Early Excellence Podcast

Nancy Stewart joins us for this week’s episode of the podcast as we explore the new Birth to 5 Matters document following its official launch in July. We explore the new features included in the materials and also revisit the key principles which remain so central.

Episode Links
Find out more about Birth to 5 Matters and download the materials

Join us as Jules Pottle, an expert in storytelling and education, shares innovative methods to integrate storytelling into teaching science, drama, and literacy. Discover how engaging narratives can transform learning experiences for children from early years to primary school.

Episode Links
Storytelling in the Blocks and Small World Area
Download our free Blocks Area Planning Guide

Stephen Kilgour joins us as we discuss the key principles of effective assessment in the EYFS.
Episode Links
Find Out About our Early Excellence Assessment Suite
Join Us for Training as we Explore Effective Practice in the Reception Year
Explore Effective Continuous Provision Planning

Could regular trips to the beach be one of the most powerful things a setting can offer young children?
Re-release: Originally aired on 14 Feb 2025
Rhianne Stephens from Ely and Caerau Integrated Children's Centre in Cardiff joins us to talk about their year-round beach visits and the impact connecting with nature has had on the children in their care.
Episode Links
Discover our Range of Outdoor Resources

In a world that keeps speeding up, what does it mean to slow down — and why might that be exactly what young children need?
Re-release: Originally aired on 5 May 2023
Alison Clark joins us to discuss her book Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child, making the case for slow pedagogies in early childhood education and exploring the pressures that work against them.
Episode Links
Watch the Slow Pedagogy: Making Time for Children's Learning and Development video clip
Order a copy of Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child