The Voice of Early Childhood

The Voice of Early Childhood
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The Voice of Early Childhood

The Voice of Early Childhood Podcast: involving you in thought-provoking discussions around early childhood. This weekly podcast brings you discussion, reflection, debate and a window into the minds of advocates working with our young leaders of tomorrow.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Navigating the realities of business ownership in the early years sector

    This episode is sponsored by The Little Coach House and Jane Todd Nursery Business Support. Find out more here: The Little Coach House: http://www.littlecoachhouse.co.uk/ Jane Todd Nursery Business Support: http://www.janetodd.co.uk/  Working in early years is incredibly rewarding, but is it always viable? Jane Todd, an experienced early years business owner has had 5 early years related businesses; early years music classes, two nurseries, training & consultancy and an early years resources company. But how easy is it to get established in the early years sector? Speak to Dr Jane Todd at The Voice of Early Childhood Conference on 8th February 2025: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2025/  Read Jane’s article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/navigating-the-realities-of-business-ownership-in-the-early-year-sector/ If you enjoyed this episode you might also want to listen to and read: Business growth in early childhood by Jordan Tully: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/sustainable-business-growth-in-early-childhood/  Episode break down: 00:00 – The journey from education into business 04:00 – What is the Kodály approach 06:00 – Is there a ‘right time’ to open a business? 09:50 – Keeping going when it’s tough 13:00 – Why did you sell your nursery? 18:00 – Making a difference from a distance 19:00 – Don’t undersell yourself! 23:00 – You have a responsibility of making money… 26:30 – The Voice of Early Childhood Conference 2025 28:30 – Marketing yourself and your business 34:00 – Buying a closed down business 38:00 – Investing into educational resources 40:00 – Meet Dr Jane Todd in person… For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

    45 min

  2. JAN 6

    My experience with burnout as a Black manager

    A reflective piece on experiencing burnout as a Black nursery manager; recognising its signs, overcoming challenges, and fostering inclusivity and equity while prioritising mental health and sharing strategies for recovery, inclusivity, and equitable leadership practices.   Read Lorraine’s article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/my-experience-with-burnout-as-a-black-manager/ If you enjoyed this episode you might also want to listen to and read: Leaving Teaching: Dear Teaching…It’s you, not me – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contributors/eva-kyriacou-anastasi/ Educator burnout: Is this sustainable? – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/teacher-burnout/ Episode break down: 00:00 – What is burnout? 04:00 – Burnout from a Black perspective 06:20 – Racism and subconscious bias 10:30 – ‘I don’t see colour’ 14:30 – Communities and safe spaces 17:30 – A mentor that looks and sounds like me 20:00 – Tokenistic gestures 25:00 – A people first approach in business 28:00 – Support for Black leaders 30:00 – Open feedback loops 32:30 – Taking accountability 35:45 – Putting a name to how you are feeling 38:20 – Identifying burnout before it’s too late 43:00 – Taking sick days for feeling run down 44:45 – Challenging mental health stigmas 46:00 – Setting boundaries and prioritising self-care 48:00 – Delegating responsibilities 49:40 – Promoting a culture of open communication 52:00 – Celebrating small wins and reducing self-blame 52:45 – The power of positive affirmations 54:10 – Helping someone out of burnout: Empathy first 55:40 – Fostering trust in your team and business 56:45 – Policies offering real support 59:00 – Key takeaways For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

    1h 11m

  3. 12/30/2024

    What is Makaton?

    As more children need some form of augmentative and alternative communication, the use of Makaton is increasing. Rachel Makepeace, a Makaton tutor and Special Educational Needs (SEN) teacher, shares her experience of using Makaton to support children with speech, language and communication needs, as well as how Makaton has the potential to aid language development for all children.   Read Rachel’s article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/what-is-makaton/   If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: Why is my child not speaking yet? By Gillian Craig: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/why-is-my-child-not-speaking-yet/   Supporting behaviour: Reaction vs response by Cheryl Warren: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/supporting-behaviour-reaction-vs-response/   The power of play in the absence of language: Bridging language barriers for EAL children by Marlis Juerging-Coles: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/bridging-language-barriers-for-eal-children/   Episode break down: 00:00 – What is Makaton? 02:45 – Inclusivity and accessibility 03:45 – Rachel’s journey to her current role 06:00 – Additional processing time 08:00 – Working with communities and service providers 08:50 – Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) 10:40 – How early can children learn Makaton? 14:00 – Is Makaton difficult to learn? 15:55 – Is Makaton the same as sign language? 17:50 – Varied Makaton training 20:00 – Training for parents and carers 22:00 – What age group is Makaton most suitable for? 24:00 – Makaton taster sessions For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

