Storm defences near my house have done their job. I know my MP has worked tirelessly to make things happen to minimise flood damage. We’re all grateful.

This is going to be brilliant!

This will be great for early years! From @helenjwc.bsky.social.

All I can hear is the sound of water running down the hill and I’ve never been more thankful that I live near the top of it!

Friday! It’s been a busy week. A bespoke training day for a Trust on meeting the needs of 2-3s today, the last of 5 training sessions of the week. I’ve also carried out 2 full day early years reviews and a full day full school review. I love the variety of my work.

A joy and a pleasure to visit and work with a school today that puts play at the heart of learning from N to year 2, and consistently achieves outcomes that put them in the top 10% of schools nationally. I’ve been working with them for almost a decade now and what a privilege it’s been!

The first of three training sessions today. Two at Learn Sheffield, then a bespoke twilight for a Sheffield school.

It’s always good to get feedback, especially when it’s like this!

We’re absolutely delighted that our book has been nominated for ECSDN publication of the year award!

I’m in Coventry leading the Early years network for Gateway learning today .

I think it's just that most of the loudest voices are secondary tbh. They're misunderstanding the problems around discontent if they think more tests and triple science solves it.

Everything that emanates from the DfE is Secondary focused, they seem unaware that Primary is different and when it comes to under-fives they are absolutely clueless. Don’t even seem to know that working in a nursery class or maintained nursery requires QTS same as Primary.

Yes. The loudest voices are speaking entirely from a secondary perspective. If Becky Francis had listened at all to the discussion around ks1 Sats and testing young children she certainly wouldn’t be recommending more teachers use the non-statutory ks1 tests. Moreover they are not diagnostic!

Picked this up at the station today.

Oh, look at this - the letting agents apologise for NOT applying for the rental license & say Rachel Reeves would have been under the impression the license HAD been applied for. Can we have the apologies now from everyone who have been absolutely obnoxious today in their handling of the story?

I’m so rock n roll. In bed before 8pm ! A 5 hour drive today after a flight that landed around midnight last night has sapped my energy a little!

Looking forward to heading back to my old stomping ground in Kent later today. It’s always great to be invited to work with people I’ve worked with in the past. I haven’t been to the schools I’m visiting tomorrow since before covid. Looking forward to catching up!

Well, over on Twitter it’s very obviously half term for most people and nuance has gone right out of the window.

Another tough day at the office !

Morning !

That’ll do!

Aaah

One for my #earlyyears friends. @ruthswailes.bsky.social @signoramac.bsky.social @helenjwc.bsky.social @drpam.bsky.social Start with the child in the best possible environment. ☺️

Right, so what are we going to do about this, with respect to the people who lied and lied to accomplish #Brexit, and benefitted financially from it? And didn’t even attempt to backtrack/ tell the nation the truth in the window when that was possible? #FBPE

"Children are not presenting with “new” vulnerabilities; the buffering architecture around them has been removed." Possibly applies at all ages

Please can you share on all your social media accounts. That would be amazing. Thank you so much - here’s the link again petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...

"Guidance is often authored by individuals embedded in social and professional contexts where time, stability, literacy capital and institutional trust are assumed. The child is assessed against a developmental story they were never resourced to live." AMEN! www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news...

Ruth are you willing to share the parliamentary petition to make key stage one play based learning compulsory - we need your help in sharing it and making people aware and sign it. Can you help? petition.parliament.uk/petitions/72...

Can’t wait for this! #EduSky #BrewEd #WonenEd Direct link to book tickets: wxbooking.co.uk/events/30/de...

Perk of working locally, I got to have tea with my girl! Gosh, I’ve missed her.

Thrilled to be part of this- don’t miss out !

A week ahead working in Sheffield schools for Learn Sheffield, training for Gateway teaching Alliance and supporting Appraisal for a CEO. Happy half term if you’re off, if not, hang on in there!

What a privilege it is to be part of @itlworldwide.bsky.social

Good things come to those who… work with us! 😉

Queen of the YP

This, people, will be GOOD! #play open.spotify.com/episode/4fBS...

I really enjoyed this conversation with @aaronearlyyears.bsky.social Play matters! open.spotify.com/episode/4fBS...

I’ve finally dug up the tomatoes, the frost is going to get to them. Now I’m working my way through this lot! Making cheats Sun dried tomatoes and green tomato chutney!

Everyone should make time for a bit of frivolity. Last night we played Rummy and Yahtzee. We all need to play. Always lovely to find little bits of Pete still in the house. I love his little doodles and I’m still finding them everywhere!

I have been contacted on 2 separate occasions now by different men about "the way you speak about Early Years on social media". Both wanted to discuss it with me away from Twitter. One phoned me and advised me that I was unwise to say the things I do, and another sent an email asking to meet to talk

Imposing yet more tests and targets is what governments do when they can't actually come up with any practical strategies for improvement to implement. It's extremely disappointing for the DfE to get to this stage so early in a period of government. @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social

Spent the week working with people who truly understand children and the power of play in developing children’s brains and bodies. What a privilege!

Totally frivolous and fearless today ! How’s your Friday going?

This is going to be a great day! I'm so proud to be a special advisor within Leeds Learning Alliance. Don't miss your chance to hear some inspirational speakers! www.leedslearningalliance.org/events/lla-c...

The way that early years settings were treated during the pandemic was unforgivable. All the staff that were working at preschool at the time have since left the profession.

The DfE told early years settings that we had to stay fully open to all children after the first lockdown *and they didn't even provide us with any tests*. I was literally taking spare ones that my kids got given at school and passing them onto our staff.

There’s some right old twaddle out there, isn’t there?

Absurd & extremely stressful. Why is nothing changing? educationuncovered.co.uk/news/absurd-...

Can confirm that @neunion.bsky.social is also involved in talks about joining legal action. @nasuwt-official.bsky.social is not considering legal action at this time. Almost all four main edu unions unified in this - not a great look for the report card rollout next month.

Unbelievable story of Afghan refugee, a highly vetted fluent English speaker who helped the US against the Taliban and now lives here with his US citizen kids, declared “illegal” and perhaps about to be shipped home by the Trump admin to his likely death