Delivering high-quality professional development for the early years workforce and setting-level bespoke support
HEART is dedicated to helping early years providers strengthen practice, improve outcomes for children, and access free, evidence-informed professional development.
Our Early Years Learning Leads (EYLLs) have expertise in Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED), early language, and early maths. Working closely with local settings, they provide free practical support, training, and guidance tailored to the needs of their communities.
The programme is part of the government's ambition to improve outcomes for children and increase the proportion achieving a Good Level of Development by 2028, helping to ensure every child gets the best possible start in life.
By engaging with our EYLLs, you can benefit from expert support, connect with peers, share effective practice, and become part of a growing network committed to improving outcomes for young children.
Who can receive support?
Free support is available to educators and settings working with pre-reception aged children. Whether you are looking to enhance your practice, develop staff expertise, connect with other local providers, or access tailored support for your setting, express your interest by filling in the form below.
What does support look like?
Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
The Early Years Stronger Practice CPD programme is designed by early years experts and delivered locally by EYLLs to build educators' knowledge, confidence, and skills.
Participants can access:
- Subject-specific professional development for educators working with children aged 2-4, drawing on content from the Early Years Professional Development Programme (PDP3).
- Dedicated early maths and early language CPD for educators working with children under 2.
Delivered through a structured cohort model over one academic term, the programmes take a blended approach of self-directed online modules that you can complete at your own pace and EYLL-led seminars/webinars. The programme also provides opportunities to collaborate with other practitioners, reflect on practice, and learn from colleagues across the sector.
Bespoke Support
Settings can also access up to 3 days of free personalised, subject-specific support tailored to their individual priorities and challenges.
This may include:
- An EYLL working alongside your team to review and understand current practice.
- Coaching, modelling of effective practice, and opportunities for professional reflection.
- Support to develop a bespoke action plan focused on identified priorities and improvement goals.
This collaborative approach helps create meaningful and sustainable improvements that benefit both practitioners and children.
Applications for bespoke support open at the start of each term, with support delivered during the following term.
Meet the HEART EYLLs
Stephanie Lawrence, EYLL for Communication & Language
Hello,
I’m Stephanie and I’m the Communication and Language Early Years Learning Lead at HEART Stronger Practice Hub.My career began in Early Years, where I worked in a range of settings including Sure Start children’s centres, private and voluntary settings, and a school-based Foundation Stage Unit, where I worked as a teacher. I later moved into Further Education, teaching and supporting the development of current and future Early Years practitioners.
More recently, I worked in adult workforce development across the early years sector, as Senior Quality and Learning Manager on the Early Years Professional Development Programme and later as Learning and Development Lead at Tiney.
I’m particularly passionate about communication and language and the difference that high-quality interactions can make to children’s development, confidence and future learning. I’m also passionate about ensuring Early Years practitioners have access to high-quality, meaningful professional development that genuinely changes practice.
As the Communication and Language EYLL, I can support settings through observation, modelling, coaching and professional discussion - helping practitioners identify what is already working well and explore practical, evidence-informed ways to strengthen communication and language provision.
Claire Degenkolb, EYLL for Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Hello, I’m Claire
I’m an early years teacher with many years’ experience working in early years settings in schools and nurseries in Birmingham.
I’m passionate about child-centred learning and quality indoor and outdoor environment provision.
I currently work at Bloomsbury Nursery School in Nechells, Birmingham, and joined the HEART Stronger Practice Hub team in July as a PSED Early Years Learning Lead.
I’m looking forward to my new role and working for the HEART Stronger Practice Hub.
Caroline Albanese, EYLL for Mathematics
Hello,
My names Caroline and I’m the new Early Years Learning Lead for Maths at Heart Stronger Practice Hub (HSPH).
I’ve spent the vast majority of the last 24 years teaching and leading within school-based early years settings. In recent years, I’ve been an Early Years Advisor for a multi-academy trust, facilitating a variety of EYFS professional development programmes and providing school improvement and quality assurance services to early years settings across the West Midlands.
This year, in addition to my HEART role, I will also be the Assistant Maths Hub Lead for Reception for Origin Maths Hub, leading and supporting their EYFS offer. In both roles, I look forward to championing mathematical learning and development, and supporting practitioners by providing professional development and bespoke support in settings, to embed numeracy and spatial reasoning in everyday practice.