Author | Lightnews

Quiet Practitioner @quietpractitioner.bsky.social · 29d

100% this...come on - make a real difference!
"...What children need most is us - present, interested, and willing to join in their world..." 👶

PEARLS of Practice: What Makes a Quality Interaction in the Early Years? - [Listen Along]
open.substack.com/pub/abcdoes/...

PEARLS of Practice: What Makes a Quality Interaction in the Early Years?

Read (Or Listen!) To My Brand New Article: PEARLS of Practice!

open.substack.com

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Dan Wuori @danwuori.bsky.social · Aug 31

The way you speak to your child is the way they will learn to speak to others.

And to themself.

(Thread 🧵)

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David Tennant Daily @davidtennantdaily.bsky.social · Jun 18

Vote for #DavidTennant Does a Podcast With
🗳: britishpodcastawards.com/voting
Voting closes September 8th
#BritishPodcastAwards

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Sue Atkins @sueatkins.bsky.social · Apr 27

Babies aren't born addicted to screens. We teach them. #ScreenFreeEarlyYears
#EarlyYears #Parenting
shop.navigatingthedigitaljungle.com

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Quiet Practitioner @quietpractitioner.bsky.social · Apr 25

I had a book called "Treat your own back" and it recommended laying flat on your stomach for 5 mins or so initially and fully relaxing then doing the back extensions as shown before relaxing again...doing this several times a day when in pain. I still do this whenever I feel things tightening up.

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Sue Atkins @sueatkins.bsky.social · Apr 23

Launching my #SchoolReadiness Blog Series very soon!

This series is designed to guide parents through the essential steps to ensure their children are not only academically ready but emotionally and socially prepared for their big school adventure

#Parenting #EarlyYears #Education

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Quiet Practitioner @quietpractitioner.bsky.social · Apr 23

Is this real? What is going on?????!!!
😨
uk.news.yahoo.com/experiments-...?

Experiments to dim the Sun will be approved within weeks

Experiments to dim sunlight to fight global warming will be given the green light by the Government within weeks.

uk.news.yahoo.com

Quiet Practitioner @quietpractitioner.bsky.social · Apr 23

This makes me so sad for children today 😭
How did it ever come to this ridiculousness?
Who on earth thought making schools places to be afraid, anxious or tense would help our children succeed?
Schools should be fun, happy places NOT some sort of army barracks. I am disgusted. 😠

Dr Naomi Fisher @drnaomifisher.bsky.social · Apr 23

Anni wasn’t happy at school. She was crying in the evenings and saying she had tummy aches in the morning.
Her dad went into school for a meeting. 1/

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Petra Michaela @petramichaela.bsky.social · Apr 21

Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.
- Mahatma Gandhi -

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Dr. Aaron Bradbury @aaronearlyyears.bsky.social · Apr 16

What does being ‘Reception Ready’ really mean?

The Department for Education has recently shared its version of school readiness, including brushing teeth, catching a ball, and being toilet trained.

While life skills matter, Early Years Reviews wanted to reframe the narrative.

#Schoolready

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Sue Cowley @suecowley.bsky.social · Apr 3

Tagging @stephenmorganmp.bsky.social our early years minister who is on here (although like Bridget Phillipson he isn't actually following anyone).

Sue Cowley @suecowley.bsky.social · Apr 3

Excellent letter from @eyalliance.bsky.social to the DfE about the impact of their announcements about 'school-based nurseries' on other types of early years settings.

By email: stephen.morgan.mp@parliament.uk
Stephen Morgan
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
2 April 2025
Dear Minister
I’m writing to share my concern and frustration over the statements made by the Department for Education
as part of today’s announcement of the first wave of 300 new school-based nurseries.
These statements include assertions that school-based nurseries provide “high-quality early education in
familiar school settings” and give children “a smoother transition to reception year”, and that school-based
nurseries are at “the heart [of the government’s] Plan for Change”.
As far as I can tell, there seems to have been no consideration given to the impact of these messages on
the thousands of dedicated, hard-working early years professionals working in private and voluntary
settings.
To be clear, those working in the PVI sector also provide high-quality early education, and ensure that
children have smooth transitions to school. What’s more, many operate for far greater hours during the
day than many schools, as well as during typical school holidays, providing vital support to working
families. As such, I’m in no doubt that they too should be at the heart of the government ‘Plan for Change’,
particularly given that they continue to deliver the vast majority of early years places.
Given the vital role that PVI providers will play in the ongoing rollout of the early entitlement expansion to
younger children – and I know from my own direct conversations with department colleagues that the DfE
is well aware of this – I cannot understand why the government continues to put out messaging that
suggests that our vital part of the sector is held in such disregard.
With settings already struggling in the face of national insurance rises, minimum wage increases and
updated charging guidance, morale in the sector is as low as I’ve ever seen it. As such, alongside urgent
discussions around the need to secure additional financial …

