Nursery World - Early years sector condemns Telegraph article and unites behind Liz Pemberton's 'vital work'

The sector has rallied behind early years expert and trainer Liz Pemberton, after The Telegraph published what many consider to be a highly personal attack about her company The Black Nursery Manager, under the headline ‘Councils hire “Maoist” consultants to “decolonise minds” of nursery school children.’

Liz Pemberton: 'I want to educate people on how to embed anti-racist and inclusive practices in their work, and why it’s vital to do so in the early years sector when children are at such an impressionable age.’

The Telegraph article attacked Pemberton’s anti-racist training and views, citing references made on social media regarding ‘white privilege’.

It also highlighted that her training was paid for by Labour-run councils and called for her to be ‘defunded’.

Nursery World has subsequently learnt that Pemberton has also worked with other local authorities that are not under Labour control, including delivering a keynote speech in March for an early years celebration event for Buckinghamshire Council, which is held by the Conservatives.

Pemberton is a widely respected early years expert and a regular contributor to Nursery World, most recently writing a series on anti-racist leadership, which sets out how early years leaders can instil anti-racist practice.

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