In this week's episode, we're joined by Rhyannan Porter and Evie Askew from Mayfield School in Cumbria. We discuss how well-planned continuous provision has been developed to help meet the diverse range of children's needs at the school. Episode Links Find out more about Early Excellence support with SEND Book your place on Early Excellence CPD Tra…

We're joined by drama specialist and author, Sam Marsden, this week as we explore the wonderful possibilities of drama for early years children. We discuss the holistic nature of drama and the great links to communication and language, problem solving and creativity. Sam also shares simple ideas to help you get started with drama in the EYFS. Episo…

We're joined by Llewella Ivins this week as we explore how to use floorbooks and displays effectively to capture and celebrate learning. Episode Links Discover our EYFS Training Programme Join us at one of our Touring EYFS Roadshow Events Near YouAf Early Excellence

Evan McCormick joins us this week as we explore the key principles of effective practice outdoors. As part of the episode, we discuss the high level of organisation needed outdoors as well as resourcing, planning and the role of the adult. Episode Links Is Outdoor Learning a key area for development at your school or setting? Find Out About our Tra…

Charlotte Kelly joins us for this week's podcast episode as we reflect on a period of curriculum development at the school. As part of our chat, we explore the changes to the learning environment , well-planned resourcing and a focus on progression in the EYFS. We're proud to say that Oldfield Brow are now one of our Early Excellence Partner School…

Louise Herbert and Gareth Shaw join us this week as we offer valuable SEND advice and answer key questions to support practice. Episode Links Access our Free SEND Framework Materials Join us for our New Course on Strengthening SEND PracticeAf Early Excellence

This week we're joined by Nova Robinson as we explore what we mean by effective enhancements and reflect on how we make this work within a key stage one context. Episode Links Listen to our Podcast Episode - Getting Started with Continuous Provision in Key Stage 1 Access Early Excellence Key Stage 1 training Download our Free Key Stage 1 Audits and…

Author and illustrator Pippa Pixley joins us for this week’s episode as we discuss the importance of creative experiences, interactive storytelling and nurturing a love of nature. Episode Links Find Out More about Pippa’s Work Book Your Place on one of our Early Excellence Roadshow EventsAf Early Excellence

Dr Natalie Canning joins us for this week’s episode of the podcast as we discuss her key research on empowering young learners in the EYFS. Episode Links Find out More on Dr Natalie Canning’s Research on Empowering Young Learners Read our Blog on Nurturing Children’s Self-Confidence and Security in the EYFS Book your Place on an Early Excellence Ro…

We’re joined by Nova Robinson this week as we discuss the challenges but also the benefits of age classes. We explore the importance of a clear understanding of child development and offer key advice for meeting the needs of all of the children. Episode Links Book your place on our Support for Teachers with Mixed Age Classes Webinar Series…

The first few weeks are such a busy yet crucial time in the EYFS year. Llewella Ivins joins us this week as we put together a checklist to make sure we haven’t missed anything! Episode Links Download our EYFS checklist for ECTs Access our Indoor Provision Audit ToolAf Early Excellence

This week, we’re joined by Anna-Marie Bevan, the Head of Ely and Caerau Integrated Children’s Centre in Cardiff. We discuss the journey of development at the setting, the rich experiences provided and the importance of striking the right balance between child initiated and adult-guided learning. Episode Links Explore our upcoming CPD Join our EYFS …

Judith Ish-Horowicz, the co-founder and director of the UK’s first intergenerational nursery, joins us for our first episode of the new school year. As part of our chat, Judith tells us all about the inspirational multi-generational work at Apples and Honey Nightingale and the benefits for all involved. Episode Links Watch Judith Ish-Horowicz prese…

2024 Summer Break Re-Release - Episode 85 This week we’re joined by Clare King, one of our Curriculum Consultants at Early Excellence. We discuss the key principles of effective continuous provision and how to put these principles into practice. Take a virtual classroom tour of the Early Excellence learning environments Find out more about our Insi…

2024 Summer Break Re-Release - Episode 52 In this week’s episode, Andy and Llewella explore the increasing popularity of tuff spot trays in early years settings. They discuss how Tuff Spot trays are used, look closely at some of the potential drawbacks of being over reliant on tray based activities and ask the question: Is it time to move away from…

2024 Summer Break Re-Release - Episode 90 Does your practice reflect the value of self-regulation? In this week’s episode, we’re joined by members of the senior team from Rawmarsh Nursery School in Rotherham as we explore the vital importance of nurturing self-regulation skills. Access training on Child Development including Self-Regulation Become …

2024 Summer Break Re-Release - Episode 112 Catherine Laing, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Linguistics, rejoins us this week for a close look at speech and language research. Book your Place on our Let’s Get Talking Training Course Listen to our Earlier Episode with Catherine Laing "Exploring Early Speech and Language Development" Explore our Fre…

