Explore every episode of the podcast Early Excellence Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| A Focus on Research Informed SEND Practice with Becky Lindsay | 02 oct. 2026 | 00:54:17 | |
Becky Lindsay joins us this week on the podcast as we discuss child-centred, research informed SEND practice. Episode Links | |||
| The New Birth to 5 Matters Document with Nancy Stewart | 25 sept. 2026 | 00:46:17 | |
Nancy Stewart joins us for this week’s episode of the podcast as we explore the new Birth to 5 Matters document following its official launch in July. We explore the new features included in the materials and also revisit the key principles which remain so central. Episode Links | |||
| The Power of Storytelling with Jules Pottle | 18 sept. 2026 | 00:49:45 | |
Join us as Jules Pottle, an expert in storytelling and education, shares innovative methods to integrate storytelling into teaching science, drama, and literacy. Discover how engaging narratives can transform learning experiences for children from early years to primary school. Episode Links | |||
| Effective Assessment in the EYFS with Stephen Kilgour | 11 sept. 2026 | 00:48:10 | |
Stephen Kilgour joins us as we discuss the key principles of effective assessment in the EYFS. Episode Links
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| Beach Schools with Rhianne Stephens | 04 sept. 2026 | 00:25:18 | |
Could regular trips to the beach be one of the most powerful things a setting can offer young children? Re-release: Originally aired on 14 Feb 2025 Rhianne Stephens from Ely and Caerau Integrated Children's Centre in Cardiff joins us to talk about their year-round beach visits and the impact connecting with nature has had on the children in their care. Episode Links | |||
| Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child with Alison Clark | 28 août 2026 | 00:45:07 | |
In a world that keeps speeding up, what does it mean to slow down — and why might that be exactly what young children need? Re-release: Originally aired on 5 May 2023 Alison Clark joins us to discuss her book Slow Knowledge and the Unhurried Child, making the case for slow pedagogies in early childhood education and exploring the pressures that work against them. Episode Links
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| Professional Love in the EYFS with Dr Jools Page | 21 août 2026 | 01:00:49 | |
What does it really mean to love the children in your care — and why does it matter so much in early years settings? Re-release: Originally aired on 31 Jan 2025 Dr Jools Page joins us to explore her research on professional love in EYFS settings, and what it looks like when practitioners get this right. Episode Links
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| Young and Old Together: Exploring Intergenerational Practice with Judith Ish-Horowicz | 14 août 2026 | 00:43:22 | |
What happens when young children and older generations share the same space — and the same daily life? Re-release: Originally aired on 13 Sep 2024 Judith Ish-Horowicz, co-founder and director of the UK's first intergenerational nursery, talks us through the inspiring work at Apples and Honey Nightingale and the benefits it brings for everyone involved. Episode Links
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| Navigating Ofsted Inspections: Insights from a Pilot School with Leanne Foster | 07 août 2026 | 00:36:46 | |
What's it actually like to go through a pilot Ofsted inspection — and what did the focus on EYFS look like in practice? Re-release: Originally aired on 30 Jan 2026 Leanne Foster shares her first-hand experience of a pilot Ofsted inspection, including the conversations her team had with inspectors and what schools can take from the process. Episode Links
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| Navigating Change in Mixed-Age Classes: Challenges for Schools and Leaders with Anne Brass and Kate Gingles | 31 juil. 2026 | 00:49:31 | |
Mixed-age classes can work brilliantly — but what happens when change is driven by necessity rather than vision? Re-release: Originally aired on 13 Feb 2026 Anne Brass and Kate Gingles join us to discuss the complexities schools face with mixed-age classes, from establishing a clear guiding purpose to navigating structural change with limited guidance available. Episode Links
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| Visual Arts in Early Childhood Settings with Dr Gai Lindsay | 24 juil. 2026 | 01:09:09 | |
What can visual art experiences really unlock for young children — and how do you make the most of them in practice? Re-release: Originally aired on 27 Mar 2026 Dr Gai Lindsay joins us to explore the rich learning opportunities that visual art experiences offer young children, with practical guidance for teachers and practitioners on bringing creativity to life in their settings. Episode Links
