June O'Sullivan

Early Childhood Education and Care sits at the centre of some of the most urgent challenges of our time, from poverty and inequality to social cohesion. Yet too often, early education systems reproduce these inequalities rather than disrupt them. This book argues that it does not have to be this way. Drawing on international research, neuroscience and decades of practice, Dr June O’Sullivan OBE presents the social justice pedagogy she developed through the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF). At its heart is a simple but powerful idea: fairness must be designed into systems, relationships and everyday practice, and judged by how far it expands children’s life chances. Covering leadership, quality, children’s rights, pedagogy and the art, craft and science of Early Years teaching, the book sets out a vision for community-based, multi-generational education rooted in inclusion, equity and compassion. Through case studies, reflective questions and the seven interwoven strands of the LEYF approach, the chapters show how values can be translated into everyday practice including: • Leadership for Excellence, weaving sustainability throughout • Spiral Curriculum • Enabling Environments • Harmonious Relationships • Safe, Fit and Healthy • Home Learning Engagement • Multi-Generational Community Approach Offering a practical framework for designing early education systems that can be adapted, replicated and scaled to better serve disadvantaged children, families and communities, this is essential reading for educators, leaders and policymakers.

Early Childhood Education and Care sits at the centre of some of the most urgent challenges of our time, from poverty and inequality to social cohesion. Yet too often, early education systems reproduce these inequalities rather than disrupt them. This book argues that it does not have to be this way. Drawing on international research, neuroscience and decades of practice, Dr June O’Sullivan OBE presents the social justice pedagogy she developed through the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF). At its heart is a simple but powerful idea: fairness must be designed into systems, relationships and everyday practice, and judged by how far it expands children’s life chances. Covering leadership, quality, children’s rights, pedagogy and the art, craft and science of Early Years teaching, the book sets out a vision for community-based, multi-generational education rooted in inclusion, equity and compassion. Through case studies, reflective questions and the seven interwoven strands of the LEYF approach, the chapters show how values can be translated into everyday practice including: • Leadership for Excellence, weaving sustainability throughout • Spiral Curriculum • Enabling Environments • Harmonious Relationships • Safe, Fit and Healthy • Home Learning Engagement • Multi-Generational Community Approach Offering a practical framework for designing early education systems that can be adapted, replicated and scaled to better serve disadvantaged children, families and communities, this is essential reading for educators, leaders and policymakers.

A multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to the well-being of young children to support child development modules on a variety of programmes. The emotional, physical and social well-being of young children is a prime area of the new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and is at the forefront of current policy and debate. This text goes beyond issues of safeguarding to address how the well-being of young children can be affected by a range of circumstances and how well-being is promoted by professionals from a variety of disciplines. It looks at various aspects of well-being in the young child from a number of perspectives, and examines key issues such as special and additional needs, poverty and deprivation, abuse, race, ethnicity and culture.

"Bravo! This book brilliantly meets the moment." – Julie Nicholson, Mills College and Co-Director, Center for Equity in Early Childhood, USA"A lovely insightful exploration of leadership through a social justice lens." – Lord Victor Adebowale, UKAcross the world, organisations in early childhood education (ECE) face major organisational challenges, including staff recruitment, retention and wellbeing, in the context of sectoral fragmentation and under-investment. These issues impact negatively on the experience of children, staff, parents and the wider community. Social leadership is a new model of leadership that aims to address these challenges by refocusing leadership through a much stronger social justice lens and a community. It highlights the significance of warm and inclusive modes of leadership as a means of driving positive change. Based on in-depth interviews with renowned global leaders in ECE, this book provides an introduction to the six-element model of social leadership and shows how it can be developed and implemented by organisations, training bodies and educational institutions. Written in accessible language and illustrated with original international case studies the book begins a much-needed dialogue about how we can work from within ECE to overcome the workforce and sectoral hurdles we face.

"Bravo! This book brilliantly meets the moment." – Julie Nicholson, Mills College and Co-Director, Center for Equity in Early Childhood, USA"A lovely insightful exploration of leadership through a social justice lens." – Lord Victor Adebowale, UKAcross the world, organisations in early childhood education (ECE) face major organisational challenges, including staff recruitment, retention and wellbeing, in the context of sectoral fragmentation and under-investment. These issues impact negatively on the experience of children, staff, parents and the wider community. Social leadership is a new model of leadership that aims to address these challenges by refocusing leadership through a much stronger social justice lens and a community. It highlights the significance of warm and inclusive modes of leadership as a means of driving positive change. Based on in-depth interviews with renowned global leaders in ECE, this book provides an introduction to the six-element model of social leadership and shows how it can be developed and implemented by organisations, training bodies and educational institutions. Written in accessible language and illustrated with original international case studies the book begins a much-needed dialogue about how we can work from within ECE to overcome the workforce and sectoral hurdles we face.

