Receiving an honour for my work in early childhood education prompted me to reflect on past achievements and collaborations, while thinking about what is still needed in early childhood education and care (ECEC).
As president of Early Education, I’ve been working with colleagues to plan our centenary celebrations this year, which means looking back to look forward.
ECEC, in England, has achieved much in the last 100 years, including: a growth of nursery education from the 1920s; multidisciplinary services to support children's holistic development, including Sure Start; recognition of the importance of the workforce – with the McMillan sisters establishing a three-year training course for those working in nursery schools; the importance of outdoor learning with settings designed to allow free-flow between indoor and outside play; and acknowledgement of the centrality of families in young children's learning – with homes and communities seen as key learning spaces.
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