Quiet Practitioner
@quietpractitioner.bsky.social
I've worked in pre-school education for over 20 years - travelling quietly alongside children on their learning journeys.
Also love musical / creative pursuits and reading (fantasy & contemporary romance and of course tons of educational non-fiction!).
Also love musical / creative pursuits and reading (fantasy & contemporary romance and of course tons of educational non-fiction!).
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
Who'll be doing the #BigGardenBirdwatch this weekend?
And how many of these do you think you'll cross off? 😁👇
And how many of these do you think you'll cross off? 😁👇
January 23, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Who'll be doing the #BigGardenBirdwatch this weekend?
And how many of these do you think you'll cross off? 😁👇
And how many of these do you think you'll cross off? 😁👇
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
"Thank you for all the books you give to children like me." ❤️
With your support, over Christmas we sent 18,000 festive book parcels to children who are in care or using community food banks.
We couldn't do it without you - thank you for donating to share the #MagicOfBooks ✨
https://bit.ly/4qDuK9K
With your support, over Christmas we sent 18,000 festive book parcels to children who are in care or using community food banks.
We couldn't do it without you - thank you for donating to share the #MagicOfBooks ✨
https://bit.ly/4qDuK9K
January 10, 2026 at 6:31 PM
"Thank you for all the books you give to children like me." ❤️
With your support, over Christmas we sent 18,000 festive book parcels to children who are in care or using community food banks.
We couldn't do it without you - thank you for donating to share the #MagicOfBooks ✨
https://bit.ly/4qDuK9K
With your support, over Christmas we sent 18,000 festive book parcels to children who are in care or using community food banks.
We couldn't do it without you - thank you for donating to share the #MagicOfBooks ✨
https://bit.ly/4qDuK9K
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
Need a #SecretSanta gift?
Here's a present that really means something...
Donate on behalf of someone else to our #MagicOfBooks appeal and share the joy of reading with a child who needs it.
You'll get a digital certificate to give to your Secret Santa pick! 🎁
https://bit.ly/44hppMD
Here's a present that really means something...
Donate on behalf of someone else to our #MagicOfBooks appeal and share the joy of reading with a child who needs it.
You'll get a digital certificate to give to your Secret Santa pick! 🎁
https://bit.ly/44hppMD
December 10, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Need a #SecretSanta gift?
Here's a present that really means something...
Donate on behalf of someone else to our #MagicOfBooks appeal and share the joy of reading with a child who needs it.
You'll get a digital certificate to give to your Secret Santa pick! 🎁
https://bit.ly/44hppMD
Here's a present that really means something...
Donate on behalf of someone else to our #MagicOfBooks appeal and share the joy of reading with a child who needs it.
You'll get a digital certificate to give to your Secret Santa pick! 🎁
https://bit.ly/44hppMD
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
We’re all looking for a little magic at Christmas 💫
Stories bring joy, comfort and connection. And you can help to share the #MagicOfBooks with the children who need it most.
Donate today to make a difference this Christmas - and beyond:
https://bit.ly/4hTWKCT
Stories bring joy, comfort and connection. And you can help to share the #MagicOfBooks with the children who need it most.
Donate today to make a difference this Christmas - and beyond:
https://bit.ly/4hTWKCT
November 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
We’re all looking for a little magic at Christmas 💫
Stories bring joy, comfort and connection. And you can help to share the #MagicOfBooks with the children who need it most.
Donate today to make a difference this Christmas - and beyond:
https://bit.ly/4hTWKCT
Stories bring joy, comfort and connection. And you can help to share the #MagicOfBooks with the children who need it most.
Donate today to make a difference this Christmas - and beyond:
https://bit.ly/4hTWKCT
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/...
"...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
October 5, 2025 at 7:19 AM
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/...
"...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/...
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
The way you speak to your child is the way they will learn to speak to others.
And to themself.
(Thread 🧵)
And to themself.
(Thread 🧵)
August 31, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The way you speak to your child is the way they will learn to speak to others.
And to themself.
(Thread 🧵)
And to themself.
(Thread 🧵)
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
Vote for #DavidTennant Does a Podcast With
🗳: britishpodcastawards.com/voting
Voting closes September 8th
#BritishPodcastAwards
🗳: britishpodcastawards.com/voting
Voting closes September 8th
#BritishPodcastAwards
June 18, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Vote for #DavidTennant Does a Podcast With
🗳: britishpodcastawards.com/voting
Voting closes September 8th
#BritishPodcastAwards
🗳: britishpodcastawards.com/voting
Voting closes September 8th
#BritishPodcastAwards
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
Babies aren't born addicted to screens. We teach them. #ScreenFreeEarlyYears
#EarlyYears #Parenting
shop.navigatingthedigitaljungle.com
#EarlyYears #Parenting
shop.navigatingthedigitaljungle.com
April 27, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Babies aren't born addicted to screens. We teach them. #ScreenFreeEarlyYears
#EarlyYears #Parenting
shop.navigatingthedigitaljungle.com
#EarlyYears #Parenting
shop.navigatingthedigitaljungle.com
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
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
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
April 23, 2025 at 5:45 AM
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
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
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. 😠
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. 😠
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/
Her dad went into school for a meeting. 1/
April 23, 2025 at 5:57 PM
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. 😠
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. 😠
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.
- Mahatma Gandhi -
- Mahatma Gandhi -
April 21, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.
- Mahatma Gandhi -
- Mahatma Gandhi -
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
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
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
April 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
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
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
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
Tagging @stephenmorganmp.bsky.social our early years minister who is on here (although like Bridget Phillipson he isn't actually following anyone).
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 …](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gkgncnmhmnluxf3hd6bjuyf7/bafkreicyxw5u6upf3pdqlg5ycvcjziv43styc2odvtufdiby2yyhyozyli@jpeg)
April 3, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Tagging @stephenmorganmp.bsky.social our early years minister who is on here (although like Bridget Phillipson he isn't actually following anyone).
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
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
April 3, 2025 at 3:11 PM
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
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
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.
April 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
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.
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
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? 🤷♀️
April 2, 2025 at 6:54 PM
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? 🤷♀️
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
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 ⬇️
April 2, 2025 at 6:42 AM
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 ⬇️
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
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
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
March 18, 2025 at 10:17 AM
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
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
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
@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
February 2, 2025 at 2:07 PM
@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...
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
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.
January 27, 2025 at 5:05 PM
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.
Reposted by Quiet Practitioner
Exploring Tuff Trays -Are We Overusing Tuff Trays in the Early Years?
www.early-years-reviews.com/post/explori...
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
January 27, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Exploring Tuff Trays -Are We Overusing Tuff Trays in the Early Years?
www.early-years-reviews.com/post/explori...
www.early-years-reviews.com/post/explori...