People Under Three: Why Belonging Must Be at the Heart of Baby Care
Thirty years ago, Elinor Goldschmied and Sonia Jackson chose a title that still resonates today: People Under Three. Three simple words that quietly transformed the way many of us…
LEYF CEO Blog and Podcast by Dr June O’Sullivan OBE
Read the latest news and updates from our CEO and the wider LEYF team.
To Coracle, or Not to Coracle: That is the Question
Safe Sleep Needs Clarity, Not Confusion Whenever a baby dies, every one of us in Early Years is shocked, distressed and cannot quite comprehend that someone who…
Nursery by Design – A Book Born from Small Steps
The idea for this book began many years ago with my own daughter. Like many young children, she found saying goodbye in the morning difficult. She wanted one last wave…
Nursery by Design: Why Early Years Spaces Matter More Than We Think
How Nursery Design Shapes Child Development, Wellbeing and Social Justice We spend a great deal of time talking about pedagogy, curriculum, leadership and workforce in the Early Years. Yet…
AI for the Public Good: building bridges, not becoming complicit
AI is divisive. It promises speed, efficiency and easier communication. At the same time, it risks deepening inequality, concentrating power and reinforcing bias. Both realities exist. Pretending otherwise…
The Marmalade Festival 2026 – The Right Ingredients for Social Justice in Early Years
Arriving in Oxford on an early train from Paddington to be a panellist at the Marmalade Fringe, I couldn’t help wondering whether Paddington Bear had played some small…
Book Review: Observation Assessment Made Simple by Clare Devlin
Early Years Observation and Assessment: Why It Still Matters It was timely when Clare Devlin asked whether I would review her new book, Observation Assessment Made Simple. I…
The Great Easter Egg Sugar Rush
Easter is approaching and soon the whole country will be joining in a massive Easter Egg hunt. Not the spiritual kind, nor the nostalgic kind, but a fully…
From Supply Chains to Sandpits: Why ESG in Early Years Matters
Context: Why ESG Is Rising Up the Agenda I joined an audience of charities and investors at the ESG Imperative Conference, organised by…
Rights, Relationships and Respect: A Timely Book for EY Professionals
There are some books that arrive at exactly the right moment, and Babies’ and Toddlers’ Rights in Practice by Mary Moloney,…
Toilet training – Time for Clarity, Not Blame
Why Are So Many Children Starting School Not Toilet Trained? More than a decade ago, I wrote about toilet training after the Association of Teachers and Lecturers reported that 71%…
Less Screen, More Story: Why Libraries Matter More Than Ever
Last week, we were delighted to welcome Helen Hayes MP to the Upper Norwood Library Hub, where I have the privilege of serving as a Trustee. Helen is our local…