Objectives: This paper explores the impact of physical education (PE) lessons, focusing on children aged 6-7 years, an underrepresented age in physical activity research. Methods: 10 children wore Actigraph accelerometers recording physical activity throughout the school day (9 am until 3.10 pm), for a year. Repeated measures ANOVA analysed: type…

Within English early childhood education, there is emphasis on improving speech and language development as well as a drive for outdoor learning. This paper synthesises both aspects to consider whether or not links exist between the environment and the quality of young children's utterances as part of their speech and language development and if…

In 2013 funding was introduced to support disadvantaged two-year-old children to attend early childhood settings in England. This study explores the experiences of four early childhood settings as they worked with these funded children for the first time. Using interviews and observations within the settings, findings demonstrate some adjustment…

"Exploration" is recognised as research behaviour; anecdotally, as an early years' teacher, I witnessed many young children exploring. However, young children's self-initiated explorations are rarely regarded as research by adult researchers and policy-makers. The exclusion of young children's autonomous explorations from recognition as…

Deals with the vulnerable position of nursery education in 1990s Britain, given the changing nature of the family in society and particularly in view of nursery education's weakly articulated justification in the face of government intervention in education. Discusses current standards of evaluation (OFSTED inspections) and achievement and the…