Our cover story features training schemes aimed at attracting more men into childcare work ('Man to man', pages 14-15) and examines initiatives taking place in Suffolk, Rotherham and Edinburgh, breaking down barriers with a variety of tactics.
A wonderfully creative felt-making project has seen a Lincolnshire nursery working with a local artist to achieve some stunning results and lots of cross-curricular learning ('Material gains', pages 12-13) and features in our curriculum series. And inclusion is the theme for two articles looking at work in Brighton on improving outcomes for children with special needs.
'Ready, steady, go', pages 16-17, explores good practice with small groups being promoted by the PRESENS team, while 'Spread the word', pages 24-25, looks at the pilot of a new service from I CAN, the charity for children with speech and language difficulties.
Sharing information about what works is of paramount importance if we are to achieve the highest quality services for young children. Do let us know if you are doing something that deserves wider attention.
