Episodes

  • 1 Video

    Sir Michael Marmot on Health Inequalities and their Implication for Early Childhood

    In this interview, world-leading expert on health inequalities Sir Michael Marmot discusses the effects of adverse childhood experiences on long-term outcomes for children and the ways in which Early Years settings can offset these. He gives recommendations for practitioners and educators based on his research and extensive knowledge in this area.
  • 1 Video

    Sonia Mainstone Cotton on Creativity

    In this session, Sonia Mainstone Cotton provides ideas and strategies for using creativity to improve children’s well-being. We discuss some of the common themes that appear throughout her new book - Creativity and Wellbeing in the Early Years - part of the Little Minds Matters series from Routledge.

    Sonia explains her innovative ways to connect with the wide range of people in the artistic community and she also challenges the idea that creativity is only for people with money, as well as other challenges to children’s creativity.
  • 1 Video

    Sonia Mainstone-Cotton and Jamel Carly Campbell on Positive Relationships in the Early Years

    Sonia Mainstone Cotton and Jamel Carly Campbell have co-authored a new book called Building Positive Relationships in the Early Years: Conversations to Empower Children, Professionals, Families and Communities as part of the Little Minds Matter series of books by Routledge.

    In this interview, Sonia and Jamel discuss many practical ways to build connections, including the advantages of home visits; the concept of building a relationship with the community and how to empower children.

    Both Sonia and Jamel have heart-warming and endearing anecdotes from their time in practice, making this both an inspirational and educational session.
  • 1 Video

    Sonia Mainstone-Cotton on Children’s Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs

    In this interview, we discuss how children's mental health has been changing and how we should respond to that as Early Years practitioners, educators and teachers. As usual, Sonia has a lot of great ideas and advice, based on her own experience and work.
  • 1 Video

    Sonia Mainstone-Cotton on Practitioner’s Well-Being and Listening to Young Children

    In this episode, Sonia discusses how practitioners can effectively support their own wellbeing, using a number of methods. She also discusses how we can listen to young children. Sonia shares tips on staff wellbeing & listening to children. Prioritise sleep, get outdoors, identify joyful activities. Involve children in decisions - their insights & interests should inform planning.
  • 1 Video

    Sophie Hutton on Identifying and Assessing Autism

    In this insightful interview, Sophie Hutton shares practical strategies for identifying, assessing and supporting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in early years settings.
  • 1 Video

    Sophie Hutton on Strategies for Supporting Children with ASD

    Essential ASD support strategies from assessment concerns to diagnosis, covering communication, sensory needs, and Gestalt language processing.
  • 5 Videos

    Sound Environment Matters with Dr Kathryn Murray and Sue Newman

    Sound Environment Matters is a course revealing neuroscience on how music "supercharges" cognitive skills like attention, memory & self-regulation. Learn strategies for optimising auditory learning environments.
  • 3 Videos

    Speech and Language – Early Identification and Intervention

    In this core skills course, Emma Tunnicliffe of Speech Leap will give you a better understanding of SLC needs by looking at typical development, identifying needs and discussing strategies to help with those needs.
  • 1 Video

    Stacey Kelly – Belief Systems and Gratitude Movement

    Stacey is a former teacher, a parent to 2 beautiful children & the Founder of Early Years Story Box.
  • 1 Video

    Stacy Benge on Phonemic Awareness and Early Literacy

    Learn how conversations and play build phonemic awareness naturally. Expert Stacy Benge shares practical strategies for early literacy.
  • 1 Video

    Stacy Benge on The Whole Child Alphabet

    Discover a holistic educational approach called The Whole Child Alphabet that develops every aspect of young learners. Go beyond conventional curricula to create an enriching environment that unlocks children's full potential.
  • 4 Videos

    Staff Wellbeing in the Early Years with Sonia Mainstone-Cotton

    Sonia Mainstone-Cotton shares practical ideas and strategies for supporting your own physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. She shares further reading and research, ways that you can support colleagues and a realistic ‘menu of ideas’ for you to choose from.
  • 1 Video

    Steph Hammond on Pre-Phonics for Early Years

    In this interview, we discuss what is meant by ‘pre-phonics’, the link with the Letters and Sounds guidance and phonological awareness. Steph explains how knowing songs, nursery rhymes and good quality children’s books help to give children the skills needed before they start phonics. She goes on to discuss the importance of phonemic awareness and what that could look like as part of a routine in a setting
  • 1 Video

    Sue Asquith and Sarah Griffiths on the Role of OAP in Building Resilience and Supporting Emotions

    In this interview, Sue Asquith discusses the cyclical process of observation, assessment and planning and how that then links with Ofsted’s ‘intent, implementation and impact’.

    Sarah Griffiths then suggests a range of practical well-being activities and support that we can give children, as well as how to help parents to support their children at home.
  • 1 Video

    Sue Asquith on Self-Regulation

    In this interview, Sue explains what we mean by self-regulation; how we can foster a sense of belonging in an Early Years setting; the challenges to self-regulation in general and especially the additional challenges has COVID-19 brought; how an understanding of neuroscience can help us to empathise with children; and reviewing the self-regulation for children in an Early Years setting.
  • 1 Video

    Sue Atkins on Partnering with Parents about Play

    Sue Atkins has had over 10 years experience as a parenting coach and has raised two children of her own. She is the Parenting Expert for ITV’s ‘This Morning’, BBC Radio, Sky News and Good Morning Britain, helping thousands of parents to overcome their challenges and develop their own balanced, down to earth parenting approach that creates happy, positive children, and relaxed confident parents.
  • 1 Video

    Sue Cowley on Differentiation

    Sue Cowley is an experienced teacher, writer and presenter, whose specialisms are in the areas of behaviour management and creative teaching and learning.
  • 1 Video

    Sue Hartley and Katie Brennan on Yoga and Mindfulness for children

    In this interview, we discuss KIND (Keep it simple, Individuality, Nurture and Develop; how you can do yoga at home with children; the lifelong benefits of mindfulness; the free resources and course that Yoginis Yoga are offering.
  • 1 Video

    Sue Hartley and Katie Brennan on Yoga and mindfulness for children

    Susan Hartley and Katie Brennan set up Yoginis Yoga Training Ltd in 2006 and have been delivering yoga sessions and training to schools and nurseries ever since.