Author | Lightnews

Cathy Early Years

@cathygunning.bsky.social

480 followers 170 following 67 posts

I coach, train, support teachers & leaders. My passions include early childhood edu, inclusivity, equity, relational attuned pedagogy. I invite you to rethink, reimagine, create possibility, seek joy & hope 💡Let’s talk! https://linktr.ee/CathyEarlyYears

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Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 20

Sums up my edu year 24🎉:

*cultivating cultures where others can flourish without fear*

#EYFS #ECEC #flourish #thinkingenvironment

Special appreciation to everyone who’s given their best for the best for children everywhere.

Signing out until the new year 💎 #spacetoflourish

Picture of ‘Flourish’ certificate awarded

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 20

I wish for every child to be safe, warm and cared for, primarily.

Then for every child to know love and responsive care.

Then that they have positive playful early childhoods.

And a great experience in EYFS ECEC! ✨

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Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 19

Equity. Not equality. Equity is not sameness. We may be ‘equal’ but we don’t all get the same opportunities : outcomes by being treated equally. It can take time to get clarity on this, I think.

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Reposted by Cathy Early Years

Education Endowment Foundation @theeef.bsky.social · Dec 18

📢 Calling post-16 educators!

We’re working with Sheffield Hallam University to find out what continuing professional development looks like in post-16 education in England.

By completing the survey, you’ll help to shape future opportunities for the sector.

Take the survey: tinyurl.com/3r58mxp4

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Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 18

Thank you so much for saying this.

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 14

Respecting #radicalrest on a Saturday morning 11 days before Christmas Day is a huge challenge, counter-cultural and massively joyful!

Here is a joyful photo of my two joy-bringing fur babies also loving radical rest 🤎🤎.

#edusky #restful #bluesky #rest #joy #earlyyearssky

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 12

www.instagram.com/p/DDaC_eyIS4...

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 12

Thanks Jo. It is indeed! Accompanying a strong and convicted, passionate HT leading the vision is so refreshing!

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 11

Working with a #Rightsrespecting primary school where the leader uses both the word #play and #resistance in conversation about #EYFS - with regard to quality early childhood focused play, pedagogy and curriculum. #joy #hope #EYSky #edusky

Yes! ⭐️

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Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 10

Hi. Sounds very interesting. Is there any access to your article if I’m not a subscriber?

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 10

Thank you 🪺🪹

Reposted by Cathy Early Years

Dominic Gunn @dominicgunn.bsky.social · Dec 6

Early Years SEND

Important change in Profile which allowing ‘child’s established or preferred mode of communication (including non-speaking communication such as signing to be used for all of the early learning goals (ELGs)’ including ‘Speaking’ ELG.
Discussion at EY SENCo Forum, 11.12.24

Early years foundation stage profile handbook

Guidance on completing the early years foundation stage (EYFS) profile assessment.

www.gov.uk

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Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 6

It is now 😁☺️… hoping same for you too!

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 6

Hello. 🦋 welcome fellow educators. I post mainly about early childhood education and care, with sprinkles of pedagogy, lots of joy, food for thought, critical hope, flourishing, creativity, inclusivity and child-centredness. Not always in that order.

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 6

Understandable!
Funny story - hosted a zoom, used AI summary to record mins, and it efficiently noted (overheard) that I was looking fw to changing into pjs and watching ‘I’m a Celeb’. Embarrassing.

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Reposted by Cathy Early Years

Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · Dec 5

It's great to see a focus from govt on improving school readiness, and giving “every child, whatever their background, a fair chance to succeed”

But that rhetoric just isn't currently being met by actual policy - the huge early years expansion being rolled out excludes many low income children ⬇️

The Sutton Trust @suttontrust.bsky.social · Dec 5

🚨The announcement of new targets to improve school readiness by the Prime Minister today is absolutely the right ambition.

However, the Government is highly unlikely to achieve this target without widening access to early education to more disadvantaged children.

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Reposted by Cathy Early Years

Ed Finch @edfinch.bsky.social · Dec 5

Just been listening to @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social on @realgeoffbarton.bsky.social's Oracy Commission Podcast.
Frank is the wisest and kindest voice we have, I feel better just hearing him.
He's damn right on the importance and power of sharing stories with very young children. Listen to the ep!

Children's Laureate, Frank Cotterel Boyce smiling in front of a shelf of his books.

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Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 6

Completely agree. Early life impacts. Has to be seen holistically and as integral.

Dr Karen Bateson @karenjbateson.bsky.social · Dec 5

www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

School readiness is the fruit of good family and community support from conception. Including a strong focus on parental sensitivity and family relationships. I really hope a focus on school readiness is built on this broader understanding.

Government needs Sure Start 2.0 to hit school-readiness goals

If Labour wants to hit its target of 75 per cent of 5-year-olds being school-ready, it will need to engage heavily in early years support - just as we had before, says Anne Longfield

www.tes.com

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 6

Yes! Not often enough do I see support *from conception* regarded holistically. Completely agree.
We know the difference.
Everything depends on this:
development, health, brains, nutrition, stress, protective factors, music, joy, trauma, speech, movement, cortisol, attachments, care - everything.

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 6

Brilliant thanks. Love Louisa’s work.

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 5

All this. This is all. Thank you #margaretwheatley #relationships #attuned #connection #belonging @edusky.bsky.social

margaretwheatley.com/articles/tur...

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 5

They are infinite, Lisa! And Joy bringing. Hopeful conversations full of possibility that make a difference for children. This is such a passion of mine! So great to connect with you and colleagues around this in such exciting ways. ✨🌱💥

Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 5

Using #nancykline #thinkingenvironment gives us as educators #timetothink in a safe protected space —

contributing to those important pedagogical thinking team dialogues that make a difference.
💚🌱
Love my job!

(Photos by me)

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Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 5

It brings agency to children.
Power to create hope, bring good, see restoration.
💥
I’ve been exploring the #perma model with colleagues and seeing the positives from connection, encouragement and relationship, belonging, care and thinking space.
💡

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Cathy Early Years @cathygunning.bsky.social · Dec 5

When we share new knowing, when we notice and when we see difference and make a difference, it is empowering. It gives us power.