Network for Early Years Teachers launches next month

Separately, Early Education has also named Professor Cathy Nutbrown as its new president.

The launch of the Early Years Network will take place on 24 March in London.

Established in 2017, the Chartered College of Teaching (CCT) is the new voluntary professional body for the teaching profession. Members can access research, events, a wide community of educators, and professional learning. The Early Years Network is open to all early years teachers, including Early Years Teachers (EYTs) and Early Years Professionals (EYPs).

Chief executive Beatrice Merrick said, ‘We want to encourage anyone working in the early years who is eligible to be a member of the Chartered College of Teaching to engage with the Early Years Network and make sure that the sector is well-represented in the College as it establishes its role as the professional body for and of teachers.  

‘That includes anyone with EYP status, EYT or QTS, whether working in the maintained sector, the private, voluntary or independent sector, or home-based childcare. This is all about empowering teachers, and ensuring the early years is prioritised and valued equally with other parts of the teaching profession.

‘We want members to decide how future activity will be taken forward, but we are already looking at how to create regional programmes of activity and possibly online opportunities too.’

• For more information on the Early Years Network launch event visit https://www.early-education.org.uk/chartered-college-teachingearly-education-early-years-network-launch-event

Professor Cathy Nutbrown named Early Education president

Early Education has also announced that Professor Cathy Nutbrown has taken on the honorary role of President of Early Education, succeeding Professor Tony Bertram who has stood down after a three-year term.

Cathy Nutbrown is a Professor of Education at the University of Sheffield where her teaching and research focuses on Early Childhood Education. Professor Nutbrown started her career as a nursery teacher, and in 2012 chaired the year-long Nutbrown Review. providing independent advice for government on early years and childcare qualifications in Her work has been recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council, with the prize, in 2013, for Research with Outstanding Impact on Society. In the same year, her commitment to the early years was recognised by the Nursery World Lifetime Achievement Award. She is author of over 50 publications on aspects of early childhood education, including 10 books, and has been a columnist and regular contributor to Nursery World.

Professor Nutbrown has been a member of Early Education for many years, and more recently was one of its Vice Presidents.

Commenting on the appointment, Professor Nutbrown said, ‘It is a great honour to be invited to work with Early Education as its next President. There is much work to do to ensure that all young children experience high quality education and care which meets their needs and upholds their rights.

'There are many major issues to address, including Baseline Assessment, the future of nursery schools and the disgrace of child poverty. I look forward to working with the Early Education team and its members on these and other challenges in the coming years.’