Authors

Julian Grenier drawing
Julian Grenier

Dr Julian Grenier CBE is senior content and engagement manager for early years at the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). 

Before joining EEF, Julian was headteacher of Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre and co-led the East London Research School. He also previously spent time leading Sure Start Children’s Centres, was senior early years adviser to Tower Hamlets council, and served as Ofsted’s Early Education Lead. He has a doctorate in Education from UCL Institute of Education and was Awarded a CBE for services to early years education in 2022. 

Julian Grenier is author and editor of many books about the early years, including Putting the EYFS Curriculum into Practice (2nd Edition). 

All articles by Julian Grenier
Why we need workforce reform in the early years
The needs of children starting school now are different than they were a few decades ago. So it’s time for us to make staffing changes, too, suggests Julian Grenier
Early Years
20 February 2026
Young boy tying shoe laces
Why SEND reform depends on the early years
Because the EYFS shapes children’s first learning experiences, it is where the SEND crisis begins – so it needs to be a key focus in fixing the problem, writes Julian Grenier, who offers three ways to improve practice
Early Years
28 January 2026
Child's footprints in sand
What does the curriculum review mean for EYFS?
As the latest early years profile results are published, Julian Grenier outlines four key areas of the recent curriculum and assessment review worth interrogating
Early Years
27 November 2025
Early years toy blocks
7 books to improve your early years provision
Amid a focus on raising standards in Reception, Julian Grenier shares recommended reads for teachers and leaders who want to better understand early years pedagogy and practice
Early Years
11 August 2025
Hands with painted number 7
Why leaders need to spend more time in the early years
To truly understand the issues early years teachers are facing, school leaders need to engage more deeply with this stage of education, writes Julian Grenier
Early Years
30 June 2025
Small boy playing with puzzle pieces
Why oral language is the key to learning to write
Building children’s oral language, along with their motor skills, will make the challenge of learning to write less intimidating, explains Julian Grenier
Early Years
3 June 2025
oral language learning to write