Seeking a new career in 2026? "CREC is a wonderful place to study, I am so glad that I came across the course. You always worry if you’ve chosen the right place to study but with CREC I have never questioned that." Interested? Find out more about our SCITT course: buff.ly/o4zfhSd #SCITT

Hear from current student Nicole about her experience on our current SCITT course. You can find out more about the course via the link below. Our next round of interviews is being held on January 14th. buff.ly/iUXadgS #SCITT #TrainToTeach #GetIntoTeaching

🚨 Wide gaps in waiting times for a SEND diagnosis by socio-economic background 🚨 Middle-class parents have shorter waiting times for formal SEND diagnoses than working-class parents, we have found. Read our report on the SEND system 👇 www.suttontrust.com/our-research...

Start the year right with our MA Information Session, perfect for all of you wishing to continue your Early Years research in a post-graduate course specifically designed for those working in the sector. Find out more: buff.ly/J6WeMiN #MA #CREC #EYFS #PostGraduateStudy

The Education Committee has expanded its ongoing early years inquiry to examine how safeguarding can be strengthened in nurseries, for childminders and other early years settings. buff.ly/JLGGDPd #Safeguarding #EarlyYears #EYFS

Early Years Maths CPD coming up with Roy Broadfield at CREC in 2026 - check it out and book your place - this is highly regarded CPD and great value: buff.ly/1ErPlb9 #Maths #EarlyYearsMaths #Numbers

Wishing you all a very peaceful and merry Christmas; from all of us here at CREC. #MerryChristmas #EarlyChildhood #EYFS

Planning your CPD for 2026? Don't miss this - affordable and informative CPD at CREC with Debi Keyte-Hartland: buff.ly/QzyXVv4 #CPD #Teaching #EarlyYearsTeaching #Arts #EarlyChildhood

Our staff will be working remotely from 22nd December with all team on annual leave from 25th December until 2 January. We will be back on Monday 5th January. Wishing all our friends and colleagues Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year From all of us at CREC. buff.ly/bSbk7hk #OutOfOffice

Black Country food bank are distributing food packages across the region today. Their donation point was really busy and they were very grateful for our contribution. Thank you everyone who donated! #Christmas #FoodBank #Community

Local authorities (LAs) are crucial in enhancing the enrollment of disadvantaged children in early education programs. This guide brings together LAs’ experiences and practical ideas so early education and childcare teams can learn from each other’s approaches: buff.ly/KN97JbY #SEND

Thank you to everyone who brought in donations to our foodbank collection over the past few weeks! #CREC #Christmas #BirminghamFoodbanks

Our final SCITT session of 2025 dives into modelling and scaffolding, powerful strategies to support children’s learning and growth. And to wrap up the year, we will end the day with a festive fun quiz! #MerryChristmas #CREC #EYFS #EarlyYears

"This is the Pohutukawa tree, in New Zealand where I have been working. Christmas for me is always a cold and chilly affair so experiencing the warmth and sunny climate of NZ this time of year juxtaposed with Christmas is very different for me!!" Thanks Debi Keyte Hartland! #ChristmasPresence

"My Christmas message for social media is to encourage a Christmas read of Paola Freire's Pedagogy of Hope - its addictive, critical and inspiring and takes us away from despair to dreaming of, and then actively creating, a new and better world for our children and therefore ourselves!” #CREC

Do you have any of these features in your setting? buff.ly/caA4xms #EarlyChildhood #Neurodivergent #EYFS

Maggie's fondest Christmas memory involves simple things like church, singing and sledging. Children really do remember presence over presents. Let's do what we can to be present for children this and every Christmas. What's your favourite Christmas memory? #ChristmasPresence #CRECChristmas

Further evidence has emerged that councils are either holding back or diverting money that is earmarked for the early years sector: buff.ly/welnxcW #EarlyYears #SEND #Underspending

"As a child, I loved going with my family to choose a real Christmas tree, then spending the afternoon decorating it together whilst listening to Christmas songs." Lucy's fondest Christmas memory isn't about gifts - it's about time spent together.

The Early Years Alliance and the National Education Union have stated that Chancellor Rachel Reeves overlooked an opportunity to support early childhood providers and educational institutions, who now have to contend with increases in the national minimum and living wage: buff.ly/qecSJUj #Budget

CREC Teacher Training Online Information Event TODAY 10 December 2025 12:30 13:00 This drop-in session is an opportunity to ask questions about our programme. Find out more about the course and register for the drop-in here: buff.ly/vDwVKoM #CREC #SCITT #PrimaryTeaching #EarlyYearsTeaching

The CREC elves are hard at work this week...✉️ Keep an eye on your mailboxes! ☃️ #Christmas #CREC

CREC Teacher Training Online Information Event Wednesday 10 December 2025 12:30 13:00 This drop-in session is an opportunity to ask questions about our programme. Find out more about the course and register for the drop-in here: buff.ly/vDwVKoM #CREC #SCITT #PrimaryTeaching #EarlyYearsTeaching

Our 3–7 SCITT trainees enjoyed a day of learning last week at CREC. The seminar began with a focus on early maths, then in the afternoon, trainees turned to early reading. Find out more about our SCITT course here: buff.ly/ltZcOAj #CREC #SCITT #PrimaryTeaching

Yesterday's MA focus was on an ethical approach to research for our Year 2 and Year 3 students as they seek to refine their research design. Find out more about the CREC MA: buff.ly/b7Exydo #CREC #MA #EarlyChildhood

Some more festive fun - tree and office decorating with some Christmas music in the background, plus team catch up over mince pies. And Chris and Tony opening a parcel from a former MA student who sends one every year! 🎅 #CREC #Christmas