2024 Summer Break Re-Release - Episode 92 Nicky Turner, from the Astrea Multi-Academy Trust, joins us in our new Early Excellence studio as we explore the vital importance of supporting early literacy and phonics skills effectively. Book your Place on Early Excellence Training Visit our New Early Excellence Studio Listen to our Podcast Episode on B…

2024 Summer Break Re-Release - Episode 105 This week, we visit Whitefield Primary School in Liverpool and take a tour of their inspirational EYFS learning environments Watch our Free Planning your Environment Webinar Shop our Inspirational Resources Download our free Audits and Planning GuidesAf Early Excellence

2024 Summer Break Re-Release - Episode 106 With more schools recognising the growing interest in continuous provision for Key Stage 1 education, Andy Burt and Nova Robinson delve into its implementation. From understanding the needs of Key Stage 1 children to navigating transitions from early years, this conversation offers invaluable insights into…

In our last new episode of the school year, we find out about a great project! The 50 Things to Do Before You’re 5 Project aims to provide a list of experiences for young children which are not to be missed. Christian Bunting and Frank Norris join us as we explore the beginnings of the project, the range of experiences and the impact on young child…

Dora Rackham from City Academy, Whitehawk, near Brighton joins us for this week’s episode as we explore the progression of writing skills. Dora has developed a tool to track the small steps involved in developing writing skills and joins us to share how it is used and the impact on the practice. Explore our Mark Making to Writing Course Listen to o…

We welcome Evan McCormick to the studio for this week’s podcast as we explore key strategies to support children’s communication and language skills. As part of the conversation, we discuss our use of routines, plan-do-review cycles and effective adult interactions. We also consider the specific needs of some children including those with English a…

Nova Robinson catches up with the team at Quinton Primary School in Birmingham for this week’s episode. They discuss the implementation of an effective approach to Key Stage One practice based on an enabling learning environment, strong adult-child learning relationships and smoother transitions from the EYFS. Watch our Free Plan Your Learning Envi…

This week, we’re joined by Natalie Bignell from Kidstart Nursery in Manchester. We discuss the key transition procedures in place at the nursery and the positive impact for children, the families and staff team. Listen to our recent episode "Effective Transition with Phil Armstrong" Read our Blog on "Exploring Powerful Learning Through Domestic Rol…

Outdoor storage is the focus this week as we’re joined by our very own Matthew Sayer. We discuss the importance of high levels of organisation outdoors and offer key advice on storage sheds, labelling and the role of the adult. Download our Free Outdoor Audit Download a Free Outdoor Planning Guide Order a copy of our Guide to Outdoor Provision Book…

This week, Nova Robinson interviews Jude Arkwright and Jane Godfrey from St Michael's School in Wiltshire. They discuss the school's approach to continuous provision in Key Stage 1 and the impact it has on children's learning and well-being. Explore our FREE KS1 Room Planning Webinar Visit St Michaels Website to find out more…

Early Excellence Curriculum Consultant, Matthew Sayer, joins us for this week’s episode of the podcast as we explore the wonderful possibilities of muddy play. As part of our chat, we discuss how to get the most out of your mud kitchen area, which resources should be available and how to manage the space effectively. Get Set for Outdoor Learning! W…

This week, we’re joined by Phil Armstrong from the Early Excellence Curriculum Team as we explore effective transition processes within the EYFS. Read our Blog all About Effective Transition to Year 1 Listen to The Podcast Episode "5 Things to Remember in September" Access our EYFS TrainingAf Early Excellence

In this inspiring discussion, Gillian Jones and Jayne Richardson reflect on their school’s journey of implementing continuous provision from Pre School through to Year 2. They discuss the process of developing well- planned learning environments and how this has had a positive impact on the practice, the children and the staff team. Watch our Free …

Gillian Hewitt, the Deputy Headteacher at Dyce Primary School, joins us this week to discuss the fantastic possibilities of baking in the EYFS. Explore our CPD Opportunities for EYFS Listen to our Gardening and Growing EpisodeAf Early Excellence

Catherine Laing, Senior Lecturer in Developmental Linguistics, rejoins us this week for a close look at speech and language research. Book your Place on our Let’s Get Talking Training Course Listen to our Earlier Episode with Catherine Laing "Exploring Early Speech and Language Development" Explore our Free Continuous Provision Guides and Audits…

We catch up with our very own Clare King for this week’s episode of the podcast. As part of our chat, we explore the powerful impact of building on children’s interests and Clare tells us all about a very successful bee project. Explore our CPD Programme Read our Blog on Building on Children's interests in the EYFS Join a KS1 Roadshow Event, Coming…

