Ambition Institute to support early years stronger practice hubs

Our vision as a charity is an education system where every child can thrive, no matter their background. The early years are vital to closing the gap between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers.

Each stronger practice hub supports early years settings and childminders in their area to adopt evidence-based practice improvements. This new contract means we will work with the network of hubs, so that they can continue to offer high quality, evidence-informed support across the early years sector, so that every child has the best possible start.

We know the strength of the network lies in the depth of local expertise and relationships that each hub holds, and we are keen to build on that. We are delighted to be working with our partners, and with the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), Dingley’s Promise and Speech and Language UK, to champion high quality professional development for early years leaders and practitioners.

We feel privileged to build on the work delivered by the National Children’s Bureau, who have delivered the stronger practice hubs to this point. They have established a strong foundation for early years settings to share evidence-informed practice and improve outcomes for young children.

As we take on this important role, we will work closely with the early years sector to share what works, support improvement and help settings to make a lasting difference for children. We look forward to collaborating with early years settings, leaders, and educators across England to continue to shape the future of early years education.

Hilary Spencer, Chief Executive of Ambition Institute, said: “At Ambition Institute, we know that high quality early years practice is crucial for improving children’s life chances. Every child deserves the strongest possible start, and the early years lay the groundwork for so much that follows.

“Our mission is to help educators serving children from disadvantaged backgrounds to keep getting better. So we are really pleased to be partnering with early years practitioners through the early years stronger practice hubs, to help practitioners keep developing their expertise.

“We want to support the sharing of practical, evidence-informed approaches. We look forward to learning from colleagues across the early years sector and bringing our experience in professional development to support and share ideas that help children thrive. Together, we can continue to build a culture of learning and support that gives every child the chance to flourish, whatever their background.”

Rebecca Curtis, Director of Early Years said: “I’m delighted that Ambition Institute will be supporting the early years stronger practice hubs. This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside early years educators and leaders, sharing evidence-informed practice and building strong professional communities. Together, we can make a real difference to children’s lives by supporting high-quality development and learning from the very start.”

Corrie Leach, Head of Early Years said: “I’m incredibly proud that Ambition Institute will be working alongside the early years stronger practice hub network to build on and strengthen the expertise that already exists across the early years sector. I have had the privilege of seeing the skill, commitment and care within the sector first-hand throughout my career in early years education and care.

“We will continue to build strong relationships across the sector, learning from the wealth of experience within the hubs, and working together to create meaningful change for children and families.”

Visit the stronger practice hubs website to learn more.