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Sue Cowley @suecowley.bsky.social · Apr 3

I find myself surprisingly angry about the very poor attitude from the DfE, especially towards over 8,000 early years settings that are *run by parent volunteers*. I've given 16 years of my free time to help to run a preschool and this is the thanks that we get? 🤷‍♀️ @bphillipsonmp.bsky.social

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Sue Cowley @suecowley.bsky.social · Apr 3

Excellent letter from @eyalliance.bsky.social to the DfE about the impact of their announcements about 'school-based nurseries' on other types of early years settings.

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Sue Cowley @suecowley.bsky.social · Apr 2

I don't understand this thing of repeatedly saying 'school-based nurseries' when most of the early years sector is in PVI settings. It feels almost like she's against us? 🤷‍♀️

Tweet from Bridget Phillipson saying

"School-based nurseries mean a better start in life for children, as well as lower costs and fresh hope for families.

Proud that today through Labour’s Plan for Change, our government is announcing new school-based nurseries for communities and families across our country."

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Sue Cowley @suecowley.bsky.social · Apr 2

The key focus for EY education and care must *always* be meeting the needs of babies and young children, not saving money or getting people into work. Those can be handy byproducts but they should never be the main thing. Young children can't advocate for themselves so we must do it for them. 1/2 ⬇️

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Quiet Practitioner @quietpractitioner.bsky.social · Mar 26

We had this in my preschool setting where we had to add extra days for any unexpected closure too eg for snow - so often would mean having to lose one of the planned inset days.
In my current nursery we don't have any INSET days at all. 😒

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SIREN FILMS @sirenfilms.bsky.social · Mar 18

OUT TODAY!! Download your free copy. Written by practitioners and early years specialists, with links to our clips
in each chapter and a foreword by
@michaelrosenyes.bsky.social

A must read for everyone working with young children.
www.early-years-reviews.com/play-matters
#playmatters #sirenfilms

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Yorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · Feb 2

@ruthswailes.bsky.social on the UK's need to better understand young children's needs when creating policy for them, rather than “lesson plans” for toddlers resembling those used for 6YOs& aspirations to teach 2YOs about phonics and history. #EduSky yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...

Care and education for England’s youngest children: the need for developmentally informed policy and practice

Education adviser Ruth Swailes considers sending toddlers to school from the perspective of her 30-year experience

yorkshirebylines.co.uk

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Quiet Practitioner @quietpractitioner.bsky.social · Feb 1

Oh I do love @michaelspicer.bsky.social especially his Trump sketches. Just perfect 🤣🤣

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Mary J @primaryteachermary.bsky.social · Jan 27

Last week I filled the tuff tray with pieces of marble run. The children couldn’t work out how to make sense of it without a marble just dropping straight down.With no adult intervention and lots of tinkering they got there today. Sometimes showing them prevents opportunities to develop meta skills.

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Dr. Aaron Bradbury @aaronearlyyears.bsky.social · Jan 27

Exploring Tuff Trays -Are We Overusing Tuff Trays in the Early Years?

www.early-years-reviews.com/post/explori...

Exploring Tuff Trays -Are We Overusing Tuff Trays in the Early Years?

Before you come for me as I am about to say something about the beloved tuff tray here me out. I am coming at this angle from seeing tired, worn out professionals who want to do the best for our young...

www.early-years-reviews.com

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Quiet Practitioner @quietpractitioner.bsky.social · Nov 24

At least I think it's working - I'm getting a great deal of posts from 'The Guardian' in the feed along with a smattering of EY folk - better than what I had before though! 🤷‍♀️🙂

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Quiet Practitioner @quietpractitioner.bsky.social · Nov 24

That's what I thought 😬
Happily the link you added here worked though. Thank you.
☺️

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