Dr. Aaron Bradbury

I’ve just sent the full manuscript of my new book Moments of Meaning to my copy editor. 📝✨
Out February 2026.

This one is personal.
Every interaction in early childhood holds a moment of meaning, and this book honours them all.

Can’t wait to share more soon. 💛📘
#EarlyYears #ReflectivePractice

New on #PlayTalkRadio The Magic of Play. Why is play essential in early years? Listen now open.spotify.com/episode/0gR4...

Play and High Expectations Are Not Opposites Somewhere along the way, the narrative around play and high expectations became tangled. In policy papers, inspections, and even professional development sessions, play has too often been cast as t…

Play and High Expectations Are Not Opposites

nottinghaminstituteofeducation.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/p...

The Early Years are at a crossroads.

Between checklists and child development.
Between performance and play.
Between data and developmentally appropriate practice.

Which path will we choose?
👉 www.early-years-reviews.com/post/the-ear...

#EarlyYears #PlayMatters #ChildDevelopment #SchoolReadiness

Today I had the pleasure of sharing our Play, Policy and Power research at a conference in Telford.

It reminded us to challenge systems that sideline play and practitioner voice, and to keep children’s joy, curiosity and rights at the heart. Together, we have the power.

🌱 Tomorrow I’ll be speaking at #NurseryWorldConference about rethinking school readiness.

It’s not about checklists, it’s about who children are.

Play, relationships & belonging are the real foundations of readiness.

#StartingStrong #PlayMatters #ChildInTheNOW #EarlyYears

Join our WhatsApp Channel: Early Years Reviews

Are you passionate about early years education? Want to stay on top of the latest news, reviews, commentary and professional insight, all delivered directly to your phone?

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🎉 It’s Sale Time! 🎉

With our second edition of Early Childhood Theories Today out now, which you can get a copy here amzn.eu/d/d8KbvJo, the first edition is only £5! 🙌

Don’t miss your chance to grab a copy that’s inspired thousands across the early years sector.

Join our WhatsApp Channel: Early Years Reviews

Are you passionate about early years education? Want to stay on top of the latest news, reviews, commentary and professional insight, all delivered directly to your phone?

✅ Click here to join: whatsapp.com/channel/0029...

Dr Aaron Bradbury: If school readiness is really about children, we need to stop pretending context doesn’t matter - Nursery World Every child's individual experience needs to be taken into account when they start school, says Dr Aaron Bradbury

If school readiness is really about children, we need to stop pretending context doesn’t matter.

www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news...

Putting the EYFS Curriculum into Practice

Out in November: the comprehensively revised and updated 2nd edition of Putting the EYFS Curriculum into Practice

uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/pu...

New publication now live 📢
Written by the Early Childhood Maths Group, this resource explores how to nurture early mathematical thinking through play and developmentally-appropriate practice.

📄 Download: www.early-years-reviews.com/_files/ugd/c...

Please share.
#EYFS #PlayMatters #EarlyMaths

Dr Aaron Bradbury: If school readiness is really about children, we need to stop pretending context doesn’t matter - Nursery World Every child's individual experience needs to be taken into account when they start school, says Dr Aaron Bradbury

"Guidance is often authored by individuals embedded in social and professional contexts where time, stability, literacy capital and institutional trust are assumed. The child is assessed against a developmental story they were never resourced to live." AMEN!
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news...

Dr Aaron Bradbury: If school readiness is really about children, we need to stop pretending context doesn’t matter - Nursery World Every child's individual experience needs to be taken into account when they start school, says Dr Aaron Bradbury

If school readiness is really about children, we need to stop pretending context doesn’t matter.

www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news...

Who else has an emotional attachment to their robot vacuum? Mine is called Ronnie.

Mine works harder than I do on a Sunday and never complains, just quietly judging the state of my carpets while it does laps of the living room. 🧹🤖✨

Play Talk Radio - Play in the Early Years Foundation Stage

I really enjoyed this conversation with @aaronearlyyears.bsky.social
Play matters!

open.spotify.com/episode/4fBS...

