Early Excellence Podcast

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Summer Re-Release Episode  - This week, Andy and Llewella explore how too many weekly enhancements can be an unhelpful part of practice and consider what the alternatives are. Explore our webinar "Too Much Provision, Not Enough Teaching" Order a copy of our Guide to Continuous Provision Read our Blo...

Summer Re-Release Episode  - This week, we talk to Alison Clark about her recent book  Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child . As part of the conversation, Alison discusses the pressures within Early Childhood Education and makes the case for slow pedagogies when working with young children. Watch the low Pedagogy-Making Time for Children’s Learning and Development Video Clip Order a co...

Summer Re-Release Episode  - In this week’s podcast episode, Andy is joined by Esther O’Connor, the EYFS Leader at the British School of Brussels. Esther opens the doors to the inspirational EYFS learning environments at the school and describes how children’s fascinations are nurtured as part of their child-centred practice. Take a look at Esther’s photos of their environments Take a 3D tour...

Summer Re-Release Episode  - Welcome to our podcast series for new EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) teachers! Starting a new teaching job is an exciting journey filled with endless possibilities, and we're here to help you navigate it successfully. In Part One, we delved into building strong relationships, a crucial aspect of your role as an EYFS teacher. Now, in Part Two, we go beyond rel...

Summer Re-Release Episode - Whether you’re setting up your new classroom for the first time, or changing your existing layout, it is vitally important to get it right. The actions you take and the decisions that you make at this point in the year can have a massive impact for you and your children. Join us for inspirational ideas and top tips to support you and your team as you review your current...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Summer Re-Release Episode - With lots to get ready for the new school year, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this week’s bonus podcast episode, Andy and Llewella offer lots of advice and also discuss which jobs are the key priorities Explore our free Planning Guides & Audits Order our G...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today In this week’s episode, Andy is joined by Early Excellence colleague, Clare King, as we discuss the wonderful possibilities of woodwork in the EYFS. We explore how to introduce resources, teach key skills and get the most out of your woodwork area. Explore Early Excellence Woodwork Resources Purchase Lea...

Children’s author, Allie Mary, joins us for this week’s episode of the podcast. Allie has written a series of books with the aim of helping children to talk about their feelings and also issues which affect them. Find out more about Allie’s books at alliemary.co.uk Read our Blog on Nurturing Children’s Self-Confidence and Security in the EYFS Develop your Practice, Book on to our EYFS Course Focus...

Alison Heale and Anne-Marie Jones from Ysgol Yr Hafod in Wrexham join us for this week’s podcast episode. They talk with passion about the school’s inspirational journey in developing rich, well-planned and meaningful learning experiences for their children. Read our blog about building on children’s interests Watch our "Rethinking Your KS1" training video Transform your Learning Environ...

This week, we’re joined by Hannah and Ruth from Discovery Bay International School in Hong Kong. We discuss the team’s approach to building on effective Early Years practice as the children move into Key Stage One. Find out more about Discovery Bay International School   Watch our free training videos on developing effective practice in KS1 Download our free KS1 Provision Audit Tool Explore o...

Jasmine Priestley and Lucy Gill, from Manor Wood Primary School in Leeds, join us for this week’s episode of the podcast. They share their child centred and creative ethos and introduce us to the spaces of fascination which have been developed in their foundation stage unit.  Attend Manor Wood's Open Event and Explore Their Award Winning Setting Listen to our previous interview with Jasmine P...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Does your timetable reflect the vital importance of the prime areas of learning? This week, we’re joined by our own Matthew Sayer as we discuss the positive impact of giving children more time. Read our Blog on Nurturing Children’s Self Confidence in the EYFS Book on to our Let’s Get Talking Webinar Seri...

