Nursery World - Helen Moylett: Obey or be cancelled, what’s happened to healthy debate?

In light of claims that the DfE is monitoring the social media activity of some early years experts, early years consultant Helen Moylett has urged people not to be silenced as 'healthy debate forms part of good policy information'.

Recently it was revealed that the Department for Education (DfE) is monitoring the social media activity of leading early years experts.

This came to light when Ruth Swailes and Dr Aaron Bradbury were told in March this year that they were ‘unsuitable’ to speak at a conference launching a DfE Stronger Practice Hub.

Who in their right mind would find Ruth and Aaron unsuitable? They both have outstanding track records as practitioners and advisers and both are inspirational speakers.

They are also the editors and authors of the bestselling ‘Early Childhood Theories Today’. Unsurprisingly the organisers refused to run the conference without them.

After some negotiation, DfE agreed Ruth and Aaron could speak but only with a senior Government official present!

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