In this episode of the Early Excellence podcast, Andy Burt interviews Janette Quinn, Director of Education and Professional Learning at COBIS (Council of British International Schools). They explore her global education experience, passion for early years education, and COBIS's role in accreditation and professional development. Highlighting effect…

How do you meet the needs of all of your children? In this week’s episode, we talk to Alex Sutcliffe from Ravenshead Church of England School in Nottinghamshire as we reflect on meeting the needs of children with SEND. As part of this, we focus on the importance of effective learning environments indoors and outdoors and discuss how physical challe…

Join us for this week’s podcast as we explore the link between EYFS practice and research and find out how teachers and practitioners can get involved in their own research projects. Discover more about Dr. Frances Giampapa Explore our CPD TrainingAf Early Excellence

This week, we’re joined by Clare King, one of our Curriculum Consultants at early Excellence, as we talk about the importance of gardening and growing with young children. We offer practical advice on getting started, what you’ll need, and how to successfully grow vegetables with young children. Shop our Outdoor Resources Watch our Free "Get Set fo…

With more schools recognising the growing interest in continuous provision for Key Stage 1 education, Andy Burt and Nova Robinson delve into its implementation. From understanding the needs of Key Stage 1 children to navigating transitions from early years, this conversation offers invaluable insights into initiating this transformative approach. J…

This week, we visit Whitefield Primary School in Liverpool and take a tour of their inspirational EYFS learning environments Watch our Free Planning your Environment Webinar Shop our Inspirational Resources Download our free Audits and Planning GuidesAf Early Excellence

Are the Characteristics of Effective Learning central to your EYFS practice? Are you confident in supporting children’s learning skills and attributes? In this episode of the podcast, we chat to Sayeh Mariner from the Co-Op Academies Trust about developing inspirational practice to nurture young learners. Discover our series of webinars focusing on…

For the podcast this week, we’re joined by Rachel Yeung from Hawkshead Primary School in Cumbria, as we discuss the benefits and challenges of teaching in a mixed-age class. Rachel highlights the importance of understanding each child's needs and planning accordingly. She also emphasizes the role of the learning environment in facilitating learning…

This week, we’re joined by Sara Adams as we discuss her experiences and reflections as an early career teacher. As part of the conversation, we explore the importance of an effective learning environment, building meaningful relationships with children and peer learning. Watch our free ECT Webinar Explore our free Audits and Guides Discover all our…

We’re joined by Sam Caseley and Ruby Thompson from the Herd Theatre for this week’s episode as we hear all about their transformative Replay Project. We discuss the vital importance of nurturing creative thinking and the wonderful impact of immersive open-ended environments on young children. Explore more about the Herd Theatre Watch a trailer abou…

Emma Hudson, Early Years Lead at Willerby Carr Lane Primary School, discusses the impact of the redesigned EYFS environment on children and staff. She highlights the importance of stripping back and refining provision to focus on core continuous provision and interactions. Emma also shares the school's approach to peer coaching and the ongoing proc…

This week, we’re joined by Sarah Carey, School Improvement Lead at Early Excellence, as we explore the impactful Early Excellence Roadshow, a full-day training event for school leaders, EYFS leads and early years teams. Discover key insights on effective practices, learning environments, and the roadshow's focus on professional dialogue. Find Out M…

Nigel Plaskitt discusses his career in film and television, including his work on Labyrinth and Muppet Christmas Carol. He also talks about the magic of puppets and their use with young children, highlighting the educational and emotional benefits. Nigel tells us all about his recent work on the children's show Monty and Co., which aims to teach ch…

In our last episode before Christmas, we’re joined by Sarah Watkins as we celebrate the fantastic learning possibilities of the outdoors. Order your copy of our Early Excellence Guide to Outdoor Provision Read our Early Excellence Blog - The Fantastic Possibilities of Learning Outdoors in Cold, Wet and Windy Weather Connect with Sarah Watkins on Li…

Jess Gosling joins us as our guest for this week’s episode. As an experienced early years teacher working in settings across the world, Jess has lots of key advice and experiences to share. Explore our International Support Services Find out more about Jess' work on her website https://jessgoslingearlyyearsteacher.com/…

This week, we visit Willerby Carr Lane Primary School in Hull to hear about the Early Excellence room planning process and the impact that their new learning environment has had on the children’s learning. Find out more about our Free Room Planning Service Watch our Free Planning Your Environment Webinar Shop our Complete Classroom solutions…

We leave the Early Excellence Studio and head to the beautiful setting of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park for this week’s episode. As part of our visit, we meet Emma Spencer and Kathryn Brame, two of the learning managers at the park. In a wide ranging discussion, Emma and Kathryn discuss their roles in working with young children on the site and also…