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| Going Screen Free in the EYFS with Lucy Fox | 10 juil. 2026 | 00:49:36 | |
Lucy Fox from Stoke Primary School in Coventry joins us for this week’s episode, as we explore the impact of screen-free practice in the EYFS. Episode Links
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| Closing the Communication Gap: Early Talk for York with Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming | 03 juil. 2026 | 00:48:35 | |
What does it look like when a whole city gets behind children's communication and language? Re-release: Originally aired on 17 Apr 2026 Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming join us to explore Early Talk for York — a citywide initiative aimed at closing the communication and language gap in young children, and what it takes to make that kind of joined-up approach work. Episode Links
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| The Power of Role Play with Becky Hoare | 26 juin 2026 | 00:42:16 | |
Role play is our focus this week as we welcome Becky Hoare to the podcast. Becky is a Primary Teacher and the Founder of Pop Up Play Village Ltd. We discuss children’s natural desire to role play what they see in the world around them. There is lots of key advice here too for developing effective and inspiring domestic role play in your setting. Episode Links
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| The Wonder of Storytelling with Ed Finch | 19 juin 2026 | 00:44:16 | |
We’re joined on the podcast this week by Ed Finch, a Headteacher with a passion for storytelling. We have a great chat about our natural desire to tell stories and the impact of this on our lives. We also explore how storytelling provides wonderfully engaging learning opportunities for our youngest children. Episode Links
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| Making Space for Play - A Conversation with Eugene Minogue | 12 juin 2026 | 00:42:58 | |
Play isn't a luxury — so why does it keep getting pushed to the margins? Re-release: Originally aired on 20 Feb 2026 Eugene Minogue, Interim Executive Director at Play England, joins us to discuss why play matters so much for children's development, the barriers standing in its way, and what a genuine cultural shift around play would look like. Episode Links | |||
| Exploring Transition and Pace with Dixie-Louise Dexter | 05 juin 2026 | 00:48:21 | |
Dixie-Louise Dexter joins us for this week’s episode as we explore effective transition processes and the value of slowing down the pace. Episode Links
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| Premature Birth, Development and Early Support with Caroline Woodman | 29 mai 2026 | 00:43:44 | |
What do educators really need to know about supporting children born prematurely? Re-release: Originally aired on 7 Mar 2025 Caroline Woodman joins us this week as we explore the impact of premature birth on children's development. Caroline shares her own story and that of her son, Reuben, who was born prematurely. She emphasises the importance of early intervention, understanding developmental challenges, and the need for educational professionals to be aware of the unique needs of premature children. Caroline also highlights the resources available for families and educators to support children like Reuben, advocating for greater awareness and understanding of the long-term effects of prematurity. Episode Links
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| Anji Inspired Play with Patana School in Bangkok | 22 mai 2026 | 00:41:38 | |
Gemma Wales and Sarah Gaughan from Patana School in Bangkok join us for this week’s episode. We discuss how their early years practice has been inspired by Anji Play and discuss key aspects such as the theory, resources, the practice and the impact on the young learners. Episode Links | |||
| Creativity, Culture and the Child with Gemma Shadid | 15 mai 2026 | 00:53:34 | |
What does child-centred creative practice really look like in the early years? Re-release: Originally aired on 9 May 2025 In this episode, Gemma Shadid joins us to explore the power of child-centred creative practice in the EYFS. We discuss the Reggio Emilia approach, the role of quality materials in art, and how sensory experiences and cultural diversity shape children's learning and identity. Episode Links
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| The Can Do Approach to Supporting Speech, Language and Communication Skills with Joanne Jones | 08 mai 2026 | 00:42:27 | |
Speech Therapist and online educator Joanne Jones joins us on the podcast this week. We discuss positive approaches to supporting speech, language and communication skills in young children. Episode Links
