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Join us live for the online launch of the second edition of Birth to 5 Matters NOW (Wednesday 15 July, 7.00-8.00pm). Use the live link: https://ow.ly/ptEm50ZmOxH

We're counting down to the online launch of the second edition of Birth to 5 Matters on Wednesday 15 July, 7.00-8.00pm. Register here to join: https://ow.ly/orxy50ZmOox Order your copy today: https://early-education.org.uk/product/birth-to-5-matters-non-statutory-guidance-for-the-eyfs/

We're glad to have contributed to the Department for Education's new guidance for practitioners on screen use for in early years settings, on when/how to use screens with children from birth to 5: https://help-for-early-years-providers.education.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/screen-use

The DfE's consultation on early years funding in England suggests changes to inclusion and disadvantage funding, but doesn't address the fundamental issue of underfunding within the sector. Read our summary and initial comment here: https://ow.ly/zw5X50ZkIqt

Aberdeen branch - Sustainability and Playfulness - 6th October 2026 Learn playful education and sustainable skills to enable educators to further develop their teaching skills! https://tickets.sheepcrm.com/early-education/event/6a4b7ef2b707f1ecfde94bf1/ #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Aberdeen

Order your copy of the second edition of Birth to 5 Matters now. Special offer price ends 30 June: https://ow.ly/y31k50ZfhHn

We welcome the announcement from the Department for Education confirming details of the grant being made available to local authorities to cover the cost of early years free school meals (EYFSM) for children in schools from September 2026. https://early-education.org.uk/eyfsm-grant-announced-2026/

Missed the initial allocation of tickets for the online launch of the Birth to 5 Matters 2nd edition on 15 July, 7.00-8.00pm? Don't worry, we've added extra places. Register here to get yours: https://ow.ly/mcUS50ZgioW You'll also be able to watch live via www.birthto5matters.org.uk

London branch - 1st July 2026 - AGM & A SPACE to Flourish – Encounters with charcoal The ‘Supporting Pedagogy, Arts and Creativity Project (SPACE) aims to improve children’s school readiness through a focus on supporting creativity. https://ow.ly/HnuV50Z39er #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #London

Join us for the online launch of the second edition of Birth to 5 Matters, 15 July, 7.00-8.00pm. Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/87ea12bb-fa21-4dda-802c-93794459745f@3fac7572-eaa3-4715-bf27-b7b7f60d0290

The second edition of Birth to 5 Matters is available to pre-order. New sections on digital pedagogy, sustainability, birth-2, Reception plus. Order by 30 June for a pre-order price of £9.50 https://ow.ly/lVWK50ZcPK6 Join us for the launch event on 15 July: https://ow.ly/i7Kh50ZcPK7

The second edition of Birth to 5 Matters is available to pre-order. Updated throughout and with additional content including sections on digital pedagogy, sustainability, birth to 2 and Reception and beyond. Order by 30 June for a pre-order price of £9.50 https://ow.ly/OrB950ZcPFq

ICYMI: Ofsted have issued an update about changes to the Education Inspection Framework from September 2026: https://ow.ly/O7an50ZcjSV

London branch - 1st July 2026 - AGM & A SPACE to Flourish – Encounters with charcoal The ‘Supporting Pedagogy, Arts and Creativity Project (SPACE) aims to improve children’s school readiness through a focus on supporting creativity. https://ow.ly/HnuV50Z39er #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #London

Darlington and Durham Branch - 16th June 2026 - 16:00 – 17:30 We will look at a selection of brilliant books that can be used to introduce children to our amazing, wild, British animals with engaging, usable activities. https://ow.ly/RhGz50YR1c2 #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Darlington #Durham

Our 2026 report with NAHT, NEU & Unison reveals that many of England’s 376 maintained nursery schools face long-term underfunding, rising staffing costs, inadequate SEND funding, and a growing gap between delivery costs and funding rates. https://early-education.org.uk/mns-funding-finances-2026/

