K is for Knowledge Sharing
As the early years sector continues to evolve, knowledge and experience of early education becomes ever wider. Put simply, there is more to know, more to learn and more to talk about than ever before.
Of course, not everyone always necessarily agrees when it comes to policy and practice, but what everyone does agree on is that the wellbeing of children is absolutely imperative. There are very few sectors I can think of which have such a clear-cut focus. The early years sector is united by this fundamental, powerful aim.
Sharing knowledge with parents
In recent years the wellbeing of children has been directly affected by the impact of Covid and its lockdowns. These have created new challenges for the sector and continue to have an impact as children move through education.
When it comes to supporting areas of learning such as language and communication, and physical and social development, there is now a strong focus on early years practitioners working effectively in partnership with parents.
This involves establishing trust with parents, keeping them fully informed about their child’s progress in the nursery and finding ways to support the home learning environment.
Nurseries now have more contact with parents than ever before, whether that is face-to-face or online, and feedback suggests that parents are more willing to engage and share their own knowledge of their child. Within regular conversations, much knowledge can be shared.
Evidence-based practice
Over the past decade, great strides have been taken in making the education sector more research-informed. Data suggests that using research as a part of training is related to higher teacher and school performance, and that evidence-informed practice can lead to improvements in pedagogy and confidence.
In the early years sector too, settings are increasingly keen to have an evidence base which supports their approach and to ensure that staff have a solid understanding of child development. The Government has invested a significant amount in research-informed practice, including funding the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and the Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs programme.
But even with the right tools and methodology, having skilled practitioners is key to implementing and adapting any research programme. With this in mind, improving the training and qualifications of the workforce remains a key aim for the sector, despite times currently being tough.
To make a tangible impact, many nursery leaders now recognise that practitioners who work face-to-face with children need to have a good understanding of both child development theory and how to put this into practice. This is not just the responsibility of the management team.
Nurseries which have a children’s or family centre attached to them provide a good model because they can provide an integrated care approach. It seems likely that broader family support will continue to be a core part of the EYFS. How best to support families and offer early intervention is a worthy focus for future research. This is reflected in initiatives such as the Royal Foundation’s Centre for Early Childhood.
Nursery World and knowledge sharing
As the sector’s leading publication and website, Nursery World takes its responsibility to share knowledge very seriously – and its coverage reflects the greater value that is now being placed on collaboration and debate. We prioritise on providing a platform for many different voices – across early educators at all levels, academics, trainers, health professionals, researchers and more.
The ambition to build greater knowledge – whether that is in inclusion and SEND, children’s learning and development or understanding how policy and politics affects management and business – is both challenging and rewarding.
The challenge is to identify the information that is needed and go to the right place for it, while avoiding information overload! The reward is that there are now so many rich sources of information, including real and virtual channels for conversations, research and opinion.
At Nursery World we aim to pull these together in an accessible format. As the magazine gets ready to celebrate its centenary in 2025, the saying ‘knowledge is power’ continues to resonate! You can subscribe to Nursery World here.
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About the Author
Karen Faux is the editor of Nursery World, the UK's leading magazine for early years education. With extensive experience across various editorial roles, she brings in-depth knowledge to her work, serving a readership of over 100,000 professionals in early education and childcare through comprehensive news and practical features.
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