Early Excellence Podcast

There are often stark differences in approaches to teaching and learning once children move in to year one, but, does this have to be the case? In this week’s episode, we explore how a rich, well-planned learning environment in Key Stage One can provide both the continuity and the challenge that young learners need. Explore our Guide to Continuous Provision for Key Stage 1 Access our Free Webinars...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Children have a strong drive to repeat actions. They can become fascinated by transporting objects, moving in circles or creating enclosures as they explore, and make sense of, the world around them. In this week’s episode, Llewella explores how to identify these repeated patterns of play, known as schem...

With Kath Murdoch’s “The Art of Enquiry Teaching” event fast approaching, we explore what we actually mean by Enquiry Based Learning. In this week’s episode we introduce the concept of Enquiry Based Learning, consider aspects such as the right environment and the adult role, and discuss some key questions to get us thinking. Attend our Conference with Kath Murdoch Read the Blog

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Welcome back to the first episode for the new school year! September is a crucial time for your practice, so for this week’s episode, Andy & Llewella explore the key things for you to remember at the start of this school year. Join our Free ECT Webinar Attend our Conference with Kath Murdoch Explore...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today 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 Guides to Continuous Provisio...

In our final podcast for this school year, Andy catches up with some of the founding members of the popular Facebook Group: Early Years Early Adopters. Formed initially in 2020 during the pandemic as a support network for any early adopter schools, the group has now become a key social hub for the Facebook education community where people share ideas and offer advice and support. During this fasci...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today In this episode, Andy and Llewella share and explore a range of key practitioner texts to really get you thinking. So whether you’re needing to get to grips with the key principles of EYFS practice, looking to develop your outdoor learning environment, working with two year olds for the first time or in...

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 of our centre Explore our complet...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today A carefully chosen children’s book can inspire a wide range of conversations and nurture children’s curiosity in the world around them. In this week’s episode, Andy and Llewella explore a range of fantastic stories and non fiction texts to challenge your children’s thinking and help them make meaningful...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Effective transition is so much more than an opportunity to visit a new classroom or meet the next teacher. In this week’s episode, Andy and Llewella discuss effective practice and its relationship to transition. They also explore how successful transition processes recognise the different transitions th...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Do you use children’s story books as a starting point for exploring mathematical vocabulary and concepts? Do you have mathematically rich picture books as part of the provision in your maths area? In this week’s episode Andy Burt and Llewella Ivins explore some great maths related books and stories to he...

In this week’s Podcast Andy focuses on meaningful mathematics in the EYFS. He explores how a well-planned learning environment allows for powerful connections to support the effective teaching of mathematics. He also reflects on the importance of the adult role to maximise opportunities to embed learning, challenge thinking and introduce vocabulary. Download our Free Maths Audits for EYFS & KS...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today In this week’s Podcast Episode, Andy Burt and Llewella Ivins take a closer look at a range of books that can support children’s Personal, Social & Emotional Development. They share some of their favourite books including Knuffle Bunny, Julian is a Mermaid and the Big Book of Families. Join them to ex...

This week, Andy interviews Kerry Murphy, Early Years Lecturer and Consultant, about her new book A Guide to SEND in the Early Years. Andy and Kerry discuss and reflect on EYFS practice, how best to support children with SEND and also challenge some common misconceptions. Order Kerry’s book: A Guide to SEND in the Early Years Explore our Child Development Webinars View other recommended professiona...

In this week’s Podcast Andy talks to Phil Armstrong, our Head of Regional Development for the South, about the role of an EYFS Leader and the importance of wider Subject Leadership. They reflect on how best to strengthen understanding of the core principles of Early Years for Subject Leaders to ensure these are translated into practice, the curriculum and assessment as part of a whole school appro...

In this week’s Podcast, the team taker a close look at Continuous Provision, explore EYFS terminology and reflect onthe importance of creating a consistent and enabling environment. Order our Guides to Continuous Provision Explore our FREE Room Planning service Read the blog

In this week’s Podcast, Andy talks to Amanda Belbin from Bincombe Valley Primary School, Weymouth. Amanda explains how meaningful talk and carefully planned enhancements have helped to put domestic role play at the heart of their practice. Watch our free Domestic Role Play webinar Shop our Domestic Role Play Resources Follow Bincombe Valley on Twitter Read Amanda’s Domestic Role Play Blog

Developing a well organised Domestic Role Play Area is vital for supporting young children’s learning. In the Podcast this week we set out some key principles and explore tips and ideas to help you establish meaningful and quality domestic role play that remains in place all year. Watch our webinar recording Creating Conversations! Inspire Language through Role Play Explore our Domestic Role...

Do your Early Years’ classroom spaces truly reflect your vision for learning? Have they come together by accident or been carefully planned to offer rich, meaningful and joyful experiences for young children? In this weeks Podcast, we explore how our learning environment needs to be valued as a key part of the curriculum. Join our Spring National Briefing Watch our Spring into Spring Twilight Even...

In this week’s Podcast, Andy interviews James Hitchens, the Headteacher from Penryn Primary Academy & Nursery in Cornwall. James discusses the school’s journey of rapid improvement from a RI Ofsted inspection in 2017 as he shares their vision, approach and the thinking behind it. From the creation of inspiration learning environments to the value they place on continuous provision in EYFS and...

The new EYFS framework stresses the importance of talk in supporting children’s learning. In this week’s episode, we explore how to put talk at the very heart of your practice. Join our “Understanding Language & Communication in the EYFS” Webinar Package Explore our free Audits & Planning Guides Read the Blog

In this week’s Podcast, Andy interviews Maeve Birdsall & Jasmine Priestley from Co-op Academy Oakwood in Leeds. Together with Claire Clithero, they have written and published a book that shows the positive impact on children when they value and nurture creativity. Order the Rainbow Birds Book Online Explore more about Oakwood Academy

How is colour used within your classroom? In this week’s Podcast Episode, Andy explores the use of colour and poses some key questions to consider including whether it is really needed to keep children engaged or if it is distracting to the learning. There are also lots of top tips for alternatives to move forward. Explore our FREE Room Planning service Take a 3D Virtual Tour of our Centre Read th...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today It’s essential that your team understand how young children develop maths expertise, especially when choosing, using and evaluating set schemes or programmes. In this week’s Podcast Andy welcomes back Jude Twani who provides her insight and tips on approaching maths in the EYFS. Access the Exploring Subi...

Exploring and experimenting with water is a key fascination for many children and if you have it available continuously, you may even find that some children go back to it a lot! This week’s Podcast explores how the Water Area can be packed with a wealth of opportunities for scientific and mathematical thinking as well as opportunities for storying and developing narrative. Attend Professor Julie...