Early Excellence Podcast

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today 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 Blog "What is Continuous Provision?"...

In this week’s episode, we talk to Dr Mine Conkbayir about the importance of self-regulation, co-regulation and meeting children’s emotional needs. Explore our upcoming Let's Explore Self-Regulation webinar Order The Neuroscience of the Developing Child book Discover more about Dr Mine Conkbayir

In this week’s episode we chat to Jess Martin and Natalie Hewitt from Highgate Primary Academy, part of the Astrea Academy Trust. We discuss the school’s recent Ofsted inspection and what the experience was like from the perspective of the EYFS team. Listen to The Early Excellence Head-to-Head Podcast Read Ofsted's New Publication "What EY Providers & Practitioners Need to Know"

In this week’s episode, we talk to Professor Nirmala Rao from Hong Kong University about her research, global approaches to early education and an international award for early years practice.  Register for Khalifa International Award for Early Learning Field Explore the work of Professor Rao Explore more on Early Excellence

In our first podcast episode of 2023, we chat with Sarah Carey, one of our colleagues at Early Excellence, about a brand new podcast for Headteachers and School Leaders. Gain access to the Head-to-Head Podcast

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today 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 f...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Do you follow a structure of topics and themes as part of your practice? In your setting, are schemes used to structure the teaching of literacy and mathematical skills? In this week’s episode, Andy and Llewella discuss the benefits of working within a structure alongside the need to respond to children’...

Young children have a natural desire to explore their world and share ideas through creative expression. In this week’s episode, we’re joined by artist Emma-Jo Bairstow as we discuss key ways to develop provision and practice in relation to expressive arts and design.   Develop your practice by joining Emma-Jo Bairstow for our  Every Child an Artist  course Looking for some festive...

As one of the prime areas of learning, physical development underpins children’s overall learning and development. Yet how often do we consider children’s physical development in real depth? In this week’s episode, we talk with Helen Hawes about her support work in schools and how small changes to our practice can have a big impact for our children. Find out more about our "Let's Explore Physical...

In this week’s episode, we talk to Trisha Lee all about the importance of nurturing and celebrating children’s storytelling. Trisha tells us all about her work in schools and also about her new book, The Growth of a Storyteller, which explores the practice of using helicopter stories to value, nurture and inspire young learners. Order your copy of The Growth of a Storyteller Explore our Themed Rol...

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Kate Gingles and the EYFS team at Newcastle High School for Girls. As part of our chat, we talk about the team’s key focus on developing enjoyable and rich mathematical learning opportunities for their Nursery and Reception children. Find out more about our “More than a Maths Scheme” Course Read our blog: Mathematical Musings by Jude Twan...

This Episode is Available on the Early Excellence Inspirational Hub App Discover the App Today Children’s books provide us with wonderfully rich opportunities to nurture and provoke imaginative writing ideas. In this week’s episode, Andy and Llewella share some fantastic children’s books for inspiring young writers. Browse our 3-5 Yrs Book Resource Collection Find Out More About Our Let’s Explore...

In this week’s episode, we chat to Ruth Swailes and Aaron Bradbury about their fantastic new book - Early Childhood Theories Today. They discuss the links between theories and practice within the classroom, the benefits of the book, their writing process and much more. Purchase a copy of Early Childhood Theories Today Explore our EYFS Training Discover our KS1 Courses

Do you have wordless books within your classroom provision? In your setting, are wordless books used to support children’s language development and storytelling skills? Join us for this week’s episode of The Early Excellence Podcast where we explore and review some great wordless books and discuss how the books can be used to support the development of a wide range of skills. Watch the Video “The...

This week, we’re joined by Professor Sam Wass from The University of East London. Sam is a child psychologist and neuroscientist specialising in concentration and stress in young children. You will probably remember Sam as the on-screen child psychologist in the popular Channel 4 programmes The Secret Lives of 4 Year Olds and The Secret Lives of 5 Year Olds. Order The Secret Lives of 4, 5 and 6 Ye...

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...