Centre for Early Childhood

Reggio Emilia: Day Two 🇮🇹

Another meaningful day in Reggio Emilia, seeing how the environments around a child can help support healthy early development, prioritising those spaces and places that value presence, nature and creative expression.

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 135

Centre for Early Childhood

Reggio Emilia: Day One 🇮🇹

An inspiring first day in Reggio Emilia with time spent learning more about the Reggio Emilia Approach to early childhood, discussing the Shaping Us Framework alongside leading global expertise.

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 132

Centre for Early Childhood

Reggio Emilia grew from a powerful question: What kind of future do we want for our children?

Built by a community in Italy after World War II, the approach sees children as capable, curious, and deeply connected to the world around them.

We’re excited to be visiting Reggio Emilia to talk about the importance of early childhood internationally and build a shared understanding of how we give every child the strongest possible start in life.

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Il Reggio Emilia Approach si fonda su una domanda cruciale: che tipo di futuro vogliamo per i nostri bambini?

Sviluppato da una comunità in Italia dopo la Seconda Guerra Mondiale, questo approccio considera i bambini competenti, curiosi e profondamente connessi al mondo che li circonda.

Abbiamo il piacere di visitare Reggio Emilia per parlare dell’importanza della prima infanzia a livello internazionale e per costruire una visione condivisa di come dare a ogni bambino il miglior inizio possibile nella vita.

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Centre for Early Childhood

Our Shaping Us Framework in Italian!

We’re really looking forward to introducing this work to our friends in Italy this week, and to learning more about the Reggio Emilia Approach as we exchange ideas on how best to support children’s social and emotional development.

At the heart of both the Shaping Us Framework and our Foundations for Life Guide is a simple understanding: that social and emotional skills are essential for lifelong learning, wellbeing, and belonging.

We will be posting all week about our visit to Reggio Emilia and look forward to sharing more with you as we discover more about their history, principles and reflections.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 59

Centre for Early Childhood

Today, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales visited the University of East London to mark the launch of Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development.

The visit brought together families, researchers, students and education leaders from across the UK, united by a shared commitment to strengthening understanding of social and emotional development from the very start of life.

During the visit, The Princess met Vice‑Chancellors and Further Education College CEOs who have committed to embedding this evidence‑based guide into education and training pathways. By doing so, they recognise the vital role universities and colleges play in shaping workforce capability, influencing practice across systems, and raising the status and value of the early years.

The publication of Foundations for Life coincides with the release of new research from the Centre for Early Childhood, The First Five Years: A Parent Perspective. The research shows that parents value opportunities to speak with trusted, knowledgeable practitioners and want clear, authoritative information from formal sources. When professional support is limited or brief, many parents turn to friends, family or online advice, often feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information at a time when reassurance and consistency are most needed.

Read Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development: lnkd.in/eUGssM7r

Read the research report, The First Five Years: A Parent Perspective: lnkd.in/ejDr8uxv

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 102

Centre for Early Childhood

Introducing Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development.

This new Guide brings together evidence‑informed understanding of how social and emotional development takes shape from pregnancy to age five.

Designed to be used across training, education and professional development, it provides shared foundational knowledge for those working with babies, young children and families.

Read the guide today on our brand new resource hub: centreforearlychildhood.org/helps-resources/resour…

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3 weeks ago (edited) | [YT] | 68

Centre for Early Childhood

The magical Bobeam Tree has arrived at ‪@TheLowry‬! 🌳

Little explorers have been loving the colours, sounds and stories woven through this playful installation, plus the brand‑new Jack the Dog trail leading them through the Galleries.

From sensory stops to creative conversations, it’s all designed to spark imagination in our youngest visitors.

💛 Help us spread the joy - share this post with someone who’d love a visit.

📷: Tom Doon Media/ Lowry

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2 months ago | [YT] | 62

Centre for Early Childhood

Meet Professor Iram Siraj, Professor of Child Development and Education at the University of Oxford.

As an internationally recognised academic in early childhood and primary education, Iram is working to raise awareness on the importance of the first years in lifelong wellbeing.

This International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting the experiences that shape us in a series of digital postcards. Reflecting on the impact of her work, Iram highlights how the pioneering research is helping to shape the life chances of the next generation.

To see the full postcard series 'Words that travel' visit The Royal Foundation website.

‪@RoyalFoundation‬

2 months ago | [YT] | 49

Centre for Early Childhood

‪@IKEA‬ is showing what it looks like when businesses take meaningful action.

Across the UK, many families struggle to access the essentials their babies and young children need to thrive. Securing these necessities is one of the five key areas of opportunity highlighted in our “Case for Change” business report, so it’s incredibly encouraging to see IKEA making this a priority through both local action and national influence.

Through the partnership with the Baby Bank Alliance, IKEA is:
👍 Donating £1 from every GREJSIMOJS product sold.
👍 Pairing with local baby banks to donate essential items.
👍 Using its reach, from marketing channels to social platforms, to raise awareness of baby banks and how families can access support.

This work is a powerful example of how businesses can use both their local presence and their wider influence to help ensure every child has what they need in the early years. It shows how creative, purpose‑led approaches can help close some of the most stubborn gaps faced by families.

📃 Read the report:
thebusinesscase.centreforearlychildhood.org/about/…

💡 See how your business can help secure the necessities in the early years:
thebusinesscase.centreforearlychildhood.org/opport…

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2 months ago | [YT] | 49

Centre for Early Childhood

Strengthening social and emotional skills is one of the five areas of opportunity highlighted in our "Case for Change" business report.

Earlier this month, 1,000 Early Years Cwtch Kits (cuddle in Welsh), created with Amazon for Faith in Families, were delivered to families across Swansea.

Filled with blankets, books, and sensory toys, each kit is designed to support moments of connection between parents, carers, and young children, with every kit packed by local Amazon volunteers.

This is a great example of creative, purpose-led action that makes a real difference, helping children build strong social and emotional foundations from the very start.

Read the report: thebusinesscase.centreforearlychildhood.org/about/…

See how your business can strengthen social and emotional skills in the early years: thebusinesscase.centreforearlychildhood.org/opport…

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3 months ago | [YT] | 61