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ECSDN Reflective Blog and Newsletter
Welcome to the reflective blog and Newsletter
The ECSDN reflective blog is a space for members and students to contribute to the discourse of young children, their care, learning and development. You will find our newsletter in the navigation menu below.
The Power of Early Childhood Settings in Supporting the Developing Professional
Introduction “Completing the competencies has allowed me to reflect on my values as a practitioner and think about how this will influence my future practice.” Kaitlin Toland – ECGPC Graduate 2023 - Inspiring and aspiring the future early years workforce involves having a unique set of characteristics and dispositions which incorporates promoting best practice. Through shared principles and values, we are able to celebrate and acknowledge the valuable role of the student and
Dr Faye Stanley
Apr 145 min read
The Department for Education (DfE) Release New Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Guidance
Today the DfE has published the training provider guidance for the new Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeships (EYTDA), marking a...
ECSDN
Mar 24, 20252 min read
Welcome to our level 4 and 5 members
I was fortunate enough to attend the ECSDN AGM on Friday, 21st March, and I found myself nodding as Dr. Mary Moloney spoke passionately...
Deborah Nye
Mar 24, 20252 min read
The Future of Nursery Provision by Dr Jackie Musgrave
We live in a fast-changing world, when I spoke at the All Party Parliamentary Group for a Fit and Healthy Childhood only 5 weeks ago,...
Dr Jackie Musgrave
Dec 16, 20246 min read
Student’s perspectives on the new Early Years Foundation Stage (2021) and the Birth to Five Matters (2021) documentation
It has been an interesting time in the early years sector, particularly in the past couple of years as the government have created a new...
Emma Twigg and Nyree Nicholson
Dec 16, 20244 min read
The Power of Early Childhood Settings in Supporting the Developing Professional
Introduction “Completing the competencies has allowed me to reflect on my values as a practitioner and think about how this will...
Selena Hall, Helen Lloyd and Dr Faye Stanley
Dec 13, 20245 min read
September 2026 - Issue 14
Issue 14 - September 2026 Introduction Welcome from co-chairs Welcome to the first newsletter for the new academic year. We hope that you had a wonderful summer and are feeling suitable recharged for the year ahead. We are aware that the academic year in front of us is likely to be challenging and this is where the network can be of great support and is something positive in an ever increasingly complex landscape. We have various events planned for this year; events to cel
If Play is a Child’s Right, Why Is It So Difficult to Sustain?
Play is a fundamental children's right under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN, 1998) and is central to learning, wellbeing, creativity and participation. Despite this, accountability demands, policy pressures and attainment-focused agendas continue to constrain opportunities for meaningful, self-directed play in educational settings (Bradbury et al., 2025). This raises an important question: if play is a child's right, why is it so difficult to sus
Intergenerational Practice- Sustainable connections by Dr Sandra Lyndon- University of Chichester.
A few years ago, just before the first Covid-19 lockdown, I was fortunate to be part of a small intergenerational project between a nursery school and a residential care home. Intergenerational practice is the bringing together of children and older people to create positive relationships and meaningful connections. Each week a small group of 3 year olds and nursery school staff would visit their ‘older friends’ at the care home. The visits usually lasted for 30 minutes and l
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