Next month I have got the opportunity to interview Gill Jones, one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors and Ofsted’s Deputy Director of Early Education. I am going to be talking to Gill about the Quality of Education focus in the Education Inspection Framework and in particular what an Early Years Curriculum might look like and how Ofsted will expect settings to demonstrate ‘ intent, implementation and impact’. You will be able to watch the interview towards the end of next month (depending on how quickly the ABC Does elves can edit it!). Have you got any questions  about the curriculum in the Early Years that you would like me to ask Gill on your behalf? If you have, then please leave them in the … Read More

It is that time of year again. The one that should be filled with magic moments and the spirit of joy and good will to all men (and women). In truth, Christmas can be a real time of stress for Early Years practitioners.  There are often huge expectations for them to produce Christmas cards, salt dough decorations, crackers made out of an old loo roll and an all singing, all dancing production worthy of an Academy Award! Whist we could debate at length the educational value to the children of all of the above activities, we need to seriously consider the impact of this extra pressure on the mental wellbeing and resilience of the practitioners. The sad truth is that although the … Read More