    27 min

  4. 12/23/2024

    The value of storytelling

    In this episode and article, Olivia Corbin-Phillip encourages us to see all conversations as stories, as we are all storytellers…Olivia explains that giving children the gift of becoming storytellers is incredibly valuable; from exploring emotions in the safe space of stories, to giving children agency, choice and voice through, there is so much incredible value in building a lifelong love of stories.  Read Olivia’s article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/the-value-of-storytelling/ Attend Olivia’s workshop: Olivia will be speaking at The Voice of Early Childhood Conference on 8th February 2025, on the topic of: Using stories to build confidence & improve oracy.  To find out more visit: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2025/  Episode break down: 00:00 – What does a professional storyteller do? 03:00 – An unusual career journey!...How do you embark on a storytelling role? 03:00 – Leading with your passion 08:40 – The difference between books and storytelling 10:30 – Giving children the gift of becoming storytellers 12:20 – Visualisation in storytelling 17:20 – The ‘as is’ and ‘as if’ world 18:30 – Exploring emotions through storytelling 26:00 – Developing important life skills through stories 28:38 – Fostering a lifelong love of stories and books 30:00 – What if the adult is not confident in telling stories? 34:00 – Building on what children already know For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

    41 min

  5. 12/16/2024

    Exploring career challenges for male educators in early childhood

    Mattie talks about transitioning from one career to another and the challenges of working in both a male dominated as well as a female dominated workplace. The ups and downs are discussed, including prejudices and stereotypes, as well as making a positive impact through valuing differences, and Mattie’s current work around supporting his setting in becoming a centre of excellence. Read Mattie’s article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/exploring-career-challenges-for-male-educators-in-early-childhood/     Support for men: To support men in early childhood further, we have partnered with Male Childcare & Teaching Jobs as part of this episode and ongoing podcast series on 'men in early childhood'. Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs advocate for greater male participation in education and caregiving roles, offering support and guidance to enhance gender inclusion in nurseries and schools. To find out more visit: https://malechildcareandteachingjobs.co.uk/   Listen to more: If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: The emotional toll of gender stereotypes on male educators – Simon Airey – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/the-emotional-toll-of-gender-stereotypes-on-male-educators What is it like being a man in early childhood – Kevin Nelson – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/what-is-it-like-being-a-man-in-early-childhood/ Men in early childhood home page: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/articles/men-in-early-childhood/   Episode break down: 00:00 – From flipping burgers to leading a pre-school class 04:00 – Drastic gender imbalances in both hospitality and early childhood 09:00 – Feeling accepted and welcomed in early childhood 11:00 – Becoming a centre of excellence and re-writing the curriculum 23:50 – The value of self-reflection for personal and professional growth 26:00 – Job satisfaction and similarities between hospitality and early childhood 30:00 – Working in partnership with parents by taking a step back 35:00 – A generally positive experience of working with parents as a man 38:00 – Questions around sexuality from parents 40:00 – Role modelling differences as a positive 47:00 – Finding your own path in the early childhood profession 49:00 – Working in a service industry and making a difference to people’s lives For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

    54 min

  6. 12/09/2024

    Promoting racially just spaces in early childhood education

    Yinka Ogunnusi encourages us to be critical educators and view our practice through an anti-racist lens. From code switching, tackling the feeling of guilt and the politics of early childhood, to ‘I don’t see colour’…Olayinka shares both the practical and reflective ways in which we can create racially just spaces.  Read Yinka’s article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/promoting-racially-just-spaces-in-early-childhood-education/ Attend Yinka’s workshop: Yinka will be speaking at The Voice of Early Childhood Conference on 8th February 2025, on the topic of: Cultivating a critical approach: Targeting social justice & anti-racism.  To find out more visit: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2025/  Episode break down: 00:00 – What are racially just spaces? 02:00 – Where do we start with racial justice? 03:00 – Looking through a Bronfenbrenner lens 10:15 – ‘I don’t see colour’ and equity vs equality 13:15 – The discomfort of asking questions about race and culture 19:30 – Tackling the feeling of guilt within anti-racist practice 23:00 – Anti-racist hiring practices 26:03 – Code switching – what does this mean? 38:14 – Are children too young for conversations around racism? 43:00 – Reflecting on the power we have as educators 45:30 – Equipping children to be anti-racist 52:45 – Culture is far more than food and clothing 57:00 – Auditing our policies and procedures through an anti-racist lens 59:50 – Yinka’s conference workshop For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

