At St. Bart’s Multi-Academy Trust, we are passionate about giving children the best possible start in life. That’s why we were thrilled to host the Early Excellence Roadshow at Saint Nathaniel’s Academy, bringing together dedicated early years practitioners and school leaders to explore the vital role of EYFS.
From the moment attendees walked through the doors, the message was clear: Early Years education matters. Getting it right from the start shapes not only a child’s early development but also their future success.
What Is It Like to Be a Child in Your EYFS?
One of the key questions raised during the event was:
“What is it like to be a child in your EYFS?”
Early Years is more than just a stage – it’s the foundation of a child’s learning journey. Understanding how young children experience their environment helps us create meaningful, engaging, and inspiring learning spaces.
The learning environment, both indoors and outdoors, was a major focus. Done well, it acts as an additional adult in the space, supporting children’s learning and development. But environments alone aren’t enough – they must be brought to life by skilled, knowledgeable staff who understand the full potential of play-based learning.
Creating Inspiring Early Years Environments
A strong theme of the day was planning and inspirational learning environments—not just places where children are expected to learn, but spaces that spark curiosity and excitement.
“When children walk in, they should think: ‘I love it here!’ But it should also inspire the adults—because if we’re not inspired, the children won’t be either.”
One of the key takeaways was the importance of intentionality: Why this? Why now? Everything we provide in Early Years must have a clear purpose, supporting children’s development with progression, intent, and impact at every stage.
Key Takeaways for Practitioners & Leaders
Throughout the day, we reflected on how to enhance EYFS provision, with a strong focus on:
- Less is more – Avoid overstocking provision; instead, involve children in setting up their learning spaces.
- Books belong everywhere – Don’t just have a book area; integrate books into all areas of provision.
- Staff knowledge is key – Every team member should understand what’s being taught, when, and why.
- Early Years is the foundation of education – It must connect seamlessly with the rest of the curriculum.
A Commitment to Continuous Growth
For many attendees, the event was a fantastic opportunity for professional development – whether they were experienced Early Years practitioners or coming from a Key Stage 1 or 2 background. It was a reminder that investing in EYFS knowledge benefits everyone in education.
As one attendee reflected:
“I’ve got lots of experience in Key Stage 1 and 2, but Early Years is an area of CPD for me. Today has been a fantastic start!”
Looking Ahead
We’re excited to take these reflections forward and continue working with our teams to empower staff, enrich provision, and ensure our youngest learners get the very best start in life.
A huge thank you to Early Excellence for their partnership, and to Saint Nathaniel’s Academy for hosting such an inspiring event.