Bristol branch event - SPACE to Flourish - 13th June 2026 - School of Education, Bristol University. Echo and Early Education are delighted to host Debi Keyte-Hartland to lead this engaging CPD session Find out more and book at: https://ow.ly/Ok9H50YyxFO #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Bristol #ECHO

Darlington and Durham Branch - 16th June 2026 - 16:00 – 17:30 We will look at a selection of brilliant books that can be used to introduce children to our amazing, wild, British animals with engaging, usable activities. https://ow.ly/RhGz50YR1c2 #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Darlington #Durham

London branch - 1st July 2026 - AGM & A SPACE to Flourish – Encounters with charcoal The ‘Supporting Pedagogy, Arts and Creativity Project (SPACE) aims to improve children’s school readiness through a focus on supporting creativity. https://ow.ly/HnuV50Z39er #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #London

Bristol branch event - SPACE to Flourish - 13th June 2026 - School of Education, Bristol University. Echo and Early Education are delighted to host Debi Keyte-Hartland to lead this engaging CPD session Find out more and book at: https://ow.ly/Ok9H50YyxFO #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Bristol #ECHO

"When you’re reading to a child, you’re creating the apparatus of happiness" says Frank Cottrell Boyce in the latest Early Education Journal, out now, celebrating the National Year of Reading. https://app.sheepcrm.com/early-education/journal/109/

Reflections on the proposed CMA review of the "childcare market" in a system where increased investment, lack of affordability, underfunding and low pay are currently endemic: https://early-education.org.uk/competition-and-markets-authority-asked-to-review-childcare-market/

London branch - 1st July 2026 - AGM & A SPACE to Flourish – Encounters with charcoal The ‘Supporting Pedagogy, Arts and Creativity Project (SPACE) aims to improve children’s school readiness through a focus on supporting creativity. https://ow.ly/HnuV50Z39er #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #London

Following the recent elections, we've published a new Scottish Supplement highlighting the Scotland-specific findings of our Nuffield Foundation funded project on the early years workforce. https://early-education.org.uk/early-years-workforce-policy-in-the-four-uk-nations-a-comparative-analysis/

Oxfordshire branch event & AGM - 20th May 2026 - 18:00 – 20:00 - Hosted at The Slade School Working together to promote robust language development in the early years https://ow.ly/tXGX50YB6lx #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Oxfordshire

Darlington and Durham Branch - 16th June 2026 - 16:00 – 17:30 We will look at a selection of brilliant books that can be used to introduce children to our amazing, wild, British animals with engaging, usable activities. https://ow.ly/RhGz50YR1c2 #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Darlington #Durham

Bristol branch event - SPACE to Flourish - 13th June 2026 - School of Education, Bristol University. Echo and Early Education are delighted to host Debi Keyte-Hartland to lead this engaging CPD session Find out more and book at: https://ow.ly/Ok9H50YyxFO #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Bristol #ECHO

We're pleased to support #ChildmindingWeek2026 with a shout out to all our wonderful childminder members. We celebrated the #MagicOfChildminding in our recent Early Education Journal on home-based childcare. Listen to the podcast at: https://early-education.org.uk/podcasts/#ChildmindingWeek2026

Aberdeen Branch - May 18 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm The Power of SLOW See how “slow” early STEAM experiences such as cooking, clay work, sewing, woodwork & drawing help children become more capable & confident learners. https://ow.ly/lcN850YLbpo #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Aberdeen

London branch - 14th May 2026 - How to love what we do with Sally Cave Come and explore how we can continue, or rediscover how, to love our work with young children despite the current challenges the sector faces. https://ow.ly/WxYk50YNrOK #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #London

Oxfordshire branch event & AGM - 20th May 2026 - 18:00 – 20:00 - Hosted at The Slade School Working together to promote robust language development in the early years https://ow.ly/tXGX50YB6lx #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Oxfordshire

Aberdeen Branch - May 18 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm The Power of SLOW See how “slow” early STEAM experiences such as cooking, clay work, sewing, woodwork & drawing help children become more capable & confident learners. https://ow.ly/lcN850YLbpo #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Aberdeen

