Dominic Gunn
@dominicgunn.bsky.social
Early Childhood Education, Symbolic Play (also known as learning, or ‘play’ - I’m calling it ‘plearning’), Creativity, Justice.
Organizations: Early Education, SEBDA, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy 0-11 at UCL
Also @Edtangled, on the old platform!
Organizations: Early Education, SEBDA, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy 0-11 at UCL
Also @Edtangled, on the old platform!
Transition to Year R
Good work, everyone!
Here are some tips based on my findings since September 😉
Good work, everyone!
Here are some tips based on my findings since September 😉
The 12 Days of Early Years Christmas advice | Dominic Gunn
The 12 Days of Year R Christmas!
I’m privileged to have enjoyed seeing so many children, including those with particular needs, make the transition to school yet again over the last four months.
So ...
www.linkedin.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Transition to Year R
Good work, everyone!
Here are some tips based on my findings since September 😉
Good work, everyone!
Here are some tips based on my findings since September 😉
Thanks to all those who enjoyed my 12 Days of Early Years Transition to Year R Christmas posts🎄
I’ve put them all on one page on the link below - let me know if i’ve forgotten something!
I’ve put them all on one page on the link below - let me know if i’ve forgotten something!
The 12 Days of Early Years Christmas | Dominic Gunn
The 12 Days of Year R Christmas!
I’m privileged to have enjoyed seeing so many children, including those with particular needs, make the transition to school yet again over the last four months.
So ...
www.linkedin.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Thanks to all those who enjoyed my 12 Days of Early Years Transition to Year R Christmas posts🎄
I’ve put them all on one page on the link below - let me know if i’ve forgotten something!
I’ve put them all on one page on the link below - let me know if i’ve forgotten something!
On the 12th Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Join or at least engage with trusted organizations like: Early Education, Froebel Trust, PEDAL, TACTYC... These will guide and fuel your practice and ensure you can articulate your pedagogy to senior leaders.
🎄Join or at least engage with trusted organizations like: Early Education, Froebel Trust, PEDAL, TACTYC... These will guide and fuel your practice and ensure you can articulate your pedagogy to senior leaders.
December 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
On the 12th Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Join or at least engage with trusted organizations like: Early Education, Froebel Trust, PEDAL, TACTYC... These will guide and fuel your practice and ensure you can articulate your pedagogy to senior leaders.
🎄Join or at least engage with trusted organizations like: Early Education, Froebel Trust, PEDAL, TACTYC... These will guide and fuel your practice and ensure you can articulate your pedagogy to senior leaders.
On the 11th Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Free-flow, outdoor learning, continuous provision, and ‘flow’ overlap but are not the same. Long child-led periods, with agency, enabled across environments, is a more helpful thought for you professionally.
🎄Free-flow, outdoor learning, continuous provision, and ‘flow’ overlap but are not the same. Long child-led periods, with agency, enabled across environments, is a more helpful thought for you professionally.
December 11, 2025 at 9:06 AM
On the 11th Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Free-flow, outdoor learning, continuous provision, and ‘flow’ overlap but are not the same. Long child-led periods, with agency, enabled across environments, is a more helpful thought for you professionally.
🎄Free-flow, outdoor learning, continuous provision, and ‘flow’ overlap but are not the same. Long child-led periods, with agency, enabled across environments, is a more helpful thought for you professionally.
On the Tenth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄EYFS is a sensory curriculum, to be presented in a sensory environment. Before you timetable sensory circuits or buy a ‘sensory room’, ensure you are confident about your ordinarily available sensory provision.
🎄EYFS is a sensory curriculum, to be presented in a sensory environment. Before you timetable sensory circuits or buy a ‘sensory room’, ensure you are confident about your ordinarily available sensory provision.
December 10, 2025 at 7:24 AM
On the Tenth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄EYFS is a sensory curriculum, to be presented in a sensory environment. Before you timetable sensory circuits or buy a ‘sensory room’, ensure you are confident about your ordinarily available sensory provision.
🎄EYFS is a sensory curriculum, to be presented in a sensory environment. Before you timetable sensory circuits or buy a ‘sensory room’, ensure you are confident about your ordinarily available sensory provision.
On the Ninth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Do you really need all those transitions during the school day?
The answer is ‘No’ and some will be educationally damaging. But some might be necessary, so make sure you know which is which.
🎄Do you really need all those transitions during the school day?
The answer is ‘No’ and some will be educationally damaging. But some might be necessary, so make sure you know which is which.
December 9, 2025 at 9:04 AM
On the Ninth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Do you really need all those transitions during the school day?
