Welcome to the FSF January Newsletter

Here we are in a new month and a new year. This is often a time to reflect on our practice, individually and as a sector. In her keynote talk at the Newham Early Years conference earlier in January, Professor Eunice Lumsden reminded educators of the importance of looking beyond reflective practice: what do we do with those reflections? She explained that early years practice needs reflexivity.

The start of a new year seems like a good time to note that the first 13 Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs are getting underway, having been appointed in November. The hubs are part of the early years education recovery package, and they are supported by the Education Endowment Foundation and the National Children’s Bureau. Their role will be to support other nurseries and childminders in their area to adopt and share evidence based practice. You can read more about them on the National Children’s Bureau website, or from this DfE information page.

This week is Childcare and Early Education Week 2023, organised by the APPG for childcare and early education. The theme is Fund Early Years, Fund their Future, focusing on sustainable and targeted funding of the sector to ensure all children receive high quality early years education. For more information about the APPG, check out this area on the Forum.

On the FSF for January we have an article by speech and language therapist Ruth Jones, considering how the early years sector can ensure inclusive practice for neurodivergent children. Browse through all our articles from this link.

Ruth also recorded a podcast episode with Stephen, which will be available to listen to at the end of this week. They discussed how we can start addressing ableism in our schools and the importance of connection over compliance. In our other podcast this month, Ben and Jamel Carly Campbell share the joys and challenges of becoming a parent. You can check out all our podcast episodes wherever you like to listen, or from this link. 

Over at Tapestry HQ a new resource has been added to the growing collection of supportive guides: A Beginner’s Guide to Safeguarding written by Safeguarding expert, speaker and author Ann Marie Christian. You can find this, and the other guides, on Tapestry.info. Meanwhile, the team are delighted that Tapestry has been shortlisted for two categories in the 2023 BETT awards: Early Years Digital Product or Service, and Assessment, Planning and progress Monitoring.

Wishing you a safe and happy January.

Helen, Steve and all of us at the FSF and Tapestry