Play Talk Radio - Play in the Early Years Foundation Stage

New #PlayTalkRadio episode 🎙
Ruth Swailes on Play in the EYFS, honest, informed and rooted in practice.
Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/4fBS...
#PlayMatters #EYFS

A double whammy this Friday 🎉

Heading to Hounslow to speak about School Readiness the Child-Centred Way and then onto Westminster to explore Play and School Readiness as part of Reforming the EYFS.

Two events, one message, play and relationships matter 🌈

#StartingStrong #PlayMatters #EYFS

Reimagining Practices of Play: Collaborating with Nottingham communities to support children’s social and education development through curiosity-driven play at Nottingham Trent University on FindAPhD... PhD Project - Reimagining Practices of Play: Collaborating with Nottingham communities to support children’s social and education development through curiosity-driven play at Nottingham Trent Un...

🎓 Funded PhD opportunity!
Reimagining Practices of Play – working with Nottingham communities to explore how curiosity-driven play supports children’s social & educational development. UK only

👉 Apply now: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

#PhD #Education #Play #ChildhoodStudies

Day 2! Starting Strong through a Day of Play, Manchester! 🎈

So excited to join the Bright Futures NW Early Years Stronger Practice Hub for two amazing days of fun, pedagogy, joy, learning, connection & PLAY!

Play truly matters: Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life.

Play Talk Radio: Play Love & Nurture with Tamsin Grimmer

🎙️ New on #PlayTalkRadio!
We’re joined by the brilliant Tamsin Grimmer to explore Play, Love & Nurture ❤️

A powerful conversation on why relationships + play are at the heart of early childhood.

👉 Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/285X...
#PlayMatters #EarlyYears #EYFS

Play Talk Radio: Play Love & Nurture with Tamsin Grimmer

New on #PlayTalkRadio!

We talk with Tamsin Grimmer about Play, Love & Nurture 💜🌱🎨
Why love belongs in pedagogy, how play builds resilience, and ways to nurture children every day.

🔊 Listen now 👉 open.spotify.com/episode/285X...

#PlayMatters #EarlyYears #TamsinGrimmer

Play Talk Radio: Play Love & Nurture with Tamsin Grimmer

New on #PlayTalkRadio!

We talk with Tamsin Grimmer about Play, Love & Nurture 💜🌱🎨
Why love belongs in pedagogy, how play builds resilience, and ways to nurture children every day.

🔊 Listen now 👉 open.spotify.com/episode/285X...

#PlayMatters #EarlyYears #TamsinGrimmer

It’s been an honour to be a judge again this year for the Nursery World Awards 2025 ✨
Sorry I can’t be there tonight, but sending my congratulations to all the finalists and winners. 👏

Wishing you all an amazing evening celebrating the very best of the early years sector.

✨ Today only! ✨
📚 Starting Strong Ebook by Dr Aaron Bradbury is just £6!
A child-centred take on school readiness 🌟

👉 Grab your copy now: www.lulu.com/shop/aaron-b...

#EarlyYears #SchoolReadiness #ChildCentred

Had a lovely time putting together a new webinar series for and EY organisation today. The first one is all about The Beauty of Play, celebrating joy, wonder & connection in early childhood. Excited for the conversations this will spark! 💭✨ #EarlyYears #PlayMatters

✨ Special Offer ✨📚

Early Childhood Theories Today our first edition by Aaron Bradbury & Ruth Swailes – is just £5 on Amazon! 🎉

Bringing theory to life in a practical way for early years practitioners, students & educators.

👉 amzn.eu/d/93StCPL

This Friday 26th Sept!
Starting Strong: Nurturing School Readiness the Child Centred Way eBook is just £6 🌱✨

A must-read for anyone passionate about child-centred practice & play.

👉 Don’t miss out! www.lulu.com/shop/aaron-b...

#StartingStrong #EarlyYears #PlayMatters

House of Commons nursery provider criticised for article praising Reform conference Piece on website of LEYF, which runs nurseries across London, talked of party’s ‘growing appeal to mothers’

House of Commons nursery provider criticised for article praising Reform conference

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

📚 2026 is the year my full Starting Strong mini series will be out!

The 2nd book in the series, Moments of Meaning: Reflective Practice in Early Years Education, arrives in February 2026.

Excited to share more soon! 🌱✨

#StartingStrongSeries #EarlyYears #ReflectivePractice