Caitlin

Nursery Manager, BA & MA Early childhood studies. Passionate about early years, specifically good starts and resilience.

[Mary Moloney @MaryMoloneyie]

@Mr_PaintPots Instead of children being ready for school - whatever that means - how about schools being ready for children? They are not adults in the making. They're children in the here and now, primed for learning, but in a way that works for them. Play-based, active, hands-on experiential

[Naomi Fisher @naomicfisher]

When I became a mother, I lost half my thoughts. The second half.

I mustn’t forget to….Mummy!
I wonder if…oops, don’t worry, we can mend it.
I’d like to read…hang on, I’m coming.
Next I’m going to…yes I’m watching you.

I tried to hang on to finish them later. They refused. After interruption, they evaporated. They floated away, each with a trailing end like the string on a slightly deflated balloon.

And it was as if my brain fragmented. Each interruption left me with splinters. I gave up on starting thoughts, to avoid the agony of incompletion. My ability to complete an action faded as the possibility of completing a thought vanished.

I would open the fridge and forget why. Enter a room unable to remember what I was looking for. Turn the page of a book and have no idea what had gone before. I would be talking and lose my drift, half way through a sentence. I’d apologise, but it had gone. People’s names would disappear into smoke. My mind fell into pieces.

I went into suspended animation, always waiting for the interruption. Always with an eye out, an ear open. Never start anything too serious, or too thoughtful, because the break would be too painful.

Keep it light. Keep it dull. Keep it trivial. Don’t think too much.
Always ready to drop everything.

When I became a mother, I lost half my thoughts. Somewhere, the unfulfilled ends of my thoughts are floating.
I wonder if
one day I’ll get them back.

[Ann Marie Christian FRSA @Annmariechild]

No Surprises here. Please read this; it explains what we experience across the country working on the frontline #safeguardingeveryday https://t.co/q406giKdZA

[Mary Moloney @MaryMoloneyie]

In the absence of adequate funding and comprehensive strategy for the profession, a public model is not the panacea people think. Reality check: Ireland does not meet the international investment target of 1% of GDP in ECEC. https://t.co/UwU50FbD3V

[Early Education and Childcare Coalition @CoalitionEdCare]

NEW @TheIFS report on education spending reveals current funding rates for 3 & 4 years olds is worth about 15% less in real terms than it was in 2013.

Providers need fair funding to meet increasing demand.

We need a new independent Funding Review Body to help set rates in line with inflation, overall rises in staffing costs & other pressures.

https://t.co/1AiOOxZnXH

[David Wright @Mr_PaintPots]

@AaronTeamEC It's crumbling across the whole country, Aaron, and that's before April when the employers' NI contributions increase kicks in. We're still waiting for an EY workforce strategy. Meanwhile, sustainability, retention & recruitment crises continue.

[Richard Osman @richardosman]

'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' by Wham was released nearer to the end of the Second World War than to today. Happy New Year everyone!

[Dr Mine Conkbayir MBE @MineEYMind]

While some of you were counting the days to Christmas (myself included - I may be THE biggest Christmas fan!), I was counting down to tonight...

Because I am now permitted to share that I have been honoured with an MBE ‘for services to early years’!!!

https://t.co/aVA5olHxuL

[Debbie Hampton @dlhampton]

Being Kind to Others Improves Brain Function, Stanford Study Shows https://t.co/AuIjwhMOsI

[Gingerbread @Gingerbread]

The latest CMS stats shows that problems with the CMS persists. Total arrears now stand at £682.1 million, confirming the findings from our latest report that children are going without. We're calling on the government to #FixTheCMS. Join our campaign: https://t.co/9CYvHANuG8

[Parent-Infant Foundation @ParentInfantFdn]

New All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Babies launched!👶The new Group's purpose is to champion the needs of vulnerable babies & will be led by the elected officers @mayaellisuk @elsieblundell Freddie van Mierlo MP & Patrick Spencer MP. Details👇 https://t.co/91OIqsyhQL

[Institute for Employment Studies @EmploymtStudies]

Can early intervention improve the current lack of STEM skills & interest for future labour markets? Read our latest evaluation report on @PeepleCentre's initiative, which aims to help practitioners & parents support 3-5 year olds with early STEM learning: https://t.co/LLJM8BuoNu

[Mona Sakr @DrMonaSakr]

Babies thrive when we offer them effective co-regulation, lending them our executive function to soothe the stress response together. https://t.co/dBSB6MvNUA

[The Sutton Trust @suttontrust]

Just 20% of families earning less than £20,000 a year have access to the expansion of funded early years places, compared to 80% of those with household incomes over £45,000.

Access to high quality early education for all children is crucial in closing the attainment gap.

[Dr Sue Allingham #Birthto5Matters @DrSue22]

So here we are, 1st December which means it is time for my Early Years Out of the Box Advent Calendar! And we are starting with one of my favourite quotes from #bronfenbrenner would love you to share your stories of any children you are crazy about!
#earlyyears #earlychildhood

[Kate Mansey @KateMansey]

Here are some pictures that the talented #LizHatton took for @thetimes and one of @MarkCavendish at Windsor Castle… please share in memory of Liz…

[The British Prince @freedom_007__]

@2ndtimeMama Prince William and Sir Mark Cavendish

#LizHatton 🕊️😔 #RIP

[PumpkinsandPost-Its @2ndtimeMama]

#LizHatton

[Kate Johnston @KateJohnston3]

From Sure Start to youth centres, cutting children’s services is a false economy https://t.co/VyxAGhvvL1