Early Excellence Podcast

Early Excellence

Early Childhood Education

Child Development

Early Years Education

Outdoor Learning

Education

Continuous Provision

EYFS

Self-Regulation

Physical Development

Key Stage 1

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Professional Love

Early Excellence

Storytelling

Ofsted

Characteristics Of Effective Learning

Forest Schools

Mathematics

Language Development

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Join us as we discuss a diverse range of EYFS and KS1 best practice and provision, resourcing your Early Years environment and keep you up to date news and reviews from Ofsted & the DfE

55 ratings

Publishes	Weekly	Episodes	217	Founded	5 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	EducationCourses

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Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

Going Screen Free in the EYFS with Lucy Fox

Lucy Fox from Stoke Primary School in Coventry joins us for this week’s episode, as we explore the impact of screen-free practice in the EYFS.

Episode Links

• Read the Blog: Block Play Alongside Small World Resources

• Read the Blog: Navigating th... more

10 Jul 2026 • 49 min • Popular

Closing the Communication Gap: Early Talk for York with Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming

What does it look like when a whole city gets behind children's communication and language?

Re-release: Originally aired on 17 Apr 2026

Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming join us to explore Early Talk for York — a citywide initiative aimed at closin... more

3 Jul 2026 • 48 min

The Power of Role Play with Becky Hoare

Role play is our focus this week as we welcome Becky Hoare to the podcast. Becky is a Primary Teacher and the Founder of Pop Up Play Village Ltd. We discuss children’s natural desire to role play what they see in the world around them. There is lots ... more

26 Jun 2026 • 42 min

The Wonder of Storytelling with Ed Finch

We’re joined on the podcast this week by Ed Finch, a Headteacher with a passion for storytelling. We have a great chat about our natural desire to tell stories and the impact of this on our lives. We also explore how storytelling provides wonderfully... more

19 Jun 2026 • 44 min

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Recent Guests

Lucy Fox

Early years lead at Stoke Primary School, Assistant Head Teacher and Head of Foundations

Stoke Primary School

Episode: Going Screen Free in the EYFS with Lucy Fox

Becky Hoare

Founder of Pop Up Play Village, author on role play and children's mental health

Pop Up Play Village, Author

Episode: The Power of Role Play with Becky Hoare

Ed Finch

Head teacher, storyteller, and co-author of Storacy

Storytelling Schools (co-author)

Episode: The Wonder of Storytelling with Ed Finch

Dixie-Louise Dexter

Reception class teacher and assistant head teacher at Ashby Hill Top Primary School

Ashby Hill Top Primary School

Episode: Exploring Transition and Pace with Dixie-Louise Dexter

Gemma Wales

Educator from Bangkok Patana School, early years lead

Bangkok Patana School

Episode: Anji Inspired Play with Patana School in Bangkok

Sarah Gaughan

Leader of learning in the early years at Bangkok Patana School

Bangkok Patana School

Episode: Anji Inspired Play with Patana School in Bangkok

Joanne Jones

Speech and language therapist and online educator

Independent practitioner / online educator

Episode: The Can Do Approach to Supporting Speech, Language and Communication Skills with Joanne Jones

Claire Curtis

Forest school lead and outdoor coordinator

Charnwood Nursery and Preschool

Episode: Developing an Inspiring Forest Schools Site with Charnwood Nursery and Preschool Group

Rachel Shearer

Speech and language therapist

York, Early Talk for York

Episode: Early Talk for York with Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming

Host

Andy Burt

Host of the Early Excellence Podcast with a focus on EYFS/KS1 best practices, resourcing, and Ofsted/DfE updates.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 55 ratings

So helpful
All of your podcasts are so helpful and informative. I actually look forward to listening to them and coming back to them. Thank you for the time you take to put these together. Amy Banks, East Haddon Primary School
Apple Podcasts
5
Mrs Banks EYFS KS1
United Kingdom3 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Strong emphasis on real-world applications and spaces.

Thoughtful coverage of policy updates and classroom strategies.

Positive, supportive host presence that keeps sessions focused on impact.

Engaging and practical for teachers and leaders.

High-quality guests with actionable insights.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#7	United Kingdom/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#178	United Kingdom/Education
Apple Podcasts	#55	Australia/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#47	New Zealand/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#57	Ireland/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts	#127	United Arab Emirates/Education/Courses

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Can Do Approach to Supporting Speech, Language and Communication Skills with Joanne Jones

Q: How has delivering therapy online changed your practice and what are the key benefits?

Online delivery allowed viewing hundreds of home interactions, which revealed patterns like late talkers' need for more pauses and back-and-forth exchanges. It also enabled scalable feedback and empowering parents to act as co-therapists, a shift from the hands-on NHS model to a more relationship-centered, accessible approach.

The Can Do Approach to Supporting Speech, Language and Communication Skills with Joanne Jones

Q: Can you describe the can-do approach and what its heart is?

The approach centers on understanding what the child can do, using simple screening to place children into groups, and equipping parents with practical, in-the-moment strategies. It emphasizes visuals, analogies, and a memorable framework (airspace) that keeps the focus on building interaction and confidence rather than chasing developmental norms.

Early Talk for York with Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming

Q: What impact has this approach had on children and staff, especially post-pandemic?

There has been a substantial turnaround in language development and related outcomes, with staff becoming empowered through training, leading to better identification, earlier interventions, reduced need for specialist services, and lasting positive effects on children's learning and life chances.

Early Talk for York with Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming

Q: How does the three-step process work in practice for schools and settings?

Screening all children annually to identify needs, followed by training staff to become communication champions using L-Clan, and finally achieving a communication-friendly setting status that requires ongoing support and audits, with a focus on whole-setting engagement and collaboration with parents.

Early Talk for York with Rachel Shearer and Martin Cumming

Q: Can you explain what Early Talk for York is and why it was started in York?

It's a citywide, jointly commissioned approach between NHS and the local authority intended to close the language development gap by boosting communication skills in children from birth to five, starting with a pilot in the most disadvantaged areas and expanding citywide after compelling evidence of its impact.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Early Excellence Podcast

What is Early Excellence Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This series centers on early childhood education, with a strong emphasis on practical EYFS and lower primary strategies. Across episodes, listeners encounter hands-on guidance on play-based learning, outdoor and forest-school-inspired activities, language and communication development, and setting up flexible learning environments. Guest experiences span international schools, local early-years provision, and collaboration with universities and educational bodies, suggesting a pragmatic, classroom- and policy-aware audience. A standout trait is its mix of practitioner-led tactics, leadership insights, and policy updates (Birth to 5 Matters, early language initiatives), making it useful for teachers, school leaders, and education professiona... more

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How many listeners does Early Excellence Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Early Excellence Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Early Excellence Podcast:

1. Two Mr Ps in a Pod(Cast)
2. Head-to-Head Podcast
3. Begin Again with Davina McCall
4. Happy Place
5. We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

How many episodes of Early Excellence Podcast are there?

Early Excellence Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 217 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Early Excellence Podcast?

Recent guests on Early Excellence Podcast include:

1. Lucy Fox
2. Becky Hoare
3. Ed Finch
4. Dixie-Louise Dexter
5. Gemma Wales
6. Sarah Gaughan
7. Joanne Jones
8. Claire Curtis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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