Talking Early Years: In conversation with Professor Sam Wass
We’ve Got It the Wrong Way Round I’ve just finished recording a podcast with Professor Sam Wass, and I’m still buzzing. He is Director of the Institute for the…
LEYF News and CEO Blog
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
Why Social Enterprises Must Lead the Future of Childcare — And the Wider Social Care Economy
The Government’s Best Start strategy signals an intention to look again at Early Years business models and examine whether they can truly deliver for disadvantaged communities. It is a welcome…
Early Years where ‘Mary Mary quite Contrary’ is also an Environmentalist and Climatologist
Yesterday, I enjoyed watching a tranquil almost bucolic scene with rowers rowing up the Thames, families walking with their children and dogs and runners and cyclists cruising along the towpath.
The Tale of Two Michaels; ‘Le Ofsted Split’
The breakup of relationship always fascinates us. We are drawn to the details like a moth to light. The intricate relationship between the Secretary of State for Education and Ofsted…
Early Childhood Care and Education must become a Global Issue
This week had an international flavour not because I was travelling to faraway places (my next trip is Walsall) but because I spent quite a bit of time considering how…
Leading a change; a challenge or a headache?
The role of the CEO is a varied one and this week I found myself commenting on assignments LEYF staff had done on change. I was really rather chuffed by…
If you are happy and you know it come to work
Given that January is the month when we have a collective “Blue Monday” and the highest number of disgruntled workers reach for the job vacancies, we need…
My 2014 New Year blog
Many New Year blogs begin with a set of resolutions. I avoid this because I never make resolutions. I have learned to make promises to myself to do some nice…
What happened when Santa got stuck up the Chimney?
When Santa got stuck up the chimney He began to shout, ‘I’ll tell Mr Gove and he will explode if you don’t let me out.
Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) The Embodiment of Great Leadership
“A leader. . .is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are…
Will the Chancellor become the Fairy Godmother to Cinderella Childcare on Thursday?
What is important about Thursday? Well, it’s the Chancellor’s autumn statement. I wonder whether he will still need to rely on the bursts of fast food energy which got him…
Stonehenge, Farms and Icebergs: Developing Successful Growth Strategies
I am rarely found up at 6am on a Saturday unless I am on my way back from some lively event but this Saturday I headed off to Paddington Farm…
Will Technology Based Networks Lead to a New Age of Enlightenment and an Early Years Wiki?
Last week was a week of networks and networking. On Wednesday I was at an event organised by the Social Business Trust (SBT.) It was called ‘Social…
Come and Celebrate ‘Creative Connections’ at our Event this Thursday
Some weeks are pretty gloomy but this one had some really lovely highlights. The first was midweek when I gave a keynote speech to Essex County Council…