Local authorities:
Working across Brent ,Harrow ,Wandsworth, Merton and Hammersmith & Fulham
Overview:
The Mount Stewart Early Years Stronger Practice Hub exists because the first five years of a child’s life matter enormously and everyone around a child has a role to play in giving them the best possible start.
We bring together research, evidence and real-world Early Years experience to help people across the sector understand what works, share good practice and turn ideas in to meaningful change.
Whether we are working with a nursery, a school, a local authority, a leader, a practitioner or a wider partner, our focus is always the same: improving the experiences and outcomes of young children.
We connect people, ideas and expertise to create stronger Early Years practice across the region while building a voice that can influence the wider sector.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: When the adults ,organisations and communities around children are better supported, children have a better chance to thrive.
That's why we're here: to bring people together, share what works and help create better beginnings for every child.
Lead Setting:
The Mount Stewart Schools
Our Partners:
Growing Stars Nursery (PVI)
College Green Nursery School & Services (Maintained Nursery School)
Strengthening Early Years Together
We believe that Early Years is the most important stage of a child's education. The experiences children have from birth to age five lay the foundations for their future learning, wellbeing, relationships and life chances.
Every child deserves the very best start in life, regardless of their background, circumstances or where they access their Early Years education.
Across the country, the Early Years sector is facing significant challenges. Increasing numbers of children are entering nursery and Reception with delays in speech and language, communication, physical development, self-regulation, and social and emotional development. Practitioners are supporting children with increasingly complex needs, while families are navigating changing social and economic pressures.
At the same time, many children are growing up with greater exposure to screens and fewer opportunities for high-quality interactions with adults. As a result, some children are missing out on the rich conversations, meaningful relationships and play experiences that are essential for healthy development and lifelong learning.
The importance of the first five years is increasingly recognised, with growing understanding of the vital role Early Years plays in shaping children's future learning, wellbeing and life chances. This unique phase of education combines expertly planned environments, purposeful play, skilled teaching and nurturing relationships to create the strongest foundations for lifelong success. However, it is important that there remains an opportunity to ensure that every child, family and practitioner benefits from the very highest standards of Early Years education and care.
As a Department for Education Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, we are committed to helping make this a reality.
Our purpose is to champion the importance of Early Years and support practitioners, leaders and families with the knowledge, confidence and evidence-informed strategies that help children flourish.
We believe that some of the most effective solutions already exist within the sector. By identifying, sharing and amplifying strong practice, fostering professional networks and promoting evidence-informed approaches, we aim to support a culture of learning, reflection and collaboration that benefits children, families and communities.
We believe that investing in Early Years is one of the most effective ways to improve children's outcomes and reduce inequality. Every improvement we make in the first five years has the potential to transform life chances, strengthen communities and create brighter futures for generations to come.
Because when we invest in Early Years, we invest in children's futures.