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| Developing an Inspiring Forest Schools Site with Charnwood Nursery and Preschool Group | 01 mai 2026 | 00:46:11 | |
Listen in as we’re joined by Jess Watson and Claire Curtis from the Charnwood Nursery and Preschool Group and discuss all things forest schools. We explore the development of their forest school site, the wonderfully rich experiences provided and the impact on their children. Episode Links
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| The Power of a Great Room Plan with Holme Valley Primary School | 24 avr. 2026 | 00:40:15 | |
What does a transformative learning environment actually look like when a room plan really comes together? Re-release: Originally aired on 16 May 2025 In this episode, we chat with Rachel Stephenson and Sue Lonsdale from Holme Valley Primary School in Scunthorpe. They share their experience of developing inspirational learning environments and reflect on the impact this had during their recent Ofsted inspection. Episode Links
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| Early Talk for York with Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming | 17 avr. 2026 | 00:48:38 | |
This week, we’re joined by Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming as we discuss a citywide initiative in York aimed at closing the communication and language gap in young children. Episode Links
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| Getting Two Year Old Practice Right with Dulwich College in Shanghai | 10 avr. 2026 | 00:48:15 | |
What does truly high-quality education for two year olds actually look like in practice? Re-release: Originally aired on 5 Sep 2025 In this episode, Andy Burt speaks with Gemma Stanton and Kate Kelly from Dulwich College Shanghai about their experiences and insights into two-year-old practice in early years education. They discuss the challenges of establishing a nurturing environment for toddlers, the importance of understanding child development, and the role of parents in the learning process. The conversation also explores the significance of creating a child-centred space and the impact of schematic play. Episode Links | |||
| The Outdoor Classroom with Kathryn Solly | 03 avr. 2026 | 00:53:18 | |
What does creating an inspiring outdoor space actually look like in early years settings? Re-release: Originally aired on 16 Jan 2026 In this episode, we explore the key features of effective practice outdoors with the inspirational Kathryn Solly. As part of the conversation, we discuss the importance of creating a positive culture towards outdoor learning and explore a broad range of rich outdoor experiences. Episode Links
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| Visual Arts in Early Childhood Settings with Dr Gai Lindsay | 27 mars 2026 | 01:10:22 | |
Dr Gai Lindsay joins us this week on the podcast as we explore the rich learning opportunities provided by visual art experiences. We discuss the wonderful nature of creative experiences for young children and offer practical guidance for teachers and practitioners. Episode Links
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| Exploring BBC Bitesize | 20 mars 2026 | 00:44:17 | |
In this episode, Jonathan Tremewan and Jess Denning from the BBC Bitesize team join us as we explore their recent projects and resources to inspire young learners. Episode Links | |||
| Birth to 5 Matters with Nancy Stewart | 13 mars 2026 | 00:45:41 | |
In this, our 200th Episode, we’re joined by Nancy Stewart. We explore Nancy’s career at the forefront of early years education and also the new updated version of Birth to 5 Matters. Episode Links
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| Wonderwood: Outdoor Learning in the Early Years with Claire Underwood | 06 mars 2026 | 00:42:42 | |
What happens when you take early years learning outside the classroom — and into the woods? Re-release: Originally aired on 24 Oct 2025 Claire Underwood shares her journey in early years education, from teaching in affluent areas to leading outdoor learning at Hopping Hill School. She introduces Wonderwood, a nature-based space that inspires creativity and connection, and reflects on the importance of adult engagement, teacher wellbeing, and belonging in early education. Episode Links | |||
| Designing Inspirational Learning Opportunities with Emma Weston | 27 févr. 2026 | 00:50:10 | |
Emma Weston is our guest for this week’s episode of the podcast. Emma is a Learning Designer at Verso International School in Bangkok. As part of the conversation, Emma takes us on a tour of their inspirational learning environments and we also explore how Emma and her team follow children’s interests, and plan fascinating projects. Episode Links