Darlington and Durham Branch - 16th June 2026 - 16:00 – 17:30 We will look at a selection of brilliant books that can be used to introduce children to our amazing, wild, British animals with engaging, usable activities. https://ow.ly/RhGz50YR1c2 #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Darlington #Durham

Edinburgh and the Lothians branch - A visit to Our Wee Garden, a nature kindergarten, in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - 7th May 2026 Join the branch for this workshop at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh https://ow.ly/Wcg850YKmiG #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Edinburgh

Oxfordshire branch Event - 9th May 2026 - Woodwork in the early years with Pete Moorhouse - Hosted at Flo's Nature Nursery Find out more and book at: https://ow.ly/q3Iq50YxYQ7

London branch - 14th May 2026 - How to love what we do with Sally Cave Come and explore how we can continue, or rediscover how, to love our work with young children despite the current challenges the sector faces. https://ow.ly/WxYk50YNrOK #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #London

Gloucestershire branch - Sustainable materials, creative resources! 5th May 2026 Time: 19:00 – 20:00 with Jo - founder of RR4ALL https://ow.ly/osYG50YILVl - where we will create resources together from sustainable materials https://ow.ly/4l5650YILVo #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Gloucestershire

Oxfordshire branch Event - 9th May 2026 - Woodwork in the early years with Pete Moorhouse - Hosted at Flo's Nature Nursery Find out more and book at: https://ow.ly/q3Iq50YxYQ7

There's been lots of focus on transition into YR, but equally important are the transitions from Reception to KS1. Read our latest guest post Play is not an optional extra in KS1 – it is a matter of educational integrity by Ruth Lue-Quee https://early-education.org.uk/play-not-optional-extra-ks1/

Edinburgh and the Lothians branch - A visit to Our Wee Garden, a nature kindergarten, in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - 7th May 2026 Join the branch for this workshop at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh https://ow.ly/Wcg850YKmiG #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Edinburgh

London branch - 14th May 2026 - How to love what we do with Sally Cave Come and explore how we can continue, or rediscover how, to love our work with young children despite the current challenges the sector faces. https://ow.ly/WxYk50YNrOK #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #London

Oxfordshire branch event & AGM - 20th May 2026 - 18:00 – 20:00 - Hosted at The Slade School Working together to promote robust language development in the early years https://ow.ly/tXGX50YB6lx #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Oxfordshire

Gloucestershire branch - Sustainable materials, creative resources! 5th May 2026 Time: 19:00 – 20:00 with Jo - founder of RR4ALL https://ow.ly/osYG50YILVl - where we will create resources together from sustainable materials https://ow.ly/4l5650YILVo #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Gloucestershire

Aberdeen Branch - May 18 - 7:00pm to 8:30pm The Power of SLOW See how “slow” early STEAM experiences such as cooking, clay work, sewing, woodwork & drawing help children become more capable & confident learners. https://ow.ly/lcN850YLbpo #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Aberdeen

Edinburgh and the Lothians branch - A visit to Our Wee Garden, a nature kindergarten, in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - 7th May 2026 Join the branch for this workshop at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh https://ow.ly/Wcg850YKmiG #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Edinburgh

Gloucestershire branch - Sustainable materials, creative resources! 5th May 2026 Time: 19:00 – 20:00 with Jo - founder of RR4ALL https://ow.ly/osYG50YILVl - where we will create resources together from sustainable materials https://ow.ly/4l5650YILVo #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Gloucestershire

Last chance to have your say: a draft of the revised version of Birth to 5 Matters is now out for comment. View the draft and give your views on the new sections and other changes by 20 April: https://lnkd.in/euheejQf

Bristol branch event - SPACE to Flourish - 13th June 2026 - School of Education, Bristol University. Echo and Early Education are delighted to host Debi Keyte-Hartland to lead this engaging CPD session Find out more and book at: https://ow.ly/Ok9H50YyxFO #EarlyEducation #EarlyYears #Bristol #ECHO

Oxfordshire branch Event - 9th May 2026 - Woodwork in the early years with Pete Moorhouse - Hosted at Flo's Nature Nursery Find out more and book at: https://ow.ly/q3Iq50YxYQ7