This is early years

For the first episode for 2026 we are looking ahead to the future, and what the early years sector will be like in the coming years as Gen Z continues to enter the workforce.
Generation Z currently makes up 27 per cent of the labor force, and this is projected to rise to 31 percent by 2035, making Gen Z the largest generation in the job market.
To discuss the opportunities this brings for settings and more, we hear from Lucy Lewin, nursery owner, early years business strategist, founder of The Profitable Nursery Academy and soon to launch The Nursery Toolbox.
Lucy has nearly two decades of hands-on experience hiring, developing, and leading teams across every generation, and she’s known for her strengths-based, no-nonsense approach to workforce culture. She brings a real-world lens to the recruitment and retention crisis and a refreshing perspective on Gen Z — not as a challenge, but as a huge opportunity for the early years sector.
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Our official birthday date is 2 December – which means we are in a party mood!
Tune in to find out what our special, collectible anniversary supplement has in store and get into the festive mood with our exploration of how Christmas continues to have magic and meaning for young children.
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This month’s focus is on attachment theory, tracing its historical roots and wider influence.
Awareness of attachment theory has grown over recent years, due to increased interest in therapy and self-reflection
It’s arguably the most well-known concept that has made it out of the specialism of early years and into public consciousness.
But what are the different styles of attachment? Where did these ideas come from, and how have they developed over the last 100 years of Nursery World’s history, to become part of modern early years education?
To discuss all of this, and more, we hear from Dr Jools Page, an early years researcher, speaker, and award-winning infant-toddler specialist, recognised nationally and internationally for developing the concept of Professional Love© which is changing professional attachment practices in early years. 
Articles discussed in this episode and further reading include:
Nursery World 90th anniversary: Pioneers - The heart’s affections by John Bowlby
Professional Love blog by Dr Jools Page 
VIDEO: 'Professional Love: The dance of reciprocity.' Research in Early Years education and embodied dance
Page, J., 2008. 'Permission to love them'. Working with babies and children from birth to three, pp.181-187.
Page, J., 2011. 'Let’s Talk About Love: The Need for Professional Love in Paid Childcare'. Early Education, 63, pp.310-323.
Page, J. (2014). Developing Professional Love in Early Childhood Settings. In: Harrison, L., Sumsion, J. (eds) Lived Spaces of Infant-Toddler Education and Care. International perspectives on early childhood education and development, vol 11. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8838-0_9 
 
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This month, we speak to the family of Robert McAcleese one of the first men to qualify as a nursery nurse in the UK.
From salesman to sector pioneer, Robert’s journey broke barriers and reshaped perceptions in early education. His career marked a turning point in gender representation within early years education, culminating in his role as officer-in-charge at Kepler Day Nursery—an unprecedented achievement at the time.
Hear from his wife, Elaine, and son, Andy, about Robert's incredible story, as we reflect on his legacy and the evolving role of men in early years. 
To see some lovely photos of Robert and his nursery, visit Nursery World's website.
 

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This month we’re talking about nursery food, with a look back through the pages of Nursery World over the last 100 years and some weird and wonderful recipes. Plus, we talk to early years nutrition experts Edwina Revel and Georgia Leech, from the Early Start Nutrition team in Newham, about changes to the EYFS nutrition guidance and what it means for your early years setting.
Check out all the A-Z articles celebrating 100 years of Nursery World in the Centenary Hub on our website, including  F is for Food.
Thanks to our special guests Edwina Revel and Georgia Leech from the Early Start Nutrition team in Newham. 
You can find out more from their website and contact them at [email protected]
Below are some useful links and resources mentioned in the episode:
Ideas for Food Budgeting in Early Years Settings
Information from the NHS Best Start in Life on baby wearing 
Guidance on food safety from the Food Standards Agency
Independent public health charity First Steps Nutrition Trust
Nutrition advice for early years providers from the  Department for Education
https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/podcasts
Hosts and guests:
Catherine Gaunt, Karen Faux, Edwina Revel, Georgia Leech
Get in touch: [email protected]

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