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| Exploring the Vital Importance of Play with Eugene Minogue, Interim Executive Director, Play England | 20 févr. 2026 | 00:43:06 | |
This week, we’re joined by Eugene Minogue, Interim Executive Director at Play England. We discuss the vital importance of play and the barriers to it within society. We also explore what needs to happen to create a positive cultural shift around play. Episode Links | |||
| Navigating Change in Mixed-Age Classes: Challenges for Schools and Leaders | 13 févr. 2026 | 00:49:37 | |
In this episode, Anne Brass and Kate Gingles join us to discuss mixed-age classes and the complexities schools face when change is driven by necessity rather than vision. The conversation explores the difficulty of establishing a clear guiding purpose, the pressures that can lead to structural change, and the limited guidance available for schools navigating transformation in mixed-age classrooms. Episode Links
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| Effective Outdoor Learning in the EYFS – Key Principles with Evan McCormick | 06 févr. 2026 | 00:46:09 | |
Practical guidance for planning, resourcing, and delivering high-quality outdoor learning in the EYFS. Re-release: Originally aired on 15 Nov 2024 In this episode, Evan McCormick explores the key principles of effective outdoor learning in the early years. We discuss the importance of thoughtful organisation, purposeful resourcing, and careful planning, alongside the vital role of the adult in supporting learning outdoors. The conversation focuses on creating outdoor environments that are engaging, well-structured, and responsive to children’s needs. Episode Links
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| Navigating Ofsted Inspections: Insights from a Pilot School | 30 janv. 2026 | 00:37:04 | |
This week, we’re joined by Leanne Foster as we discuss her experience of a pilot Ofsted inspection at her school. We discuss the focus on the EYFS and the conversations that Leanne and her team had with the inspectors as part of the process. Episode Links
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| The International Language of Learning | 23 janv. 2026 | 01:00:21 | |
In this week’s episode we meet with Charlotte Knight- Benjafield and Rob Spillane from Wellington College in Shanghai. We discuss their bilingual and immersive curriculum and how they use project based learning to fully embed effective learning characteristics. Episode Links | |||
| Creating Inspiring Outdoor Spaces with Kathryn Solly | 16 janv. 2026 | 00:55:05 | |
In this episode, we explore the key features of effective practice outdoors with the inspirational Kathryn Solly. As part of the conversation, we discuss the importance of creating a positive culture towards outdoor learning and explore a broad range of rich outdoor experiences. Episode Links
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| The Transformative Power of Forest Schools with Lana Webster | 09 janv. 2026 | 00:38:54 | |
In this episode, Lana Webster shares her experience of Forest School and outdoor learning, exploring how child-led experiences in nature support wellbeing, skill development, and meaningful learning. Lana reflects on creating safe, magical outdoor environments, working with families, and the positive impact outdoor provision has on both children and staff. Episode Links
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| Playful Potty Learning with Nurse Rebecca Mottram | 05 déc. 2025 | 00:40:54 | |
In this week’s episode, we’re joined by children’s Nurse and potty training expert Rebecca Mottram. Rebecca discusses the different stages of the potty training process and offers key advice for Teachers, Practitioners and parents. Episode Links
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| The Role of Play in Key Stage One Education with Ruth Lue-Quee | 28 nov. 2025 | 00:44:48 | |
Ruth Lue-Quee joins us this week to discuss her campaign to make play and continuous provision statutory in England’s Key Stage One Curriculum. As part of the conversation, we explore how learning through play is vital for young children’s learning beyond the EYFS. Episode Links
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| The Muddy Puddle Teacher's Journey with Sarah Seaman | 21 nov. 2025 | 00:31:02 | |
Discover how outdoor learning can transform teaching and inspire young minds. In this episode, Sarah Seaman, also known as The Muddy Puddle Teacher, shares her journey from traditional classroom teaching to pioneering outdoor learning. With over 17 years of experience, Sarah discusses the benefits of nature-based education, offers practical tips for teachers, and introduces her new Key Stage 1 book published by Bloomsbury, inspiring schools across the UK and beyond. Episode Links
