Early Years

Thursday

10th Sep 2026

How we drove a huge increase in our GLD score in 3 years
A primary school leader outlines how a thorough redesign of its nursery site and more staff training had a huge impact on good level of development outcomes
Child cutting an apple

Friday

4th Sep 2026

Too many leaders ignore the early years - but our school does things differently
Reception is the foundation of a child’s educational journey, which is why this leader says its impact should be considered in every school decision
Why every school leader should understand the early years

Wednesday

15th Jul 2026

Early years language focus can boost progress by two months
NFER research finds all pupils benefit from language teaching in the early years – and it could have a real impact on their later education
Early years reading focus can have a real impact

Tuesday

14th Jul 2026

How the GLD target could hide a growing early years divide
The early years disadvantage gap is at its widest since 2014, research shows, raising questions about whose progress getting 75 per cent of children to a good level of development will rely on
early years disadvantage gap

Tuesday

2nd Dec 2025

Embracing ‘risky play’ in early years to counter pandemic caution
Bangkok Patana School in Thailand explains why post-pandemic concerns led it to install ‘big play’ equipment to encourage more physical play – and how this is going so far
risky play

Friday

22nd Aug 2025

Early years needs funding to cope with free childcare expansion
The rollout of 30 hours of funded childcare for nine-month-olds is welcome news for parents, but providers need financial help to meet rising demand
Why early years providers need more government funding

Thursday

8th May 2025

Why early intervention is crucial for children with a visual impairment 
Supporting children with a visual impairment in the early years helps with their transition to school, explains Lucy Chetty
Baby looking through heart shape

Wednesday

9th Apr 2025

Why early years CPD is the key to boosting maths attainment
Early engagement in maths is linked to better outcomes in the subject later on – and CPD is the way to embed research-informed practice in EYFS, says Sue Evans
Why games can be better than tests for primary maths assessment

Thursday

3rd Apr 2025

Why the end of the early years training programme is ‘troubling’
Labour’s decision not to renew funding for the Early Years Professional Development Programme will have a huge impact on children’s development, warns Jane Harris
Young children reading with a teacher

Tuesday

27th Aug 2024

3 ways to tackle the early years staffing crisis
With bold targets for increasing EYFS provision falling to the new government, an EPI researcher explains the scale of the challenge – and three pilot projects that could offer solutions
3 Early Years pilots that could solve staff shortages

Wednesday

10th Jul 2024

How Labour can put learning at the heart of its nursery plan
Avoiding the ‘baby blindspot’ and recognising the value of early years educational theory could ensure that Labour’s plan for more nursery spaces has wider educational impact, says this academic
Nursery school

Friday

3rd May 2024

EYFS: Sure Start wasn’t perfect, but lessons can be learned
Despite new research highlighting the positive impact of Sure Start, there are reasons why the scheme shouldn’t simply be relaunched, says the chair of the Social Mobility Commission
Early Years: Pining for Sure Start’s return ignores new social realities