Issue 16: May 2025
- Matthew K, Northall
- May 25
- 3 min read
Newsletter
Issue 15 - May 2025
Dear all,
We have been excited this week to begin focus group interviews for our ongoing advocacy project within the Policy, Lobbying and Advocacy Strategy Group (led by the research team which consists of Jenny Robson, Charlotte Jones and ourselves). The project includes the exploration of connections within our institutions, placements and the wider sector, supporting critical engagement with theory and policy with students, and lots of amazing approaches to celebrating our degrees and alumni.
We are looking forward to the remainder of our focus group interviews and to sharing the outcomes of these with you all. A big thank you to the participants that have been involved in the project and to all of you that have shared information during each phase. We are excited about working together and exploring ways of continuing to recognise the achievements of our graduates, showcasing the impact of their contributions. If you would like to be involved, please do contact us and we would be delighted to share information with you.
As we continue to develop the project, the strategy group is also hard at work, developing resources and engaging with activity that centres on the following four working group strands.
1. Advocacy Practice
2. Alumni Development
3. Liaison with organisations
4. External Policy Environment
We have some exciting developments to share with you soon for each strand, including the re-launch of the podcasts, and ideas about collaboration projects with alumni. We look forward to sharing these with you soon and thank you for your support of the strategy group and network.
We wish you all well and hope you are able to enjoy some down time in the coming weeks!
Best wishes
Helen Simmons and Emma Twigg (Co Vice-Chairs: Policy, Lobbying and Advocacy Strategy Group)
Volunteers Needed for the ECSDN Awards
A big 'Thankyou' to those Members who have already contacted us about volunteering for the upcoming ECSDN Awards which are being held on Friday 23rd January 2026. We are still actively looking to recruit a few more of you to be on the Working Party and/or join the Judging Panel. If you are interested in helping with this celebration of the very best early childhood research, pedagogy and practice available please complete the google form below, further details will be sent to you at a later date.
If you are unable to access the form, please email Jo at josteele@ecsdn.org
University of Wolverhampton seek External Advisor
University of Wolverhampton are entering exciting times in the home and international franchise provision arena.
To support our ambitions, we are seeking experienced education lecturers with an interest in quality assurance to be an External Advisor for two TNE partnership validation events we will be facilitating over the coming months for a BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies 'top up' and Master's in Education
The activities take place virtually and UKVI checks can be done virtually as well. Each validation event attracts a fee of a minimum of £200, and there is scope to participate in either one or both validation events over the coming months.
For more information, or to apply for any of the roles, please send an up to date CV to FayeStanley@wlv.ac.uk and J.Worsley@wlv.ac.uk
Early Education: Early Years Conference 2025
Professionalisation and Workforce Subgroup Drop In - 2 June at 2pm
Following the AGM, the PAWS group will be holding an online session to explore how HEIs deliver the Graduate Practitioner Competencies, and work-based learning pathways more broadly, considering things such as how we manage time and costs in a challenging HE climate. Colleagues from Anglia Ruskin will talk through their approach and we invite others to collaborate and share ideas.
Please email josteele@ecsdn.org to book and receive joining instructions.
We will also use the session as a chance for people to begin feedback on the requirements of the competencies in line with the wider review that will be taking place over the next year or so.
All the best Verity and Sam
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