Early Excellence Podcast

Afleveringen

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  Navigating Ofsted Inspections: Insights from a Pilot School with Leanne Foster 07.08.2026 36min

  What's it actually like to go through a pilot Ofsted inspection — and what did the focus on EYFS look like in practice?Re-release: Originally aired on 30 Jan 2026Leanne Foster shares her first-hand experience of a pilot Ofsted inspection, including the conversations her team had with inspectors and what schools can take from the process.Episode LinksExplore more from Ofsted at our Senior Leader BriefingStay up to date with our Early Years Update Blogs
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  Navigating Change in Mixed-Age Classes: Challenges for Schools and Leaders with Anne Brass and Kate Gingles 31.07.2026 49min

  Mixed-age classes can work brilliantly — but what happens when change is driven by necessity rather than vision?Re-release: Originally aired on 13 Feb 2026Anne Brass and Kate Gingles join us to discuss the complexities schools face with mixed-age classes, from establishing a clear guiding purpose to navigating structural change with limited guidance available.Episode LinksOrder our New Guide to Mixed-Age ClassesDiscover more from Education DurhamDownload the Free School Leader Reflection Tool on Mixed-Age ClassesFind out more about the Education Durham Mixed Phase Magic guidance books
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  Visual Arts in Early Childhood Settings with Dr Gai Lindsay 24.07.2026 1u 9min

  What can visual art experiences really unlock for young children — and how do you make the most of them in practice?Re-release: Originally aired on 27 Mar 2026Dr Gai Lindsay joins us to explore the rich learning opportunities that visual art experiences offer young children, with practical guidance for teachers and practitioners on bringing creativity to life in their settings.Episode LinksExplore Dr Gai Lindsay's websiteOrder a copy of her book on AmazonDiscover Early Excellence resources to facilitate creativity
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  Going Screen Free in the EYFS with Lucy Fox 10.07.2026 49min

  Lucy Fox from Stoke Primary School in Coventry joins us for this week’s episode, as we explore the impact of screen-free practice in the EYFS.Episode Links Read the Blog: Block Play Alongside Small World ResourcesRead the Blog: Navigating the Sea of Talk - why language-rich environments go beyond labels and key wordsExplore language-rich environment resources on the Inspiration Hub App
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  Closing the Communication Gap: Early Talk for York with Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming 03.07.2026 48min

  What does it look like when a whole city gets behind children's communication and language?Re-release: Originally aired on 17 Apr 2026Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming join us to explore Early Talk for York — a citywide initiative aimed at closing the communication and language gap in young children, and what it takes to make that kind of joined-up approach work.Episode LinksExplore the Early Talk for York InitiativeRead about Developing Language in the Early YearsDiscover our Communication and Language CPD
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  The Power of Role Play with Becky Hoare 26.06.2026 42min

  Role play is our focus this week as we welcome Becky Hoare to the podcast. Becky is a Primary Teacher and the Founder of Pop Up Play Village Ltd. We discuss children’s natural desire to role play what they see in the world around them. There is lots of key advice here too for developing effective and inspiring domestic role play in your setting.Episode LinksRead the Blog "Exploring Powerful Learning Through Home Corner Role Play"Explore Complete Home Corner Role Play Area ResourcesFind out more about Pop Up Play Village Ltd
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  The Wonder of Storytelling with Ed Finch 19.06.2026 44min

  We’re joined on the podcast this week by Ed Finch, a Headteacher with a passion for storytelling. We have a great chat about our natural desire to tell stories and the impact of this on our lives. We also explore how storytelling provides wonderfully engaging learning opportunities for our youngest children.Episode LinksRead the Blog - Unlocking the Power of Block Play in the EYFSListen to this Episode "Why Children Need Joy with Ben Kingston-Hughes"
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  Making Space for Play - A Conversation with Eugene Minogue 12.06.2026 42min

  Play isn't a luxury — so why does it keep getting pushed to the margins?Re-release: Originally aired on 20 Feb 2026Eugene Minogue, Interim Executive Director at Play England, joins us to discuss why play matters so much for children's development, the barriers standing in its way, and what a genuine cultural shift around play would look like.Episode LinksExplore Play England's Official WebsiteListen to our Episode with Ruth Lue-Quee
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  Exploring Transition and Pace with Dixie-Louise Dexter 05.06.2026 48min

  Dixie-Louise Dexter joins us for this week’s episode as we explore effective transition processes and the value of slowing down the pace.Episode LinksExplore our Transition to Year 1 BlogDiscover our EYFS CPD & Training ProgrammeTransform your Learning Environment
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  Premature Birth, Development and Early Support with Caroline Woodman 29.05.2026 43min

  What do educators really need to know about supporting children born prematurely?Re-release: Originally aired on 7 Mar 2025Caroline Woodman joins us this week as we explore the impact of premature birth on children's development. Caroline shares her own story and that of her son, Reuben, who was born prematurely. She emphasises the importance of early intervention, understanding developmental challenges, and the need for educational professionals to be aware of the unique needs of premature children. Caroline also highlights the resources available for families and educators to support children like Reuben, advocating for greater awareness and understanding of the long-term effects of prematurity.Episode LinksExplore The Smallest Things Charity websiteAccess Free Online Training from PRISM (Premature Infants’ Skills in Mathematics)Discover the Prem Aware Award and its Free Resources
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  Anji Inspired Play with Patana School in Bangkok 22.05.2026 41min

