Early Excellence Podcast

Emma Boor from Wild Boor Ideas joins us this week as we discuss the use of puppets and drama with young children.

Occupational Therapist Helen Buteux joins us this week on the podcast. She shares insights on physical development in the EYFS, the importance of foundational skills, and how occupational therapy can support children and families. This conversation highlights practical advice for parents and educators to foster healthy development from pregnancy through preschool.

Episode Links

• Read our Blog on The Importance of Fine Motor Skills in the EYFS
• Download our Free Outdoor Provision Audit Tool
• Explore our Upcoming Conference for Early Years Leaders

Mentioned in this episode:

Join our Conference for Early Years Leaders

https://earlyexcellence.com/early-years-leaders-conference/

Becky Lindsay joins us this week on the podcast as we discuss child-centred, research informed SEND practice.

Episode Links

• Meet the Needs of Children with SEND in the Early Years

Nancy Stewart joins us for this week’s episode of the podcast as we explore the new Birth to 5 Matters document following its official launch in July. We explore the new features included in the materials and also revisit the key principles which remain so central.

Episode Links

• Find out more about Birth to 5 Matters and download the materials

Join us as Jules Pottle, an expert in storytelling and education, shares innovative methods to integrate storytelling into teaching science, drama, and literacy. Discover how engaging narratives can transform learning experiences for children from early years to primary school.

Episode Links

• Storytelling in the Blocks and Small World Area
• Download our free Blocks Area Planning Guide

Stephen Kilgour joins us as we discuss the key principles of effective assessment in the EYFS.

Episode Links

• Find Out About our Early Excellence Assessment Suite
• Join Us for Training as we Explore Effective Practice in the Reception Year
• Explore Effective Continuous Provision Planning

Could regular trips to the beach be one of the most powerful things a setting can offer young children?

Re-release: Originally aired on 14 Feb 2025

Rhianne Stephens from Ely and Caerau Integrated Children's Centre in Cardiff joins us to talk about their year-round beach visits and the impact connecting with nature has had on the children in their care.

Episode Links

• Discover our Range of Outdoor Resources

In a world that keeps speeding up, what does it mean to slow down — and why might that be exactly what young children need?

Re-release: Originally aired on 5 May 2023

Alison Clark joins us to discuss her book Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child, making the case for slow pedagogies in early childhood education and exploring the pressures that work against them.

Episode Links

• Watch the Slow Pedagogy: Making Time for Children's Learning and Development video clip
• Order a copy of Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child

What does it really mean to love the children in your care — and why does it matter so much in early years settings?

Re-release: Originally aired on 31 Jan 2025

Dr Jools Page joins us to explore her research on professional love in EYFS settings, and what it looks like when practitioners get this right.

Episode Links

• Watch the Video "Professional Love: The Dance of Reciprocity"
• Read the Blog "What is Professional Love?"
• Explore EYFS CPD Training

What happens when young children and older generations share the same space — and the same daily life?

Re-release: Originally aired on 13 Sep 2024

Judith Ish-Horowicz, co-founder and director of the UK's first intergenerational nursery, talks us through the inspiring work at Apples and Honey Nightingale and the benefits it brings for everyone involved.

Episode Links

• Watch Judith Ish-Horowicz presenting a TEDx Talk about her work
• Find out more about Apples and Honey Nightingale CIC