Early Years School Improvement
‘No job is more important than working with children in the early years’
(DfE Development Matters).
Thriving From The Start is our commitment to giving every child the best possible foundation for lifelong learning.
Whole Education’s Early Years Leadership Programme brings together early years, primary and MAT leaders to explore what is happening for their learners, identify where they can have the greatest impact and turn that thinking into meaningful action.
The programme focuses on seven key areas:
Vision, Ambition and Curriculum
Quality of Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Children’s Learning, Progress and Wider Development
Working With Families and External Partners
Effective Use of Teaching Assistants and Wider Staff
Transition from Nursery to Reception and Reception to Year 1
Leadership, Management and Governance
Throughout the programme, we ask:
What is going on for our learners? What will have the biggest impact? What can we do differently? Have we made enough of a difference?
Connect, Learn and Lead
The programme is built around connection, collaboration and sustained professional learning.
Participants become part of a national network of early years and school leaders, with opportunities to:
Use a practical self-evaluation and action planning toolkit
Access resources, research, articles and videos through our Digital Community
Learn from national early years experts through evidence-informed professional learning
Share practice, solve problems and reflect with other leaders
Have 1:1 conversations with a Whole Education team member to reflect on progress and next steps
We are also proud to partner with The Institute for the Science of Early Years and Youth (ISEY) at the University of East London, bringing research insights and practical approaches informed by neuroscience into the programme.
Explore some of this year’s online professional learning events.
Your Year of Learning and Improvement
The programme takes leaders through a year of structured reflection, action and review.
Term One: Understand and Plan
Programme launch, self-evaluation, 1:1 reflection, action planning, professional learning and Early Years Leadership Network sessions.
Term Two: Develop and Implement
Feedback and reflection on action plans, access to resources and research, professional learning and network sessions.
Term Three: Review and Look Ahead
Revisit evaluations and actions, review impact with a 1:1 meeting, continue professional learning and celebrate learning together.
The programme continues beyond the first year, with ongoing support shaped around the needs of each school or Trust.
“What we do in the early years matters – and how we do it matters just as much.”
Education Endowment Foundation
Join the Early Years Leadership Programme
Be part of a national community of leaders committed to giving every child the best start in life.