Rethinking Early Years: Opportunity, Tension, and the Need for Courage There is much to welcome in the current policy landscape. Commitments to family hubs, expanded childcare provision, and the introduction of breakfast clubs signal a clear intention to support child…

Early years stands at a crossroads.

Yes, there are positive policy moves.
But what’s happening in classrooms and settings tells a different story.

We need courage to rethink the system, not just manage it.

Read more 👇

nottinghaminstituteofeducation.wordpress.com/2026/04/14/r...

#EarlyYears

Love, Nurture and the Parts We Hide By Dr. Aaron BradburyIt’s been happening more and more. A message here, an email there. Sometimes after a talk or a conference, sometimes quietly in the background, away from the noise of social media...

What happens when early years educators believe in love & nurture… but feel they can’t fully show it?

Particularly for men in the sector, authenticity can come at a cost.

This is something we need to talk about.

New blog👇
www.early-years-reviews.com/post/love-nu...

The smallest moments often matter the most.

Moments of Meaning invites you to reflect, reconnect, and truly see the depth of your everyday practice.

Want to explore the true meaning of connection?

Get your copy now. www.lulu.com/shop/aaron-b...

#EarlyYears #ReflectivePractice

Something simple. Something powerful.

On 10 July 2026 we’re launching
Play Matters: Cardboard Box Day

No toys. No plans.
Just boxes, imagination, and endless possibilities.

Let’s show what play really looks like.

More info coming soon on Early Years Reviews 👀

#PlayMatters #PlayMattersBoxDay

Tamsin Grimmer & I are now offering training on the Love & Nurture Rating Scale 🌱

Supporting teams to embed relational, nurturing practice at the heart of what they do.

Available online or face-to-face.

Get in touch to find out more. Email aaronearlyyears@outlook.com

We’ve been working on the refreshed Birth to 5 Matters guidance, expanding, clarifying, and adding new sections.

Are we on the right track? Take a look and share your thoughts 👇

Draft: birthto5matters.org.uk/wp-content/u...
Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/QC5NPPB

🗓️ Closes 20 April 2026

Currently in Bangkok. That’s a wrap.
This book belongs to the teachers, assistant teachers and children who brought it to life. Pure joy on every page.

Bottling Joy in the Early Years, out June.

1 year. 60,000+ downloads. One message.
This video says it better.
To everyone who has read it, shared it, challenged it, and believed in it, thank you.
💛 This didn’t happen by chance. It happened because of you. www.early-years-reviews.com/playmatters
#PlayMatters #EarlyYears #ChildhoodMatters

🚨MY POST TODAY 🚨

To the policymakers, just a reminder that the Early Years sector exists well beyond the M25.

There’s a whole community of practitioners, leaders and researchers across the country shaping children’s lives every day.

Have a great day.

🎙️ New Podcast Episode

I recently joined Dr Karen Boardman to talk about Play Matters, why play must remain central to early childhood education and why protecting play is about protecting childhood.

🎧 Listen here:
open.spotify.com/show/5Pq6MR2...

#PlayMatters #EarlyYears

Stay connected with Early Years Reviews

Join our WhatsApp Channel for:
🟡 Play resources
🟡 Early years news
🟡 Research and articles
🟡 New publications

👉 Join here
whatsapp.com/channel/0029...

📣 New FREE resource for parents & carers
Our Play Matters: Parents & Carers Guide explains how play supports learning, development, wellbeing and connection.

Simple ideas. Real moments. Everyday play.

Download here 👇
www.early-years-reviews.com/play-matters...

#PlayMatters #EarlyYears

Ofsted experiences: performing inspection and suicidal ideations In this paper, we examine people’s experiences of Ofsted, the state school inspectorate in England. From thematic analysis of the 233 written submissions published by the Education Committee Parlia...

A powerful new paper examining educators’ experiences of Ofsted inspection has just been published.

Drawing on 233 written submissions, it explores how inspection cultures shape professional practice, wellbeing and the realities of accountability.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

If We Really Believed in Article 31, We’d Be Doing Things Very Differently By Dr. Aaron BradburyUnited Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 31Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has the right to res...

If We Really Believed in Article 31, We’d Be Doing Things Very Differently

www.early-years-reviews.com/post/if-we-r...

Hope it goes well Sue

✨ Something new is coming…

Play Matters introduces The Play Creatures 🌟

Spark. Root. Wobble.
Three stories about curiosity, belonging and bravery, written for children, rooted in play.

📚 Coming Soon

#PlayMatters #ThePlayCreatures #ChildrensBooks #ProtectPlay

It’s a free download PDF

📣 Out this week!

The Play Matters: Parent and Carers Guide to Play 💛

Co-created with parents and carers, this short guide explains, in clear, simple language, why play matters and how everyday moments support children’s learning.

Ruth Swailes and I have been quietly developing:

Joyous Journeys 🌿

A play-rich, relationship-centred curriculum with high expectations.

✨ Birth–2
✨ 2–4
✨ 5–7

Protecting childhood. Building strong foundations.

Phase One pre-order soon.

#JoyousJourneys #EarlyYears

Early years theory is still evolving. This second edition explores contemporary thinkers alongside Maslow, Bowlby, Piaget and Vygotsky, and shows how theory connects to everyday practice.

Get your copy here: amzn.eu/d/0cPW5G9D

#EarlyYears #PlayMatters

The Journal of Play & Pedagogy is live in May

A space for research, reflection, and real-world practice for children 0–8. Open access & Practitioner voice welcomed.

www.early-years-reviews.com/journal-of-p...

#PlayMatters #EarlyYears #Education #Childhood

Watch Westminster Hall debate: e-petition 729440 relating to play in the key stage 1 curriculum recorded today here:

parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Aaron Bradbury: The problem isn’t play – it’s the system - Nursery World ‘Play matters’ has become one of the most repeated phrases in early childhood, but the problem is the system does not allow play to happen in the way young children need, says Dr Aaron Bradbury.

An article I have written for Nursery World

The problem isn’t play – it’s the system

www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/opin...

Publication of the year ! Wow !

If we want more people to join the Early Years workforce, we need to bring back the JOY.

Not the paperwork.
Not the pressure.
Not the constant proving.

The joy of being with children.
Play. Development. Connection.

Pay matters. But so do conditions.
We can change this.

#EarlyYears #PlayMatters

At the APPG on Play today, myself and my colleague Karen shared how Play Matters is being used by practitioners to strengthen play-based pedagogy. With rising needs in the sector, play is more vital than ever for wellbeing, language, relationships and development.

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 15

“Following the child’s lead isn’t about losing control”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 14

“Mess usually means thinking”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 13

“That tea went cold. Again”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 12

“You answered ‘why’ more times than you can count”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals