained financially viable. Despite this – or perhaps as a result – there was demand from the sector for high quality professional development to give practitioners the tools to support children effectively. The ‘Building on Success’ programme has emerged as an effective response to this – well-designed and responsive to the needs of early years professionals.

Insights

Early Years Professional Development Programme

The Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP) provides high quality, evidence-informed continuous professional development for practitioners working with children between the ages of two and four in some of the most disadvantaged areas in the country. Over the course of the programme, around 3,000 practitioners will gain Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications in Language and Literacy, as proof of the difference they are making to increase children’s communication skills and improve outcomes in language, literacy and mathematics.

Early years insights

High-quality education in the early years

Supporting play in early years settings

Building on Success: supporting early years practitioners in Covid-19 recovery

Early Years Professional Development Programme

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