Early Excellence Podcast

What happens when young children and older generations share the same space — and the same daily life?
Re-release: Originally aired on 13 Sep 2024
Judith Ish-Horowicz, co-founder and director of the UK's first intergenerational nursery, talks us through the inspiring work at Apples and Honey Nightingale and the benefits it brings for everyone involved.
Episode Links
Watch Judith Ish-Horowicz presenting a TEDx Talk about her work
Find out more about Apples and Honey Nightingale CIC

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 2026
Leanne 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 Links
Explore more from Ofsted at our Senior Leader Briefing
Stay up to date with our Early Years Update Blogs

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 2026
Anne 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 Links
Order our New Guide to Mixed-Age Classes
Discover more from Education Durham
Download the Free School Leader Reflection Tool on Mixed-Age Classes
Find out more about the Education Durham Mixed Phase Magic guidance books

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 2026
Dr 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 Links
Explore Dr Gai Lindsay's website
Order a copy of her book on Amazon
Discover Early Excellence resources to facilitate creativity

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 Resources
Read the Blog: Navigating the Sea of Talk - why language-rich environments go beyond labels and key words
Explore language-rich environment resources on the Inspiration Hub App