Early Excellence Podcast

Stephen Kilgour joins us as we discuss the key principles of effective assessment in the EYFS. Episode Links Find Out About our Early Excellence Assessment Suite Join Us for Training as we Explore Effective Practice in the Reception Year Explore Effective Continuous Provision Planning

Could regular trips to the beach be one of the most powerful things a setting can offer young children? Re-release: Originally aired on 14 Feb 2025 Rhianne Stephens from Ely and Caerau Integrated Children's Centre in Cardiff joins us to talk about their year-round beach visits and the impact connecting with nature has had on the children in their care. Episode Links Discover our Range of Outdoor Resources

In a world that keeps speeding up, what does it mean to slow down — and why might that be exactly what young children need? Re-release: Originally aired on 5 May 2023 Alison Clark joins us to discuss her book Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child, making the case for slow pedagogies in early childhood education and exploring the pressures that work against them. Episode Links Watch the Slow Pedagogy: Making Time for Children's Learning and Development video clip Order a copy of Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child

What does it really mean to love the children in your care — and why does it matter so much in early years settings? Re-release: Originally aired on 31 Jan 2025 Dr Jools Page joins us to explore her research on professional love in EYFS settings, and what it looks like when practitioners get this right. Episode Links Watch the Video "Professional Love: The Dance of Reciprocity" Read the Blog "What is Professional Love?" Explore EYFS CPD Training

What happens when young children and older generations share the same space — and the same daily life? Re-release: Originally aired on 13 Sep 2024 Judith Ish-Horowicz, co-founder and director of the UK's first intergenerational nursery, talks us through the inspiring work at Apples and Honey Nightingale and the benefits it brings for everyone involved. Episode Links Watch Judith Ish-Horowicz presenting a TEDx Talk about her work Find out more about Apples and Honey Nightingale CIC

What's it actually like to go through a pilot Ofsted inspection — and what did the focus on EYFS look like in practice? Re-release: Originally aired on 30 Jan 2026 Leanne Foster shares her first-hand experience of a pilot Ofsted inspection, including the conversations her team had with inspectors and what schools can take from the process. Episode Links Explore more from Ofsted at our Senior Leader Briefing Stay up to date with our Early Years Update Blogs

Mixed-age classes can work brilliantly — but what happens when change is driven by necessity rather than vision? Re-release: Originally aired on 13 Feb 2026 Anne Brass and Kate Gingles join us to discuss the complexities schools face with mixed-age classes, from establishing a clear guiding purpose to navigating structural change with limited guidance available. Episode Links Order our New Guide to Mixed-Age Classes Discover more from Education Durham Download the Free School Leader Reflection Tool on Mixed-Age Classes Find out more about the Education Durham Mixed Phase Magic guidance books

What can visual art experiences really unlock for young children — and how do you make the most of them in practice? Re-release: Originally aired on 27 Mar 2026 Dr Gai Lindsay joins us to explore the rich learning opportunities that visual art experiences offer young children, with practical guidance for teachers and practitioners on bringing creativity to life in their settings. Episode Links Explore Dr Gai Lindsay's website Order a copy of her book on Amazon Discover Early Excellence resources to facilitate creativity

Lucy Fox from Stoke Primary School in Coventry joins us for this week’s episode, as we explore the impact of screen-free practice in the EYFS. Episode Links Read the Blog: Block Play Alongside Small World Resources Read the Blog: Navigating the Sea of Talk - why language-rich environments go beyond labels and key words Explore language-rich environment resources on the Inspiration Hub App

What does it look like when a whole city gets behind children's communication and language? Re-release: Originally aired on 17 Apr 2026 Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming join us to explore Early Talk for York — a citywide initiative aimed at closing the communication and language gap in young children, and what it takes to make that kind of joined-up approach work. Episode Links Explore the Early Talk for York Initiative Read about Developing Language in the Early Years Discover our Communication and Language CPD