The EECERA Ethical Code for Early Childhood Researchers has now been downloaded over 10,000 times! Read the full code here: buff.ly/l4jY6HG #EECERA #EthicalCode #EarlyChildhood

CREC Learning Circle (the last one of the year!) Thursday 4th Dec- Hybrid 4.30pm-5.30pm. This month we welcome Eleanor Milligan UEA - Telling the Story of Research: Using Storybooks to Support Children’s Understanding, Consent, and Ongoing Assent buff.ly/ykHWTHD #CREC #LearningCircle

A recent report indicates that the number of young children in Scotland experiencing developmental challenges rose during the Covid lockdown: buff.ly/HOvyG8v #Covid #ChildDevelopment #EarlyChildhood

We are saddened to hear the news of the recent passing of Cynthia Knight, a longstanding friend and supporter of CREC, the dynamic leader of St Thomas Children's Centre since its days as a CoE and then a Sure Start Children's Centre. We send our love and condolences to her family at this sad time.

CREC Learning Circle (the last one of the year!) Thursday 4th Dec- Hybrid 4.30pm-5.30pm. This month we welcome Eleanor Milligan UEA - Telling the Story of Research: Using Storybooks to Support Children’s Understanding, Consent, and Ongoing Assent buff.ly/ykHWTHD #CREC #LearningCircle

We are pleased to announce CREC's contribution to the new research project, 'Room to Grow: School-based nursery places and the disadvantage gap', led by The Sutton Trust. More details here: buff.ly/OQ9eTP7 #SuttonTrust #DisadvantageGap #SchoolNurseryPlaces

RBA Research Contributions Requested; find out more below: #Research #ReceptionBaselineAssessment #RBA buff.ly/ptw8Px3

Unsure about joining a Teacher Training course, and don't have any school experience? Request a visit at one of our placement schools! Find out more: buff.ly/O6JUyrE #EarlyYearsTeacher #TeacherTraining #TeachFirst

Research explains why a recruitment payment scheme for early years sector recruits fell short and suggests ways local authorities can enhance future campaigns: buff.ly/gHceZk1 #EarlyChildhood #EarlyYearsIncentive #EYFS

The National Education Nature Park programme empowers children and young people to make a positive difference to both their own and nature's future. Find out more: buff.ly/JDSDavr #EducationNaturePark #OutdoorEducation #Ecology #EarlyChildhood

Colleagues and friends - please remember contribute to the initial online survey in November which will help guide priorities for the Brith to Five Matters review: buff.ly/dJ1TmPU #BirthToFiveMatters #Bto5M #EarlyChildhood

Interested in becoming a teacher? Attend a free Get Into Teaching event! Don’t miss out, sign up to an event today - and be sure to visit the CREC stand on Saturday 22 November 2025 at the Birmingham Conference & Events Centre between 10am- 2:30pm. buff.ly/9R649RE #TrainToTeach #GetIntoTeaching

Prof. Chris Pascal and Prof. Tony Bertram are both available to speak at conferences and other early years events. Enquire about their availability here. buff.ly/qyPC2qV #Keynotes #Conferences #EarlyChildhood #EarlyEducation

CREC Learning Circle: Upcoming circle: TODAY, 19th November 4.30pm-5.30pm-Hybrid. Find registration details here: buff.ly/Hog9YHV #EarlyChildhood #EYFS #EarlyEducation

Children and technology - a topic that we're asked about often and one which we'll be unpicking at EECERA 2026 in Madeira - while you wait.... buff.ly/H3LRnDb A new booklet in the Froebel Trusts Research Series by Prof Rosie Flewitt and Dr Sandra El Gemayel #Froebel #EarlyChildhood #EECERA2026

The LGA report prior to the Autumn Budget; children and young people section can be read here: buff.ly/XyR2Chl #AutumnBudget #LGA #ChildrenAndYoungPeople

Interested in becoming a teacher? Attend a free Get Into Teaching event! Don’t miss out, sign up to an event today - and be sure to visit the CREC stand on Saturday 22 November 2025 at the Birmingham Conference & Events Centre between 10am- 2:30pm. buff.ly/9R649RE #TrainToTeach #GetIntoTeaching

Five years after its publication, Birth to 5 Matters (Bto5M) – Guidance by the sector, for the sector is to be reviewed to create an enhanced second edition. Read more: buff.ly/QTYZOfK #Bto5M #BirthToFiveMatters #BirthToFive #EarlyChildhood #EarlyEducation

Hear from current student Nicole about her experience on our current SCITT course. You can find out more about the course here: buff.ly/RnZ1Clz, visit us at the Get Into Teaching event in Birmingham on the 22nd, or book a 1:1 call with CREC to have a chat about doing a SCITT with us. #SCITT

Nursery Rhymes in the Early years - the enduring power of rhymes in childhood joy and development: buff.ly/bKVocLC #NurseryRhymeWeek #NurseryRhymes

It's nursery rhyme week! buff.ly/tlnfVTQ Here's an article about the many benefits of singing to babies and children. #NurseryRhymeWeek #NurseryRhymes #Singing

The State of the World's Children 2024; the flagship report from Unicef: "The future of childhood in a changing world" Download the full report here: buff.ly/yAnbCGi #EarlyChildhood #Childhood #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears

Schools white paper delayed until early 2026: buff.ly/vjIwCC9 #SENDReform #SEND #Schools

New research paper which may be of interest: "COVID-19 school disruptions in early childhood education and children’s early elementary school outcomes: findings from the smart beginnings randomized clinical trial" Full article is available here: buff.ly/ErMgOT6 #Research #Covid19 #Pandemic