The Voice of Early Childhood2 Juni 2025

Cultivating a sense of belonging

Ryan Bradshaw emphasises the importance of fostering a sense of belonging in early childhood education. He shares his personal journey and experiences, highlighting the impact of belonging for both children and educators. Ryan advocates for greater male representation in the early years sector and discusses ways in which professionals can cultivate connection, belonging and promote diversity.

Read Ryan's article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/cultivating-a-sense-of-belonging/

This episode is in partnership with Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs.

Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs advocate for greater male participation in education and caregiving roles, offering support and guidance to enhance gender inclusion in nurseries and schools.

To find out more visit: https://malechildcareandteachingjobs.co.uk/

Listen to more:

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

What is it like being a man in early years? – Kevin Nelson https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/what-is-it-like-being-a-man-in-early-childhood/

Exploring career challenges for male educators in early childhood – Mattie Paul Winfield https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/exploring-career-challenges-for-male-educators-in-early-childhood/

Plus hear and read more on men in early childhood: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/articles/men-in-early-childhood/

Get in touch and share your voice:

Do you have thoughts, questions or feedback? Get in touch here! – https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/

Episode break down:

00:00 – Welcome!
02:30 – A sense of belonging for adults
08:30 – Psychological safety
10:30 – Finding who you are as a person
13:00 – Fear of rejection
14:30 – A world without labels
16:00 – It's ok not to fit into a space
15:00 – Children feeling psychologically safe
20:00 – Giving freedom to children with SEND
23:00 – Feeling seen and heard
26:00 – Fostering connection
29:00 – Leaders feeling safety and belonging
34:00 – Create your own space to belong
34:30 – We don't just teach we transform

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(173)

More than a school-leaver's route: Why apprenticeships are becoming a retention strategy in early years

Apprenticeships are often viewed as an entry route for young people, but they can also provide a valuable pathway for developing and retaining existing early years staff. This article and podcast epis...

28 Sep 37min

Are our expectations of children in early childhood evidence informed?

What does it really mean for a child to be 'school ready', and are the expectations we place on children actually informed by evidence? Adam Marycz explores how policy, accountability and long-held as...

22 Sep 46min

Reimagining outdoor learning: Understanding agency from risk to resilience

This podcast episode and article are a research-informed exploration of how outdoor environments, adult language and risk narratives shape children's agency. Drawing on the Reimagining Outdoor Learni...

14 Sep 42min

Marketing your early childhood setting is an investment, not a cost

This article and podcast episode explore why marketing should be viewed as an investment rather than a cost, why profitability matters for sustainability, the role a setting's website plays in both oc...

7 Sep 39min

Beyond the diagnosis: Navigating the SEND journey with families

Receiving a SEND diagnosis is a transformative moment for families. This podcast episode and article explore how practitioners bridge the gap between statutory requirements and empathetic support, emp...

31 Aug 24min

Early childhood safeguarding changes 2026: Moving beyond compliance to a culture of safety

Maggie Bolger and Ann Marie Christian explore the changing safeguarding landscape in early childhood, including KCSIE, the EYFS, safer recruitment, reporting concerns and the September changes. They a...

24 Aug 1h 2min

From Behaviour to signal: A different way to understand children

Many childhood behaviours labelled as difficult, oppositional or defiant may make far more sense than we realise. This article and podcast episode explore a biological perspective on defiance, screens...

18 Aug 56min

The brain that loves to laugh

Laughter is often treated as a pleasant extra, or even a distraction from learning. Drawing on their work across psychology, education, health and community contexts, Dr Jacqueline Harding and Dr Jawa...

17 Aug 46min