The Voice of Early Childhood

This article and podcast episode explore how young children develop Fundamental Movement Skills through repeated, varied experiences and attuned adult guidance. Dr Leanne Jaye highlights the balance between structured support and child‑led exploration, the impact of movement on confidence, communication and social connection, and the crucial role practitioners and caregivers play in shaping high‑quality, enjoyable movement opportunities.
 
Read the article here:
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/from-practice-to-progress-do-children-need-to-be-taught-movement-skills/
 
This episode is in partnership with BookedIn.
 
BookedIn is the CPD booking platform that connects organisations with verified speakers, trainers and consultants – so you can find the right fit faster, based on your brief, audience and outcomes. 
 
To find out more visit: https://waitlist.bookedin.online/  
 
Our 2027 conference info & tickets: 
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2027/  
 
Listen to more: 
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:
·       Fostering a love of movement for life, by Josh Candy: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/fostering-a-love-of-movement-for-life/
·       Physical development frameworks, by Dr Lala Manners: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/physical-development-frameworks/
·       'My child can't write yet': The foundations of early writing, by Helen Battelley: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/my-child-cant-write-yet-the-foundations-of-early-writing/
 
Get in touch and share your voice:
Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/
 
Episode break down:
00:00 - Welcome
01:35 - Introducing Dr Leanne Jaye
03:09 - Do children pick up movement skills naturally?
05:26 - What are fundamental movement skills?
06:56 - Why movement needs greater attention in educator training
08:49 - Recognising when movement skills need support
11:48 - Unequal opportunities for movement development
15:12 - Looking at how children move, not just whether they move
17:36 - Making movement part of the whole day
19:04 - Repetition, practice and brain development
21:16 - Building children's movement vocabulary
25:39 - Keeping repetition playful through stories and games
28:48 - How environments shape movement opportunities
31:47 - Creating movement opportunities in smaller indoor spaces
34:30 - What to notice when observing children's movement
38:47 - Teaching movement: everyday practice and specialist support
41:27 - Educators as movement role models
43:40 - Bringing movement into other areas of learning
46:13 - Supporting independence without stepping in too quickly
50:49 - Final reflections: integrating movement across learning
 
For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

Children need more than provision; they need emotionally present adults who help them feel safe, understood and valued. Drawing on his work with children with complex and neurodivergent needs, his journey as a dad, and his book More Than A Father, Opeyemi Ogunmadeko explores what emotional presence can mean for parents, carers and early childhood educators. 
 
Read the article here:
 
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/more-than-a-father-emotional-presence-in-early-childhood-practice/ 
 
This episode is in partnership with BookedIn
 
BookedIn is a CPD booking platform that connects organisations with verified speakers, trainers and consultants – so you can find the right fit faster, based on your brief, audience and outcomes.
 
To find out more and sign up to the wait list visit: https://waitlist.bookedin.online/ 
 
Our 2027 conference info & tickets:
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2027/ 
 
Listen to more:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:
·       What is relationship-based parenting? With Cara Tyrrell - https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/what-is-relationship-based-parenting/ 
·       The politics of parenting with Helen Simmons - https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/the-politics-of-parenting/ 
·       Perception, positivity and parents with Wendy Kettleborough - https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/perception-positivity-parents/  
 
Get in touch and share your voice:
Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/ 
 
Episode break down:
00:00 - Introduction
01:47 - Introducing Opeyemi
02:30 - Emotional presence beyond provision
06:45 - Fathers' emotional connection and their own upbringing
11:03 - Connecting with each child through time and play
14:13 - Cultural expectations and fathers' involvement
18:01 - Building support networks for fathers
22:24 - Seeing children's identities beyond behaviour
25:54 - Understanding behaviour as communication
28:05 - Connection before correction
32:26 - Pausing before responding to children
34:55 - Recognising progress without comparing children
36:33 - How adults' words shape children's sense of self
39:01 - Welcoming fathers and father figures into early childhood settings
45:05 - Supporting fathers to reconnect with their children
48:20 - Reflecting on childhood experiences and seeking support
49:46 - Protecting children from parental conflict and modelling respect
54:49 - Self-awareness and rethinking the breadwinner role
56:37 - Emotional connection in care for children with additional needs
01:00:10 - Parental burnout and supporting siblings' emotional needs
01:03:30 - Professional love and trauma-informed practice
01:04:40 - Family diversity, father figures and role models
01:07:28 - More than a father: the inspiration behind the book
01:13:22 - Further reading and closing reflections 
For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

Apprenticeships are often viewed as an entry route for young people, but they can also provide a valuable pathway for developing and retaining existing early years staff. This article and podcast episode explore how apprenticeships can support career progression, strengthen workforce skills and help settings invest in the practitioners they already have.
 
Read the article here:
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/more-than-a-school-leavers-route-why-apprenticeships-are-becoming-a-retention-strategy-in-early-years/
 
This episode is in partnership with The Childcare Company
 
The Childcare Company has delivered early years and childcare training since 2008 and is rated Good by Ofsted. It delivers apprenticeships, diplomas, skill builders and academies from Level 2 to Level 5, working alongside nurseries, early years settings, schools and residential childcare providers to build resilient, qualified teams. Training is delivered by its own delivery coaches, backed by funding, enrolment and free recruitment support. The Childcare Company is an Impact Futures Group brand. Building skills, impacting futures.
Find out more here: https://thechildcarecompany.com/
 
Our 2027 conference info & tickets:
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2027/
 
Listen to more:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:
·       What does good quality CPD look like? With Dr Julian Grenier: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/what-does-good-quality-cpd-look-like/
·       Early years leadership stories with Jenny Weidner: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-leadership-stories/
·       Professional curiosity: Creating cultures of reflection, safety and growth with Jack Edwards and Kelly Hill: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/professional-curiosity-creating-cultures-of-reflection-safety-and-growth/
 
