About me

During my career, I’ve spent the best part of three decades working frontline in early years. This period includes heading up Sure Start Children’s Centres and Nursery Schools between 2001 and 2023 and developing high-quality provision for babies, toddlers and older children in the EYFS.

I’ve also been the senior early years adviser to Tower Hamlets council, and Ofsted’s Early Education Lead/HMI.

I was awarded a CBE for services to Early Years Education in 2022.

I am a researcher and writer of best-selling books about the early years and columns for publications like Nursery World and TES.

Nowadays, I’m focused on supporting schools, settings and childminders to make sure that every child gets the best start to their life. I work for a large educational charity on early years. I also offer independent consultancy, training and support to all manner of early years settings and practitioners.