    1h 1m

  7. 12/02/2024

    Quality provision for 0–2 year olds in English nurseries

    Dr Mona Sakr shares insight into ongoing research around baby room provision, aiming to bring together evidence on what quality provision looks like for 0-2-year-olds. The article introduces a small-scale study which sparked the current wider research, and the podcast episode expands on the current research.  Read Mona’s article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/experiences-of-baby-room-leaders/ Mona and her team are presenting further insight into their research at The Voice of Early Childhood 2025 Conference – find out more here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-conference-2025/ Episode break down: 00:00 – Why is more baby room research needed? 06:20 – Babies in the context of their family 07:40 – A dialogue with the sector 14:00 – Should you have a curriculum in the baby room? 16:30 – A baby is always learning 18:20 – Does learning ever end? 21:00 – Deeper interactions, questioning and noticing 24:55– Baby rooms as stressful environments 28:00 – Baby rooms as sleepy and subdued spaces 29:45 – Following a baby’s natural curiosity 32:45 – What is mind-mindedness? 39:10 – Conference workshop 39:50 – Influencing policy through research 43:07 – Working at the local level 45:30 – Shifting our language as a sector For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

    51 min

  8. 11/25/2024

    Supporting regulation in the early years: A progressive approach

    When creating their own curriculum Rosemary Lane Nursery School identified the need to highly focus on co- and self-regulation. Headteacher Jill Jones and Deputy Head Rebecca Martin discuss the need to constantly refine what they offer their children, planning for what they know, termly reviewing the curriculum and keeping it flexible. As such they are adapting their curriculum constantly. They share their main focus of identifying what they want children to achieve by the end of their time in the setting and how they can be best supported to reach those goals. Read Jill’s and Rebecca’s article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/supporting-regulation-in-the-early-years-a-progressive-approach/  This episode stems from the Education Durham Early Years Curriculum Project, which involved 26 schools focusing on strengthening purposeful curriculum design and implementation, and empowering leaders and educators in creating meaningful contexts for progressive teaching and learning.  Find out more about the Education Durham Early Years Curriculum Project: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/projects/education-durham-project/ Listen to more: If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like the episode from Jan Dubiel and Anne Brass introducing the Education Durham early years curriculum project: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-curriculum-project-part-1-the-voice-of-the-project-co-ordinator/ You might also like to read: Building sequences of learning – by Paige Hutchinson https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-curriculum-building-sequences-of-learning/  Curriculum and provision for 2-year-olds – by Charlotte Norman https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/early-years-curriculum-provision-for-2-year-olds/ Episode break down: 00:00 – The context of the nursery school and project 03:00 – Factors to consider when building a curriculum 04:00 – Termly revisiting the curriculum 07:00 – Adapting the curriculum constantly 09:00 – What do we want children to achieve? 13:40 – Characteristics of effective learning and ‘learning behaviours’ 15:55 – Co- and self-regulation in the curriculum 16:55– Resources to support self-regulation 20:25 – Active mindfulness techniques for children 22:25 – Reducing the discomfort around staff mental health 27:55 – Making links to the behaviour policy 29:25 – Advice and resources for parents and families 30:55 – Are colours helpful for identifying emotions? 35:55 – Impacts beyond the curriculum in the setting 38:15 – Continuing work of the Durham curriculum project For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

    39 min
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About

The Voice of Early Childhood Podcast: involving you in thought-provoking discussions around early childhood. This weekly podcast brings you discussion, reflection, debate and a window into the minds of advocates working with our young leaders of tomorrow.

Information

  • Creator
    The Voice of Early Childhood
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    99
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2023 The Voice of Early Childhood
  • Show Website
    The Voice of Early Childhood

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