Dr. Aaron Bradbury

Early years theory is still evolving. This second edition explores contemporary thinkers alongside Maslow, Bowlby, Piaget and Vygotsky, and shows how theory connects to everyday practice.

Get your copy here: amzn.eu/d/0cPW5G9D

#EarlyYears #PlayMatters

The Journal of Play & Pedagogy is live in May

A space for research, reflection, and real-world practice for children 0–8. Open access & Practitioner voice welcomed.

www.early-years-reviews.com/journal-of-p...

#PlayMatters #EarlyYears #Education #Childhood

Watch Westminster Hall debate: e-petition 729440 relating to play in the key stage 1 curriculum recorded today here:

parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Aaron Bradbury: The problem isn’t play – it’s the system - Nursery World ‘Play matters’ has become one of the most repeated phrases in early childhood, but the problem is the system does not allow play to happen in the way young children need, says Dr Aaron Bradbury.

An article I have written for Nursery World

The problem isn’t play – it’s the system

www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/opin...

Publication of the year ! Wow !

If we want more people to join the Early Years workforce, we need to bring back the JOY.

Not the paperwork.
Not the pressure.
Not the constant proving.

The joy of being with children.
Play. Development. Connection.

Pay matters. But so do conditions.
We can change this.

#EarlyYears #PlayMatters

At the APPG on Play today, myself and my colleague Karen shared how Play Matters is being used by practitioners to strengthen play-based pedagogy. With rising needs in the sector, play is more vital than ever for wellbeing, language, relationships and development.

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 15

“Following the child’s lead isn’t about losing control”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 14

“Mess usually means thinking”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 13

“That tea went cold. Again”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 12

“You answered ‘why’ more times than you can count”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 11

“A quiet room usually means trouble”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Our FREE Guide to Mathematical Play (Birth–5) explores how children develop mathematical thinking through everyday play, routines & relationships.

Practical. Research-informed. Play-led.

👉 Download here:
www.early-years-reviews.com/guidetomathe...

#PlayMatters #EarlyYears #MathematicalPlay #EYFS

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 10

“Children remember how you made them feel.”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 9

“Play didn’t get in the way of learning. It made it possible.”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 8

“Big feelings come in small bodies.”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 7

“The best learning moments were never on the plan.”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

When an Early Years Approach Starts to Replace Thinking By Dr. Aaron BradburyEarly years is rich with approaches. Let me be clear from the outset: there is nothing wrong with choosing an approach. Approaches can give teams shared language, confidence, cohe...

When an Early Years Approach Starts to Replace Thinking”
In this piece, I explore the risk when pedagogical approaches become so rigid they replace professional judgement, shifting focus from children to compliance.
Read 👉 www.early-years-reviews.com/post/when-an...

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 6

“The most important resource in the room is you.”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 5

“That wasn’t challenging behaviour. It was communication.”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 4

“You didn’t just play today. You regulated emotions and built trust.”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 3

“If it looks like chaos, you’re probably doing early years properly.”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 2

“There was a plan. Then the children arrived”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand

Day 1

“The moment you sit down is the moment everything needs you”

#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals

This photo stopped me.

Not because it’s staged, but because it’s real.
Eye level. On the floor. No agenda.
Just presence, trust and time.

This is early years.
This is play.
This is the work.

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.