Centre for Early Childhood

Giving babies a voice.

Today, we are announcing further investment in our work to bring the Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) to the UK.

Following the publication of a highly positive evaluation which recommends the approach is commissioned across the country, we will fund the Institute of Health Visiting to develop a guide to commissioning ADBB, create new resources tailored to a UK audience, and establish a national ADBB Community of Practice.

The evaluation found that ADBB training strengthens understanding of infant social withdrawal and increases practitioner confidence in observing and interpreting babies' behaviour. Health visitors reported feeling better equipped to articulate the baby's perspective and "give the baby a voice" in conversations with families.

By helping practitioners and families understand what babies are communicating from the very start, we can identify where additional support may be needed earlier. This helps build a culture of care and warm, nurturing relationships from the very beginning, giving every baby the best possible start in life and helping to shape the rest of their lives.

Read more on our website: centreforearlychildhood.org/news-insights/news/cen…

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2 weeks ago | [YT] | 96

Centre for Early Childhood

"It is vital to preserve the spirit of childhood alongside healthy development. Childhood is foundational in developing a healthy balance between mind, body and spirit. But children are not simply learners of information. They don’t analyse joy but live it; they don’t intellectualise connection, but embody it. They experience the world through feeling – through love."

Read the full essay by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales on the Centre for Early Childhood's website: centreforearlychildhood.org/news-insights/guest-es…

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 116

Centre for Early Childhood

Play is powerful.

It encourages babies and young children to develop the social and emotional skills that help shape the rest of their lives.

From building and pretending to running and exploring, every playful moment supports curiosity, creativity, and connection.

Happy International Day of Play!

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1 month ago | [YT] | 88

Centre for Early Childhood

We are delighted to let you all know that Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development is now available in audio.
With huge thanks to Shaping Us Champion, Giovanna Fletcher, for narrating it so beautifully.
Social and emotional skills shape who we are from the very earliest moments of life. Designed to support those working with babies, young children and their families, this guide makes it easier to explore the evidence, insights and practical guidance wherever you are.
Thank you, Giovanna!
Listen to the full guide on our resource hub: centreforearlychildhood.org/help-resources/resourc…

1 month ago | [YT] | 69

Centre for Early Childhood

Social and emotional skills shape who we are, how we manage our emotions and thoughts, and how we communicate and relate to others.

These skills begin to take shape from the earliest months of life and are fundamental to our health, wellbeing and relationships. Developed through loving, responsive interactions, they form the foundations that help children to grow, learn and thrive.

Our resource, Foundations for Life, sets out why social and emotional development matters so profoundly, and how these essential skills begin to take shape from the earliest months of life.

Read the full guide on our resource hub: centreforearlychildhood.org/help-resources/resourc…

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1 month ago | [YT] | 79

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 months ago | [YT] | 139

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 months ago | [YT] | 133

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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2 months ago | [YT] | 84

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 months ago | [YT] | 60

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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2 months ago | [YT] | 102