If we follow a no-risk, rigid strategy for a curriculum in the early years we could create a sterile, boring environment aimed at average ability children, giving staff little room for creativity and expression.
I am convinced that further education for staff in the early years is the midwife that will deliver better ways of working from an old body of traditions and practices.
There is still some scepticism about early childhood studies degrees and EYP status. I think the doubters are wrong, and are ignoring the great potential of the early years workforce.
Many committed nursery nurses have been working with young children for decades without proper recognition of their intellectual abilities, their understanding of children's learning, or their insight into the complexity of managing group care. There are thousands of bright people in the workforce who either did not get to realise their talents in school, or left school early and chose nursery nursing because it allowed them to start earning money at a young age.
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