VIRTUAL EVENT: Transforming Early Childhood Education in England: Towards a Democratic Education
This event will explore the new book ‘Transforming Early Childhood in England: Towards a Democratic Education’. Join us to hear more about the book, discuss the issues it raises and feel inspired by practical examples.
This event is free, to book please click here.
Transforming Early Childhood in England – UCL Press
Early childhood education and care has been a political priority in England since 1997, when government finally turned its attention to this long-neglected area. Public funding has increased, policy initiatives have proliferated and at each general election political parties aim to outbid each other in their offer to families. Transforming Early Childhood in England: Towards a Democratic Education argues that, despite this attention, the system of early childhood services remains flawed and dysfunctional.
To order a copy of the book or to download your free copy, click here
A briefing for the book can be found here

This project is about everyday life in the midst of a pandemic. We are working with our partners Born in Bradford, a cohort study aiming to reduce health inequalities, to examine the social, economic and health impacts of COVID-19 on family life with young children.
Full details can be found here

As part of our ActEarly collaboration in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, we’ve been working with the inspirational Bromley by Bow Centre to explore what makes happy and healthy children. The aim of this stream of work is primarily to set the agenda for the ActEarly research priorities across Tower Hamlets, to build stronger relationships between researchers, residents, and organisations in the area, as well as to begin co-produced action based on the identified priorities.
This short documentary highlights the adverse impact of poor air quality on health. The video was recorded in Bradford and captures the views of children, parents, researchers, school staff and clinicians in an engaging and informative way about the invisible issue of air pollution.
Please click here to see the full video
On 20 March 2020, UK schools closed their gates to all but the children of essential workers and those deemed most vulnerable. As of 15 May, this remained the case; should the progress of the pandemic permit, some more children might be allowed to return at the start of June.
Please click here to read the report published by The Institute for Fiscal Studies