Giving Every Child The Best Start.
An independent review of early years education, curriculum, pedagogy, development and provision — helping settings understand what is working, where opportunities exist and how young children can be supported to thrive.
The earliest years create foundations for lifelong learning.
High-quality early education combines care, relationships, purposeful teaching, language development, play, exploration and a carefully considered curriculum.
Our Early Years Review provides an independent perspective on the quality of provision and helps leaders understand how effectively their curriculum, pedagogy, environment and professional practice support young children's learning and development.
Looking closely at the experience of young children.
The review considers how early years provision works as a whole — from leadership and curriculum design to relationships, teaching, learning and children's development.
Early Years Leadership
Strategic leadership, vision, accountability and the capacity to sustain high-quality early years provision.
Curriculum & Intent
What children are expected to learn, how knowledge and skills are prioritised and how learning builds over time.
Teaching & Pedagogy
The quality of adult interaction, modelling, questioning, explanation, play and purposeful teaching.
Language & Communication
How effectively the environment and adult interactions support vocabulary, communication and language development.
Child Development
Understanding children's development, progress, individual needs and readiness for the next stage of learning.
Environment & Experience
How effectively the physical and social environment encourages curiosity, independence, exploration and learning.
Great early education gives children knowledge, confidence, relationships and a love of learning.
Relationships
Secure, responsive relationships provide the foundation for children's learning and development.
Language
Rich communication and vocabulary create foundations for understanding, participation and later learning.
Exploration
Children need purposeful opportunities to explore, investigate, practise and make connections.
Knowledge
Early learning should deliberately build knowledge and skills that children can use in new contexts.
What children learn matters. How they experience learning matters too.
An Early Years Review looks beyond written plans to understand the lived experience of children. It considers whether curriculum, teaching, interactions and the environment work together to develop knowledge, language, confidence and independence.
- Early years curriculum and progression
- Communication and language development
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Physical development and independence
- Literacy and early reading
- Early mathematics and mathematical thinking
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
A thoughtful review of early years practice.
The review combines professional dialogue, evidence and observation to develop a clear picture of children's experiences and learning.
Understand
Understand the setting, children's needs, curriculum, priorities and approach to early education.
Observe
Examine children's experiences, adult interactions, learning environments and teaching practice.
Interpret
Identify strengths, patterns and opportunities through professional analysis and discussion.
Strengthen
Establish practical priorities that help leaders strengthen early years provision and children's learning.
Understanding early years provision from every angle.
The review can be tailored to the age range, setting, curriculum model and improvement priorities.
Early Years Leadership
Vision, strategic priorities, accountability and leadership of early years education.
Curriculum Design
Curriculum content, sequencing, progression and the knowledge children are expected to develop.
Teaching & Pedagogy
Adult interactions, modelling, questioning, explanation, play and purposeful teaching.
Communication & Language
Vocabulary, conversation, listening and opportunities for children to develop communication.
Personal & Social Development
Relationships, emotional development, self-regulation, confidence and independence.
Early Literacy & Mathematics
Foundations of reading, writing, mathematical understanding and problem-solving.
Environment & Resources
How effectively the learning environment supports exploration, curiosity, independence and sustained learning.
Assessment & Progress
How practitioners understand children's development and use assessment to inform next steps.
Creating environments where young children can explore, communicate and thrive.
High-quality early years practice brings together intentional teaching, meaningful play, rich interactions and carefully designed learning environments. The aim is not simply activity, but purposeful learning and development.
Interaction
Adults extend children's thinking through conversation, modelling and responsive interaction.
Exploration
Children have meaningful opportunities to investigate, practise and make connections.
Intentional Teaching
Practitioners make deliberate choices about what and how children should learn.
Independence
Children are supported to develop confidence, self-regulation and independence.
Building foundations across the early years curriculum.
The review considers the interconnected nature of early learning and how children build knowledge, skills and understanding over time.
Communication & Language
Listening, attention, understanding, vocabulary, conversation and expressive language.
Physical Development
Movement, coordination, health, physical confidence and developing independence.
Personal, Social & Emotional
Relationships, self-regulation, confidence, emotional development and wellbeing.
Literacy
Early reading, phonological awareness, writing, stories, vocabulary and comprehension.
Mathematics
Number, quantity, patterns, spatial awareness, problem-solving and mathematical language.
Understanding the World
People, communities, environments, nature, technology and children's developing knowledge.
Expressive Arts & Design
Creativity, imagination, music, movement, art, design and imaginative expression.
Characteristics of Learning
How children engage, explore, persist, think critically and develop as confident learners.
Better early years provision begins with better questions.
Do leaders have a clear understanding of what children need to learn and why?
Does the curriculum build knowledge, vocabulary and skills progressively?
Do adult interactions consistently extend children's learning and thinking?
Are children given meaningful opportunities to explore, practise and develop independence?
How effectively are individual needs, including SEND, recognised and supported?
How does the setting know that children are making meaningful progress?
From understanding practice to strengthening children's futures.
Strengths
A clear understanding of effective early years practice, curriculum and children's learning experiences.
Opportunities
Identification of areas where teaching, curriculum, environment or leadership could become more effective.
Priorities
Practical priorities that help leaders focus professional learning, resources and improvement activity.
Better beginnings begin with a clearer understanding.
An independent Early Years Review can provide fresh perspective, constructive challenge and a practical foundation for strengthening curriculum, teaching and children's learning experiences.
Discuss Your Early Years ReviewDr Layla Institute
Research · Leadership · Practice · Impact