Role play is our focus this week as we welcome Becky Hoare to the podcast. Becky is a Primary Teacher and the Founder of Pop Up Play Village Ltd. We discuss children’s natural desire to role play what they see in the world around them. There is lots of key advice here too for developing effective and inspiring domestic role play in your setting. Episode Links Read the Blog "Exploring Powerful Learning Through Home Corner Role Play" Explore Complete Home Corner Role Play Area Resources Find out more about Pop Up Play Village Ltd

We’re joined on the podcast this week by Ed Finch, a Headteacher with a passion for storytelling. We have a great chat about our natural desire to tell stories and the impact of this on our lives. We also explore how storytelling provides wonderfully engaging learning opportunities for our youngest children. Episode Links Read the Blog - Unlocking the Power of Block Play in the EYFS Listen to this Episode "Why Children Need Joy with Ben Kingston-Hughes"

Play isn't a luxury — so why does it keep getting pushed to the margins? Re-release: Originally aired on 20 Feb 2026 Eugene Minogue, Interim Executive Director at Play England, joins us to discuss why play matters so much for children's development, the barriers standing in its way, and what a genuine cultural shift around play would look like. Episode Links Explore Play England's Official Website Listen to our Episode with Ruth Lue-Quee

Dixie-Louise Dexter joins us for this week’s episode as we explore effective transition processes and the value of slowing down the pace. Episode Links Explore our Transition to Year 1 Blog Discover our EYFS CPD & Training Programme Transform your Learning Environment

What do educators really need to know about supporting children born prematurely? Re-release: Originally aired on 7 Mar 2025 Caroline Woodman joins us this week as we explore the impact of premature birth on children's development. Caroline shares her own story and that of her son, Reuben, who was born prematurely. She emphasises the importance of early intervention, understanding developmental challenges, and the need for educational professionals to be aware of the unique needs of premature children. Caroline also highlights the resources available for families and educators to support children like Reuben, advocating for greater awareness and understanding of the long-term effects of prematurity. Episode Links Explore The Smallest Things Charity website Access Free Online Training from PRISM (Premature Infants’ Skills in Mathematics) Discover the Prem Aware Award and its Free Resources

Gemma Wales and Sarah Gaughan from Patana School in Bangkok join us for this week’s episode. We discuss how their early years practice has been inspired by Anji Play and discuss key aspects such as the theory, resources, the practice and the impact on the young learners. Episode Links Discover our support for International Schools and Settings Explore more on Anji Play

What does child-centred creative practice really look like in the early years? Re-release: Originally aired on 9 May 2025 In this episode, Gemma Shadid joins us to explore the power of child-centred creative practice in the EYFS. We discuss the Reggio Emilia approach, the role of quality materials in art, and how sensory experiences and cultural diversity shape children's learning and identity. Episode Links Transform your Learning Environment with our Room Planning Service . Shop our Range of Sensory Resources Explore the EYFS Framework and its Guidance for Early Years Practice.

Speech Therapist and online educator Joanne Jones joins us on the podcast this week. We discuss positive approaches to supporting speech, language and communication skills in young children. Episode Links Explore language-rich environment resources on the Inspiration Hub App Develop your understanding of language and communication with Let's Get Talking in the EYFS Read the Blog Navigating the Sea of Talk – why language-rich environments go beyond labels and key words Invest in The EExREC Assessment Suite

Listen in as we’re joined by Jess Watson and Claire Curtis from the Charnwood Nursery and Preschool Group and discuss all things forest schools. We explore the development of their forest school site, the wonderfully rich experiences provided and the impact on their children. Episode Links Find out more about the forest school on their instagram pages @_beyondtheforest @charnwood_nursery_preschool Discover our new range of outdoor resources Invest in The EExREC Assessment Suite

What does a transformative learning environment actually look like when a room plan really comes together? Re-release: Originally aired on 16 May 2025 In this episode, we chat with Rachel Stephenson and Sue Lonsdale from Holme Valley Primary School in Scunthorpe. They share their experience of developing inspirational learning environments and reflect on the impact this had during their recent Ofsted inspection. Episode Links Find out more about our Room Planning Service Explore our Free Room Planning Webinar Shop our Complete Classroom Solutions