Get in touch and share your voice:
Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/
 
Episode break down:
00:00 – Introducing Amanda and the episode's focus on apprenticeships
02:48 – Apprenticeships are not just for school leavers
04:28 – What settings lose when an experienced practitioner leaves
06:13 – Supporting staff retention through career progression
09:30 – Early years apprenticeship pathways: Level 2 to Level 6
10:47 – Different starting points and entering early years at any age
12:33 – Connecting theory, practical experience and reflective learning
14:57 – Addressing concerns about pay cuts and starting again as an apprentice
17:01 – Recognising prior learning and choosing the right apprenticeship level
19:59 – Making time for training alongside staffing pressures
23:22 – Flexible learning sessions and arranging workplace observations
26:04 – Understanding apprenticeship funding and the levy
27:49 – Funding for settings that do not pay the apprenticeship levy
29:14 – Discussing hiring incentives for new apprentices
30:23 – National Insurance relief for apprentices
31:07 – Employer support grants for the early years teacher degree apprenticeship
32:13 – Weighing training costs against the long-term value of retaining staff
33:40 – Why workplace culture, workload and pay still matter
34:34 – A practical first step for leaders exploring staff apprenticeships
35:30 – Contacting The Childcare Company and closing reflections
For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

What does it really mean for a child to be 'school ready', and are the expectations we place on children actually informed by evidence? Adam Marycz explores how policy, accountability and long-held assumptions can shape early childhood practice, questioning the push towards formal learning and considering how educators can keep children's development, individuality and play at the centre.
 
Read the article here:
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/are-our-expectations-of-children-in-early-childhood-evidence-informed/
 
This episode is in partnership with BookedIn
 
BookedIn is the CPD booking platform that connects organisations with verified speakers, trainers and consultants – so you can find the right fit faster, based on your brief, audience and outcomes.
 
To find out more visit: https://waitlist.bookedin.online/
 
Our 2027 conference info & tickets:
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2027/
 
Listen to more:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:
·       Starting school: Supporting transitions to reception and key stage 1, with Delyth Linacre: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/starting-school-supporting-transitions-to-reception-and-key-stage-1/
·       Life skills over academic achievement, with Carmela Garcia Manas and Zanna Clarke: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/life-skills-over-academic-achievement/
 
Get in touch and share your voice:
Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/
 
Episode break down:
00:00 – Hear Adam at the 2027 Voice of Early Childhood Conference 01:35 – Welcome to the live podcast recording 02:49 – Introducing Adam Marycz 04:04 – What do we really mean by 'school readiness'? 07:01 – Confidence and independence versus academic expectations 09:27 – Developmental milestones: should we lower expectations? 10:55 – Good level of development: evidence or accountability pressures? 14:11 – Using interventions without reducing children to data points 16:42 – International approaches, school starting ages and protecting play 19:47 – Are we mistaking sitting still for learning? 21:14 – Educator training and becoming critical consumers of content 23:08 – Physical development, movement and realistic expectations 25:55 – Gaps in educator training and the importance of ongoing professional development 28:01 – What can we learn from Finland and China? 30:44 – Questioning everyday practice: why are we doing this? 32:41 – What do you want children to be able to do when they leave your setting? 34:57 – Audience Q&A: school readiness, SEND and inclusion 40:15 – Audience reflections: family pressures, screen time and wellbeing 43:57 – Moving beyond discussion: evidence, advocacy and meaningful change 46:09 – Closing thanks
For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

This podcast episode and article are a research-informed exploration of how outdoor environments, adult language and risk narratives shape children's agency. Drawing on the Reimagining Outdoor Learning Toolkit, we examine how educators can move beyond checklists, embrace managed risk, and create outdoor spaces where children's autonomy, confidence and curiosity can genuinely flourish.
 
Read the article here:
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/reimagining-outdoor-learning-understanding-agency-from-risk-to-resilience/    
 
This episode is in partnership with BookedIn
 
BookedIn is the CPD booking platform that connects organisations with verified speakers, trainers and consultants – so you can find the right fit faster, based on your brief, audience and outcomes.
 
To find out more visit: https://waitlist.bookedin.online/
 
Our 2027 conference info & tickets:
https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2027/
 
Listen to more:
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:
·       Impacts of outdoors on children's behaviour and attention: The science behind outdoor play series, with Dr Gemma Goldenberg: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/impacts-of-outdoors-on-childrens-behaviour-and-attention/
·       The therapeutic nature of outdoor play, with Jenny Smillie: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/the-therapeutic-nature-of-outdoor-play/
 
Get in touch and share your voice:
Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/
 
Episode break down:
00:00 – Welcome and guest introduction 01:35 – How the outdoor agency research began 03:06 – Children's agency in policy and practice 05:17 – What makes outdoor learning unique? 08:41 – How weather and adult perceptions shape risk 10:21 – The dry robe dilemma: when protection restricts play 12:10 – How home experiences and family attitudes shape outdoor play 16:10 – The Outdoor Agency Model: environment, adults and community 20:47 – Outdoor learning beyond the early years and PE 23:53 – Exploring the Reimagining Outdoor Learning Toolkit 27:00 – Using action research to develop your own practice 28:38 – Photo tours: putting children's voices at the heart of research 30:02 – Supporting children to understand and manage risk 31:26 – What changed? Revisiting children's outdoor experiences 32:23 – Building stronger partnerships between home and settings 36:47 – Understanding and responding to parents' worries 39:26 – Final takeaways: trust, agency and ownership of childhood 40:59 – Closing reflections, further resources and thanks
For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com