The answer is ‘No’ and some will be educationally damaging. But some might be necessary, so make sure you know which is which.
🎄Do you really need all those transitions during the school day?
The answer is ‘No’ and some will be educationally damaging. But some might be necessary, so make sure you know which is which.
On the Eighth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Your children can’t see the visual communication aids when they are in the cupboard.
(Not being over-critical - I’ve done it🤦♂️But we mustn’t).
🎄Your children can’t see the visual communication aids when they are in the cupboard.
(Not being over-critical - I’ve done it🤦♂️But we mustn’t).
December 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
On the Eighth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Your children can’t see the visual communication aids when they are in the cupboard.
(Not being over-critical - I’ve done it🤦♂️But we mustn’t).
🎄Your children can’t see the visual communication aids when they are in the cupboard.
(Not being over-critical - I’ve done it🤦♂️But we mustn’t).
On the Seventh Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Sing, Sing, Sing…and Sign!
It’s much easier and more effective to sign for the whole class - no need to wait for Makaton training first (although recommended when the opportunity arises)
🎄Sing, Sing, Sing…and Sign!
It’s much easier and more effective to sign for the whole class - no need to wait for Makaton training first (although recommended when the opportunity arises)
December 8, 2025 at 4:55 PM
On the Seventh Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Sing, Sing, Sing…and Sign!
It’s much easier and more effective to sign for the whole class - no need to wait for Makaton training first (although recommended when the opportunity arises)
🎄Sing, Sing, Sing…and Sign!
It’s much easier and more effective to sign for the whole class - no need to wait for Makaton training first (although recommended when the opportunity arises)
On the Sixth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Children should not be directed to copy letter shapes before they have secured handwriting prerequisites.
Ensure you know what these are and which unique child is still developing in this area.
🎄Children should not be directed to copy letter shapes before they have secured handwriting prerequisites.
Ensure you know what these are and which unique child is still developing in this area.
December 8, 2025 at 7:25 AM
On the Sixth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Children should not be directed to copy letter shapes before they have secured handwriting prerequisites.
Ensure you know what these are and which unique child is still developing in this area.
🎄Children should not be directed to copy letter shapes before they have secured handwriting prerequisites.
Ensure you know what these are and which unique child is still developing in this area.
On the Fifth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Systematic Synthetic Phonics lessons as sole or even primary method for teaching reading and spelling will fail on average about 20% of your class. So don’t subject them to additional phonics catch up lessons.
🎄Systematic Synthetic Phonics lessons as sole or even primary method for teaching reading and spelling will fail on average about 20% of your class. So don’t subject them to additional phonics catch up lessons.
December 7, 2025 at 3:29 PM
On the Fifth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Systematic Synthetic Phonics lessons as sole or even primary method for teaching reading and spelling will fail on average about 20% of your class. So don’t subject them to additional phonics catch up lessons.
🎄Systematic Synthetic Phonics lessons as sole or even primary method for teaching reading and spelling will fail on average about 20% of your class. So don’t subject them to additional phonics catch up lessons.
On the Fourth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄When you have completed the DfE Child Development training modules (and you should) ask yourself for each child ‘What is developmentally meaningful?’ (Thanks to Kerry Murphy/ Diverse Pathways).
🎄When you have completed the DfE Child Development training modules (and you should) ask yourself for each child ‘What is developmentally meaningful?’ (Thanks to Kerry Murphy/ Diverse Pathways).
December 6, 2025 at 9:12 AM
On the Fourth Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄When you have completed the DfE Child Development training modules (and you should) ask yourself for each child ‘What is developmentally meaningful?’ (Thanks to Kerry Murphy/ Diverse Pathways).
🎄When you have completed the DfE Child Development training modules (and you should) ask yourself for each child ‘What is developmentally meaningful?’ (Thanks to Kerry Murphy/ Diverse Pathways).
On the Third Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄What does a Dojo (or your chosen extrinsic reward system) give a child that your loving, honest, connected relationship does not?
🎄What does a Dojo (or your chosen extrinsic reward system) give a child that your loving, honest, connected relationship does not?
December 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
On the Third Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄What does a Dojo (or your chosen extrinsic reward system) give a child that your loving, honest, connected relationship does not?
🎄What does a Dojo (or your chosen extrinsic reward system) give a child that your loving, honest, connected relationship does not?
On the Second Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Did you know in Reception that the title is still ‘Keyperson’, not ‘Keyworker’? And it is statutory?
And there is a good reason for this?
🎄Did you know in Reception that the title is still ‘Keyperson’, not ‘Keyworker’? And it is statutory?
