Early Excellence Podcast

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 Links
Find out more about the forest school on their instagram pages @_beyondtheforest @charnwood_nursery_preschool
Discover our new range of outdoor resources
Invest in The EExREC Assessment Suite

What does a transformative learning environment actually look like when a room plan really comes together?
Re-release: Originally aired on 16 May 2025
In 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 Links
Find out more about our Room Planning Service
Explore our Free Room Planning Webinar
Shop our Complete Classroom Solutions

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 Links
Explore the Early Talk for York Initiative
Read about Developing Language in the Early Years
Discover our Communication and Language CPD

What does truly high-quality education for two year olds actually look like in practice?
Re-release: Originally aired on 5 Sep 2025
In 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 Links
Explore our Dedicated 2-4yrs Page
Discover Expert-Curated Resources for 2-3yrs

What does creating an inspiring outdoor space actually look like in early years settings?
Re-release: Originally aired on 16 Jan 2026
In 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 Links
Discover our brand new Outdoor Range
Watch the Outdoor Range launch video
Explore the Outdoor Roadshow
Order Kathryn's Book "Leading Learning Outdoors from Birth to Seven"