The Early Childhood Sector faces many challenges today. Sector-wide pressures and policy changes mean settings are struggling with many issues including funding, retention and recruitment of staff.

As change looms, this new book takes the opportunity to explore what could be possible. It draws together expertise and experience from across many sectors, including education, health, and social work to explore what Early Childhood provision could look like, if we got it right.

What do Early Childhood experts recommend?
What is genuine, unconstrained good practice?
What do we want for our children, families, and colleagues in the sector?

This hopeful book looks forwards to what could be possible. It is A Manifesto for Early Childhood.

 

Aaron Bradbury is Principal Lecturer for Early Childhood Studies, Childhood, Early Years Apprenticeships and Higher Technical Qualifications in Early Years at Nottingham Trent University. Research Interests: Widening participation (access for all) with links to apprenticeship pedagogy, Early Years and Education. Ruth Swailes has almost 30 years’ experience in primary education, over 20 of them in senior leadership roles including primary headship. Ruth has worked as a School Improvement Advisor, Ofsted inspector, Early Years consultant and moderator in several Local Authorities, she has advised on DFE accredited phonics schemes and is the lead author, curriculum consultant and trainer on the Oxford University Press International Early Years curriculum. She has recently written their curriculum for 2-3-year-olds. Philippa Thompson is Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University.  Philippa began her career as an early years teacher, progressing to Head of Nursery/Foundation Stage and Assistant Head Teacher roles and an Early Years Advisory/ Community Teacher for Sheffield City Council. She is co-chair of the ECSDN which advocates for graduates in the workforce alongside lobbying for better pay and conditions in the early childhood workforce.