_______________The 50 Fantastic Ideas series is packed full of fun, original, skills-based activities for Early Years practitioners to use with children aged 0-5. Each activity features step-by-step guidance, a list of resources, and a detailed explanation of the skills children will learn. Creative, simple, and highly effective, this series is a must-have for every Early Years setting. Teach children to reduce, reuse, recycle, repair and be respectful with 50 fun activities for encouraging environmental sustainability. From making planters and bird feeders to creating natural paints or even bringing broken crayons back to life, these original ideas encourage children and practitioners to see the potential for creativity and fun using and reusing everyday, easy-to-source items, some of which might have otherwise gone to waste. Enhance children’s creativity, cognitive development and motor skills through indoor and outdoor activities that are enjoyable, educational and environmentally friendly. 50 Fantastic Ideas for Sustainability encourages children to be considerate and responsible, paving the way for a positive lifelong attitude towards the environment. June O’Sullivan and Nick Corlett bring their expertise from the London Early Years Foundation to this must-have collection of inspiring, sustainability-focused activities.

**Nursery World Award finalist** From a leading voice in the early years community comes an accessible, dip in, dip out guide to all the hot topics in the sector. Born from questions raised on her early years blog, June O’Sullivan brings a combination of advice, good humour and plain speaking to address themes that come up time and time again. With entries ranging from apprenticeships to inspection, pedagogy to social enterprise, this wise and entertaining book will encourage conversation and change. From nursery managers to newly qualified teachers to experienced practitioners and educators, it has something for everyone. Ideal to read with a cup of tea when you’re snatching a 10 minute break.

**Nursery World Award finalist** From a leading voice in the early years community comes an accessible, dip in, dip out guide to all the hot topics in the sector. Born from questions raised on her early years blog, June O’Sullivan brings a combination of advice, good humour and plain speaking to address themes that come up time and time again. With entries ranging from apprenticeships to inspection, pedagogy to social enterprise, this wise and entertaining book will encourage conversation and change. From nursery managers to newly qualified teachers to experienced practitioners and educators, it has something for everyone. Ideal to read with a cup of tea when you’re snatching a 10 minute break.

The 50 Fantastic Ideas series is packed full of fun, original, skills-based activities for Early Years practitioners to use with children aged 0-5. Each activity features step-by-step guidance, a list of resources, and a detailed explanation of the skills children will learn. Creative, simple, and highly effective, this series is a must-have for every Early Years setting. Children benefit from the sensitive and supportive engagement of both their parents from the earliest of ages, but involving dads can be challenging. This book is designed to provide simple and accessible activities for practitioners looking to engage dads. Both June and Alice work with dads on a daily basis, helping them to understand their contribution to their children’s development and longer term educational success. Realising how they can add to what the mums or other carers do in a different but complementary way, and how simple activities can enrich their children’s lives, helps strengthen the bond between father and child. Each simple but effective idea in this book has been developed and written with the intention of promoting child and family well being, helping both children and families grow together.

_______________The 50 Fantastic Ideas series is packed full of fun, original, skills-based activities for Early Years practitioners to use with children aged 0-5. Each activity features step-by-step guidance, a list of resources, and a detailed explanation of the skills children will learn. Creative, simple, and highly effective, this series is a must-have for every Early Years setting. The outdoor environment is a rich, dynamic and natural space for promoting learning and development in children of all ages. Its value as an essential learning resource has been recognised by many government policies, including the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), particularly within the principle of ‘Enabling Environments’. In a survey of schools who had improved their grounds, 65% reported an improved attitude to learning, 73% an improvement in behaviour and 64% a reduction in bullying.50 Fantastic Ideas for Nursery Gardens is packed full of exciting activities, such as making a bird feeder and a garden treasure hunt, that have been tried and tested in the LEYF (London Early Years Foundation) nursery gardens with the children and nursery staff. These are designed to enrich children’s skills and knowledge by broadening their horizons and opening up wider opportunities, extend language and contribute to deeper conversations about the great outdoors.

In line with government initiatives, there is growing pressure within the early years sector to create staff who can lead different types of childcare and family settings in order to address two main government targets. Firstly, reducing poverty among families with small children and secondly, increasing educational opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to give them a better start in life. Many say that for this to happen we need people who can lead an effective team of capable, professional colleagues. This is no easy task in the modern Early Years market. June O'Sullivan, Chief Executive of LEYF, acknowledges the problems and provides ideas and suggestions to address the issues facing leaders so that they are supported to lead us into a future where we can all help make a big difference for a long time.

A multi-disciplinary and holistic approach to the well-being of young children to support child development modules on a variety of programmes. The emotional, physical and social well-being of young children is a prime area of the new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and is at the forefront of current policy and debate. This text goes beyond issues of safeguarding to address how the well-being of young children can be affected by a range of circumstances and how well-being is promoted by professionals from a variety of disciplines. It looks at various aspects of well-being in the young child from a number of perspectives, and examines key issues such as special and additional needs, poverty and deprivation, abuse, race, ethnicity and culture.