And there is a good reason for this?
December 5, 2025 at 8:36 PM
On the Second Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Did you know in Reception that the title is still ‘Keyperson’, not ‘Keyworker’? And it is statutory?
And there is a good reason for this?
🎄Did you know in Reception that the title is still ‘Keyperson’, not ‘Keyworker’? And it is statutory?
And there is a good reason for this?
On the First Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Ask yourself if a commercial whiteboard programme making children sit and subitise at a level they already understood 18 months ago is necessary.
🎄Ask yourself if a commercial whiteboard programme making children sit and subitise at a level they already understood 18 months ago is necessary.
December 5, 2025 at 8:30 PM
On the First Day of Transition to Year R Christmas, my Early Years Advisor said to me…
🎄Ask yourself if a commercial whiteboard programme making children sit and subitise at a level they already understood 18 months ago is necessary.
🎄Ask yourself if a commercial whiteboard programme making children sit and subitise at a level they already understood 18 months ago is necessary.
Reposted by Dominic Gunn
A few people have asked about the audit tool I've developed, aligned to the DFE writing framework. I've made it available here:
www.lulu.com/shop/ruth-swailes/integrated-early-writing-talk-and-physical-development-audit-tool/ebook/product-v8qn2z9.html?q=integrated+early+writing&page=1&pageSize=4
www.lulu.com/shop/ruth-swailes/integrated-early-writing-talk-and-physical-development-audit-tool/ebook/product-v8qn2z9.html?q=integrated+early+writing&page=1&pageSize=4
Integrated Early Writing, Talk and Physical Development Audit Tool
This audit tool aligns with the DFE non-statutory writing framework(2025) and the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage (2021). It draws on a wealth of research to provide a toolkit for those working...
www.lulu.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:02 AM
A few people have asked about the audit tool I've developed, aligned to the DFE writing framework. I've made it available here:
www.lulu.com/shop/ruth-swailes/integrated-early-writing-talk-and-physical-development-audit-tool/ebook/product-v8qn2z9.html?q=integrated+early+writing&page=1&pageSize=4
www.lulu.com/shop/ruth-swailes/integrated-early-writing-talk-and-physical-development-audit-tool/ebook/product-v8qn2z9.html?q=integrated+early+writing&page=1&pageSize=4
Yr R and Assessment.
If you’re feeling that we over-assess ‘progress’ in EYFS…that’s because we do!
A fun, provocation with the help of a toy balloon and Carlo Rovelli here:
If you’re feeling that we over-assess ‘progress’ in EYFS…that’s because we do!
A fun, provocation with the help of a toy balloon and Carlo Rovelli here:
Educational Assessment EYFS to KS1
(Embracing probability and rejecting datafication… … with the help of a toy balloon)
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Yr R and Assessment.
If you’re feeling that we over-assess ‘progress’ in EYFS…that’s because we do!
A fun, provocation with the help of a toy balloon and Carlo Rovelli here:
If you’re feeling that we over-assess ‘progress’ in EYFS…that’s because we do!
A fun, provocation with the help of a toy balloon and Carlo Rovelli here:
Brotastic Bubblenomics by Carole Cadwallader.
Sometimes we have to work hard to make visual aids work. But when we do…
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Sometimes we have to work hard to make visual aids work. But when we do…
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
November 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Brotastic Bubblenomics by Carole Cadwallader.
Sometimes we have to work hard to make visual aids work. But when we do…
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Sometimes we have to work hard to make visual aids work. But when we do…
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Absolutely, sing with young children.
And that doesn’t include a whiteboard doing it for us btw!
Recommended training by Early Education, Froebel, and me😁
And that doesn’t include a whiteboard doing it for us btw!
Recommended training by Early Education, Froebel, and me😁
Singing with Young Children Webinar
www.froebel.org.uk
November 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Absolutely, sing with young children.
And that doesn’t include a whiteboard doing it for us btw!
Recommended training by Early Education, Froebel, and me😁
And that doesn’t include a whiteboard doing it for us btw!
Recommended training by Early Education, Froebel, and me😁
For the attention of @sebdaorg.bsky.social and anyone considering the different values and purposes of ‘observation or surveillance?’
NEW POST: Are behaviour-tracking apps harming #SEND children and their families?
Natalia James, discusses her research into how digital monitoring may be discriminating against disabled children and increasing stress on their parents: www.specialneedsjungle.com/b...
#SENDsky #disability
Natalia James, discusses her research into how digital monitoring may be discriminating against disabled children and increasing stress on their parents: www.specialneedsjungle.com/b...