This week, we’re joined by Lee Dunn who is the Acting Head of School at Oldbury on Severn CofE VC Primary School in Gloucestershire. Lee shares the school’s journey of improvement and the positive impact on the whole school community. Transform your Early Primary Education and Elevate Outcomes with our Bespoke School Improvement Services Maximise your Learning Environment with our Free Room Planni...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Our own Llewella Ivins joins us for this week’s episode as we explore the importance of real life experiences for our youngest children. Read our blog on developing powerful learning through domestic role play Browse our Woodwork Resource Collections Listen to our podcast episode on Cultural Capital in t...

Josey Hall, the EYFS Leader at Knavesmire Primary School in York, joins us for this week’s episode. Three years on from the first Covid 19 lockdown, we remember the changes and the challenges and reflect upon the ongoing impact on young children. Explore our Training All About Child Development in the EYFS Discover our Blog on Nurturing Children’s Self-Confidence and Security in the EYFS

This week, we talk to Alison Clark about her recent book  Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child . As part of the conversation, Alison discusses the pressures within Early Childhood Education and makes the case for slow pedagogies when working with young children. Watch the low Pedagogy-Making Time for Children’s Learning and Development Video Clip Order a copy of Slow Knowledge and the Unhur...

Dr Nathan Archer, Director of the International Montessori Institute, joins us for this week’s episode as we explore the life and work of Maria Montessori. As part of our discussion, we explore the impact of Maria Montessori’s work and how her approaches to education have influenced practice and provision to this day. Explore the International Montessori Institute at Leeds Beckett University

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Our own Matthew Sayer, Curriculum Consultant at Early Excellence, joins us for this week’s episode of the podcast as we explore boys’ learning in the EYFS and debate why they nationally are not achieving the same levels of expected development in aspects as girls, and what needs to be considered. Find ou...

This week, we talk to Catherine Laing, Lecturer in Developmental Linguistics at York University. As part of the discussion, we explore early speech and also the impact of the Covid19 lockdowns on children’s speaking skills Read our blog on Navigating the Sea of Talk Book onto our Let’s Get Talking Course

Do you make the most of daily and weekly routines in the Early Years and Key Stage One? In this week’s episode, we’re joined by our very own Nova Robinson, as we discuss and explore how effective routines can be used to provide inspirational experiences and embed learning over time. Watch our free Training Video on Continuous Provision in Key Stage 1 with Nova Robinson. Access our free EYFS and Ke...

We are delighted to be joined by Dr Helen Williams on this week’s episode of The early Excellence Podcast. Helen is an independent educational consultant, specialising in the learning and teaching of primary mathematics. Helen’s book " Playful Mathematics for Children 3 to 7"  won the Nursery World Professional Book of the Year Award in 2022. Read our  Mathematical Musings  blo...

Our own Sarah Carey, the presenter of the Head-to Head Podcast, joins us for this week’s episode and introduces us to Emma Prokipczuk. Emma is the Executive Principal of three schools in the Inspiring Primaries Academy Trust and joins Sarah to discuss their recent Ofsted inspection visits. Subscribe to the Head-to-Head Podcast Join us for our National Briefing Find out about the Early Excellence L...

In this, our 60th episode, we’re joined by Nicky Turner the Early Years Lead for the Astrea Academy Trust. As part of our conversation, we explore what we mean by cultural capital in the early years. Read our Blog "All About Building on Children’s Interests" Access Training on How to Explore and Develop Children’s Interests Watch our Free Training Video on Developing High Quality Domestic Rol...

This week, we talk with Nicola Musgrove. Nicola is a former early years practitioner, a further education college tutor and is mum to two children with autism. As part of the interview, Nicola discusses her own experiences of autism and also offers key advice for teachers and practitioners working in the EYFS. Nicola's Husband Tim is running the London Marathon to raise money for The National Auti...

This week, we’re joined on the podcast by Ben Kingston-Hughes. Ben is an author, trainer, keynote speaker and also the Managing Director of Inspired Children. Our conversation takes many twists and turns but focuses on the vital importance of early childhood. Join our Conference with Ben Kingston-Hughes Order a copy of Ben's Book Explore our Training & Events Listen to our interview with Prof....