Issue 18: June 2025
- Matthew K, Northall
- Jun 23
- 5 min read
Newsletter
Issue 18 - June 2025
Welcome to this week’s newsletter.
You will see, once again, that significant work has been going on within the network.
We are delighted to see the launch this week of the new “School Readiness Matters”
publication – a joint publication with TACTYC and which many of the executive and our
members have contributed to. Please do share far and wide so that this can gain the
traction that the document, and our children, get the recognition deserved.
In addition to this we are still working hard on the organisation of the ECSDN awards.
We would still benefit from volunteers to be on the working party for this, to serve as
judges and of course we need you to nominate those you know who deserve to be
recognised at this prestigious national event. Details of this can also be found in the
newsletter below.
As the summer approaches and marking and exam board season is creeping up on us,
we would like to wish you a restful weekend - hopefully the sun shines!
Tanya and Aaron
Nominations for the ECSDN Awards are now live!
It is time to nominate either yourself or someone else!
Head over to the website using the link below;
ECSDN Awards are free and open to all membership institutions to nominate to the
following categories:
· Graduate of the year
· Outstanding Early Childhood practitioner of the year
· Researcher of the year
· Placement provider of the year
· Mentor of the year
· Early Childhood advocate of the year
· Publication of the year
· Social impact of the year
· Best innovation / practice with babies of the year
· Early Childhood transformation of the year
Closing date for nominations is Midnight on 30th September 2025.
Help us spread the word about this campaign by copying this image and sharing it on your socials
Show your support for babies and sign this letter today.
https://thebabyroom.blog/2025/06/19/to-show-your-support-for-this-letter-add-your- name-and-organisation-as-a-comment/comment-page-1/#comment-11
You are invited to a workshop on 'Child Sexual Exploitation', as part of the Childhood Seminar Series, to be held at the University of Suffolk
We are thrilled to welcome Lawrence Jordan, Deputy CEO of the Marie Collins
Foundation.
Lawrence brings over 20 years’ experience in children’s social care, with the past
decade focused on children who have been exploited, reported missing, or trafficked.
The Marie Collins Foundation is a national specialist charity working to improve
outcomes for children abused through the use of technology. Lawrence’s work has
earned him two national awards, and he continues to be a registered social worker and tireless advocate for safeguarding children.
This free workshop is an unmissable opportunity to deepen your understanding of how control is exercised in child sexual exploitation, and the impact this has on the lives of children and young people. Please see details below:
🎓 Understanding Control in Child Sexual Exploitation
📅 Wednesday 3rd July 2025
🕙 10:00 – 13:00
📍Join in person at the University of Suffolk or online
This session promises to be insightful, thought-provoking, and practically relevant for
anyone working with or studying to work with children and families.
👉 Book your free place now and choose to attend in person or online using the
Eventbrite link here.
Please do feel free to share this event widely with your networks and colleagues or
students who may be interested.
We look forward to seeing you there! Till then, have a wonderful summer ahead!
Best regards,
Pallawi and Carolyn
(Seminar Series Organisers)
Call for Participants: Research on Early Years Graduate Professionals' Identity
Are you an Early Years Graduate Professional working in the private sector?
Your Voice Matters!
I am seeking participants for my research that contributes to my Doctoral thesis at the
University of Sheffield, exploring:
"How do contextual and temporal factors operating on multiple levels influence
Early Years Graduate Professionals’ perceptions of their professional identity?"
Why Participate?
This research aims to give a voice to Early Years Graduate Professionals and shed
light on the various factors shaping professional identity over time. By participating, you
will contribute to raising the profile of your profession and ensuring that voices from
the private sector are heard and acknowledged.
Who Can Participate? To be eligible, you must:
Hold an Early Years Graduate qualification (such as EYT, EYP, or an Early Childhood
Studies Degree).
Work within a private day nursery.
What’s Involved?
Duration: Up to 10 months 🗣️ Reflect on your own professional identity and how it is
impacted by factors such as relationships, organisational structures, and context
over time.
Your participation will provide valuable insights into the changing nature of
professional identity within the Early Years sector.
Interested?
For more details, please contact Katie Cobb at klcobb2@sheffield.ac.uk or complete the
expression of interest form at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/
Let’s shape the future of Early Years Graduate Professionals together!
School Readiness Matters
Kerrie Lee, University of Hull, has edited this amazing document called School
Readiness Matters alongside Viki Veale as part of a small coalition of groups.
The document is free to download and there is an option to purchase.
The link to the document is here:
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
Early Childhood Studies Degrees Network: Student Publishing Opportunity - 14th Call for Student Papers
The requirements for the student publications are as follows:
Level 4 Reflection on aspect of practice/ role of the student practitioner: Word limit
1000-1500
Level 5 View or commentary on a contemporary issue: Word limit 2000 – 2500
Level 6 Report on leading practice underpinned by research or a reflection on the
author’s own research: Word limit 3000 – 3500
Level 7 Report on author’s recent or current research findings: Word limit 4000 - 4500
Criteria for selection:
Relevance of topic or theme in the context of Early Childhood Studies
Use of appropriate sources from literature
Satisfactory quality of academic writing.
For Master’s level submission the work must be based on a small piece of original
research (documentary evidence or original data). The submission must include a
brief justification of research methodology used.
Tutors must confirm with the selection committee that they have approved the
submission by signing the application and sending the submission from their
university email account.
Guidance for submitting papers
Please visit this page to view guidance and submit papers:
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