  Gemma Wales and Sarah Gaughan from Patana School in Bangkok join us for this week’s episode. We discuss how their early years practice has been inspired by Anji Play and discuss key aspects such as the theory, resources, the practice and the impact on the young learners.Episode LinksDiscover our support for International Schools and SettingsExplore more on Anji Play
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  Creativity, Culture and the Child with Gemma Shadid 15.05.2026 53min

  What does child-centred creative practice really look like in the early years?Re-release: Originally aired on 9 May 2025In this episode, Gemma Shadid joins us to explore the power of child-centred creative practice in the EYFS. We discuss the Reggio Emilia approach, the role of quality materials in art, and how sensory experiences and cultural diversity shape children's learning and identity.Episode Links Transform your Learning Environment with our Room Planning Service.Shop our Range of Sensory ResourcesExplore the EYFS Framework and its Guidance for Early Years Practice.
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  The Can Do Approach to Supporting Speech, Language and Communication Skills with Joanne Jones 08.05.2026 42min

  Speech Therapist and online educator Joanne Jones joins us on the podcast this week. We discuss positive approaches to supporting speech, language and communication skills in young children.Episode LinksExplore language-rich environment resources on the Inspiration Hub AppDevelop your understanding of language and communication with Let's Get Talking in the EYFSRead the Blog Navigating the Sea of Talk – why language-rich environments go beyond labels and key wordsInvest in The EExREC Assessment Suite
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  Developing an Inspiring Forest Schools Site with Charnwood Nursery and Preschool Group 01.05.2026 46min

  Listen in as we’re joined by Jess Watson and Claire Curtis from the Charnwood Nursery and Preschool Group and discuss all things forest schools. We explore the development of their forest school site, the wonderfully rich experiences provided and the impact on their children.Episode LinksFind out more about the forest school on their instagram pages @_beyondtheforest @charnwood_nursery_preschoolDiscover our new range of outdoor resourcesInvest in The EExREC Assessment Suite
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  The Power of a Great Room Plan with Holme Valley Primary School 24.04.2026 40min

  What does a transformative learning environment actually look like when a room plan really comes together? Re-release: Originally aired on 16 May 2025In this episode, we chat with Rachel Stephenson and Sue Lonsdale from Holme Valley Primary School in Scunthorpe. They share their experience of developing inspirational learning environments and reflect on the impact this had during their recent Ofsted inspection. Episode LinksFind out more about our Room Planning ServiceExplore our Free Room Planning WebinarShop our Complete Classroom Solutions
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  Early Talk for York with Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming 17.04.2026 48min

  This week, we’re joined by Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming as we discuss a citywide initiative in York aimed at closing the communication and language gap in young children.Episode LinksExplore the Early Talk for York InitiativeRead about Developing Language in the Early YearsDiscover our Communication and Language CPD
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  Getting Two Year Old Practice Right with Dulwich College in Shanghai 10.04.2026 48min

  What does truly high-quality education for two year olds actually look like in practice?Re-release: Originally aired on 5 Sep 2025In this episode, Andy Burt speaks with Gemma Stanton and Kate Kelly from Dulwich College Shanghai about their experiences and insights into two-year-old practice in early years education. They discuss the challenges of establishing a nurturing environment for toddlers, the importance of understanding child development, and the role of parents in the learning process. The conversation also explores the significance of creating a child-centred space and the impact of schematic play.Episode LinksExplore our Dedicated 2-4yrs PageDiscover Expert-Curated Resources for 2-3yrs
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  The Outdoor Classroom with Kathryn Solly 03.04.2026 53min

  What does creating an inspiring outdoor space actually look like in early years settings?Re-release: Originally aired on 16 Jan 2026In this episode, we explore the key features of effective practice outdoors with the inspirational Kathryn Solly. As part of the conversation, we discuss the importance of creating a positive culture towards outdoor learning and explore a broad range of rich outdoor experiences.Episode LinksDiscover our brand new Outdoor RangeWatch the Outdoor Range launch videoExplore the Outdoor RoadshowOrder Kathryn's Book "Leading Learning Outdoors from Birth to Seven"
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  Visual Arts in Early Childhood Settings with Dr Gai Lindsay 27.03.2026 1u 10min

  Dr Gai Lindsay joins us this week on the podcast as we explore the rich learning opportunities provided by visual art experiences. We discuss the wonderful nature of creative experiences for young children and offer practical guidance for teachers and practitioners.Episode LinksExplore Dr Gai Lindsay’s websiteOrder a copy of her book on AmazonDiscover Early Excellence resources to facilitate creativity
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  Exploring BBC Bitesize 20.03.2026 44min

  In this episode, Jonathan Tremewan and Jess Denning from the BBC Bitesize team join us as we explore their recent projects and resources to inspire young learners.Episode LinksExplore BBC BitesizeDiscover Early Excellences Free Learning Resources