Join Ali and Neil as they try to answer the question 'what makes children shine?'

This a heartwarming conversation as Neil reveals his personal experiences relating to his childhood and how this impacted on him and also his own parenting style, while Ali shares her experience as a SENCO and also a parent. Neil also speaks about the Early Years sector and the support provided to children by those looking after them, the pressures on parents and provides his advice on parenting.

Links referred to in the Podcast:
FingerTips
The Shaping Us Framework

MEET ALI'S SPECIAL GUEST - NEIL LEITCH OBE
CEO, EARLY YEARS ALLIANCE

Following a career in finance which culminated in him chairing the Finance Industry Standards Association, Neil volunteered his skills to what was then the Pre-school Learning Alliance.

Finding its ethos and dedication to the lives of young children chimed deeply with his values, Neil came out of semi-retirement to join the Alliance full-time and in 2008, became its CEO.

He has been an unwavering leader of the largest early years membership organisation in the country, fronting campaigns on funding and the mental health of the workforce. He has provided evidence to multiple government inquiries, and was key in developing the two-year-old early entitlement offer.

Neil was recognised in the 2022 New Year Honours list, when he was awarded an OBE and more recently, received an Honorary Doctorate in Education from University of East London

ABOUT THE EARLY YEARS ALLIANCE
The Early Years Alliance is a registered educational charity, and under Neil’s leadership, has become the largest voluntary sector childcare operator in the UK, representing 14,000 nurseries, pre-schools, and childminders, who support over 800,000 families. They
• offer information and advice
• produce specialist publications
• run acclaimed training schemes.
• campaign to influence early years policy and practice

Vision
Their vision is a society where every child enjoys the opportunity to learn through play. They believe families should be at the centre of policymaking and empowered to become fully involved with their child's learning and development.

Mission
To support early years providers to deliver high quality, affordable and sustainable care and learning to families, and to ensure that all children, regardless of background, are given the best possible start in life.
(Source: Early Years Alliance website - www.eyalliance.org.uk/about-us)