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| Exploring Powerful Learning Through Home Corner Role Play with Amanda Belbin | 14 nov. 2025 | 00:29:48 | |
Practical ways to enrich learning and meaningful talk through home corner role play in the early years. Re-release: Originally aired on 1 Apr 2022 In this episode, Andy chats with Amanda Belbin from Bincombe Valley Primary School in Weymouth. Amanda shares how purposeful enhancements and high-quality interactions have made Home Corner Role Play a central part of their early years practice — inspiring creativity, communication, and confidence in young learners. Episode Links
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| 100 Years of Nursery World with Karen Faux | 07 nov. 2025 | 00:32:46 | |
In this engaging conversation, Karen Faux, the editor of Nursery World, discusses the magazine's significant role in early childhood education over the past 100 years. She reflects on the evolution of the publication, the societal changes it has witnessed, and the influential figures who have contributed to its content. The discussion also highlights the upcoming anniversary edition, which aims to celebrate the past while looking forward to the future of early childhood education. Episode Links | |||
| Understanding Cultural Capital in the EYFS with Nicky Turner | 31 oct. 2025 | 00:55:31 | |
Practical ways to recognise and build on every child’s cultural capital in the EYFS. Re-release: Originally aired on 3 Mar 2023 What does ‘cultural capital’ really mean in the early years? Nicky Turner from Astrea Multi-Academy Trust joins us to discuss how educators can celebrate children’s experiences, backgrounds, and interests — and use them to shape meaningful learning every day. Episode Links
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| Teaching Beyond the Classroom: Lessons from Wonderwood with Claire Underwood | 24 oct. 2025 | 00:42:54 | |
Claire Underwood shares her journey in early years education, from teaching in affluent areas to leading outdoor learning at Hopping Hill School. She introduces Wonderwood, a nature-based space that inspires creativity and connection, and reflects on the importance of adult engagement, teacher wellbeing, and belonging in early education. Episode Links | |||
| Why Rich Experiences in Early Childhood are the Key to Brain Development with Ben Kingston-Hughes | 17 oct. 2025 | 00:50:59 | |
Re-release: Originally aired on 17 Feb 2023 This week, we’re joined on the podcast by Ben Kingston-Hughes. Ben is an author, trainer, keynote speaker and also the Managing Director of Inspired Children. Our conversation takes many twists and turns but focuses on the vital importance of early childhood. Episode Links
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| From Both Sides: Exploring Key SEND Advice with Jenny Nechvatal | 10 oct. 2025 | 00:42:57 | |
This week we talk to Jenny Nechvatal about her experience as a parent of children with autism. She shares key advice for effective practice when working with children with SEND. Episode Links
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| An In-Depth Look at Physical Development with Helen Hawes | 03 oct. 2025 | 00:52:58 | |
Re-release: Originally aired on 18 Nov 2022 As one of the prime areas of learning, physical development underpins children’s overall learning and development. Yet how often do we consider children’s physical development in real depth? In this week’s episode, we talk with Helen Hawes about her support work in schools and how small changes to our practice can have a big impact for our children. Episode Links
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| Fostering Independence in Early Years Education with San Silvestre School in Peru | 26 sept. 2025 | 00:47:52 | |
The team from San Silvestre School in Lima, Peru, shares their journey in early years education, exploring continuous provision, fostering independence, and creating nurturing environments that inspire inquiry, collaboration, and lifelong learning. Episode Links | |||
| Transforming Education Through Outdoor Learning with Helen Quincey | 19 sept. 2025 | 00:52:09 | |
In this episode, Andy Burt and Helen Quincey discuss the value of outdoor learning and creating educational outdoor spaces. Helen shares her early years experience and passion for designing environments that support children’s development. They explore the process of building these spaces, their impact on engagement and learning, and the role of collaboration and community. Helen also reflects on future projects and sharing best practice in early years education. Episode Links
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