#SENDsky #disability
October 2, 2025 at 5:35 AM
For the attention of @sebdaorg.bsky.social and anyone considering the different values and purposes of ‘observation or surveillance?’
Reposted by Dominic Gunn
Siren Films have extended their free to watch offer on our short, but beautiful, film about sustainability at The Grove. Do share with friends and colleagues ...
FREE to watch all this week! Our new short film on sustainability was received so well last week that we've made it FREE this week too. The film is ideal for staff training, curriculum planning or just some classroom inspiration.
www.sirenfilms.co.uk/library/sustainability-in-the-early-years/
www.sirenfilms.co.uk/library/sustainability-in-the-early-years/
Sustainability in the Early Years
In this inspiring film, Author and early years expert Laura Henry-Allain MBE speaks with Claire and Sarah, teachers from The Grove Nursery School in Peckham. Together, they explore what sustainability...
www.sirenfilms.co.uk
September 29, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Siren Films have extended their free to watch offer on our short, but beautiful, film about sustainability at The Grove. Do share with friends and colleagues ...
Reposted by Dominic Gunn
Statutory guidance on "Children missing education" has been updated: It's not also statutory for schools and includes a summary of responsibilities, including for parents, and a policy and procedure checklist: www.gov.uk/government/public...
Children missing education: statutory guidance for local authorities and schools
www.gov.uk
September 8, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Statutory guidance on "Children missing education" has been updated: It's not also statutory for schools and includes a summary of responsibilities, including for parents, and a policy and procedure checklist: www.gov.uk/government/public...
Monk Debunks - well worth sharing with anyone who is still to understand how grains of truth are manipulated by some media to present something utterly deceptive in order to generate outrage and conflict for their own personal gain. open.substack.com/pub/monkdebu...
Benefits, Taxes, and Misleading Headlines
The truth behind the claim that most households take more from the state than they contribute.
open.substack.com
September 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Monk Debunks - well worth sharing with anyone who is still to understand how grains of truth are manipulated by some media to present something utterly deceptive in order to generate outrage and conflict for their own personal gain. open.substack.com/pub/monkdebu...
Just a reminder about the excellent range of local and national events to fuel and inspire us this Autumn, from Early Education:
early-education.org.uk/news/events/...
early-education.org.uk/news/events/...
Continuing professional development - Early Education
Explore our programme of Early Years CPD courses for practitioners. Online webinars and local CPD training with our early years specialists.
early-education.org.uk
August 29, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Just a reminder about the excellent range of local and national events to fuel and inspire us this Autumn, from Early Education:
early-education.org.uk/news/events/...
early-education.org.uk/news/events/...
Useful reminder of Cathy Gunning’s previous advice on Healthy Settling for High Well-being.
Also, that there is no ‘key worker’ in EYFS. The ststutory term, and requirement, is ‘Keyperson’.
early-education.org.uk/settling-chi...
Also, that there is no ‘key worker’ in EYFS. The ststutory term, and requirement, is ‘Keyperson’.
early-education.org.uk/settling-chi...
Settling children - Early Education
Healthy settling for high wellbeing How can we best help children feel at ease so that they are secure and settled in their new provision? To hold children in mind and consider them as the person to p...
early-education.org.uk
August 15, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Useful reminder of Cathy Gunning’s previous advice on Healthy Settling for High Well-being.
Also, that there is no ‘key worker’ in EYFS. The ststutory term, and requirement, is ‘Keyperson’.
early-education.org.uk/settling-chi...
Also, that there is no ‘key worker’ in EYFS. The ststutory term, and requirement, is ‘Keyperson’.
early-education.org.uk/settling-chi...
Although late to the cricket party, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this. And not least because, after nearly 25 days of serious effort…there is no ‘winner’!
The endeavour is still valued, and tells us so much about the individuals and the teams.
Yes, assessment of children’s abilities is still on my mind.
The endeavour is still valued, and tells us so much about the individuals and the teams.
Yes, assessment of children’s abilities is still on my mind.
England v India, fifth Test: Woakes walks out to bat one-handed
Watch the moment Chris Woakes walks to the crease to bat for England one-handed after sustaining a shoulder injury during the fifth Test against India at The Oval.
www.bbc.co.uk
August 4, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Although late to the cricket party, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this. And not least because, after nearly 25 days of serious effort…there is no ‘winner’!
The endeavour is still valued, and tells us so much about the individuals and the teams.
Yes, assessment of children’s abilities is still on my mind.
The endeavour is still valued, and tells us so much about the individuals and the teams.
Yes, assessment of children’s abilities is still on my mind.