CREC

04/09/2026

Wishing all of our SCITT trainees past and present the very best as they start their first week of the academic year.
You are going to make an incredible difference enjoy every minute!🤗

03/09/2026

EYFS Framework Updates: Key Changes from 1 September 2026

The Department for Education has updated the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, strengthening safeguarding and operational requirements across all early years settings.

Key changes to be aware of include:

Safeguarding and Reporting: The notification threshold to Ofsted or Childminder Agencies has been lowered from allegations of 'serious harm' to allegations of 'harm' regarding anyone living, working, or caring for children on the premises.

Staffing and Vetting: Enhanced criminal record checks are required for all volunteers (including supervised roles). New employees must not start work before their check is received.

Safer Sleep: Explicit safer sleep requirements have been incorporated directly into the main framework text.

Banned Dog Breeds: Providing registered childcare on any premises where a banned dog breed is kept or present is strictly prohibited.

Screen Time Guidance: Providers are now required to have regard to official Department for Education guidance on screen use in early years settings.

Qualifications: Updated clarifications have been issued regarding Level 2 English qualification requirements.

Early years providers must ensure operational policies, vetting procedures, and staff handbooks are updated to maintain full compliance.

Read the full guidance: https://buff.ly/6vki2Gh

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework is mandatory for all early years settings. It sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well, and are kept healthy and safe.  

02/09/2026

Concerning results from the latest Coram PACEY survey:

01/09/2026

Thursday 10th September - Online via Teams, 4.30pm-5.30pm
Dr Faye Stanley 'Early Childhood Studies; the journey from undergraduate student to post PhD.'
Faye will reflect on almost 30 years of Early Childhood, the development of the sector, current challenges and opportunities. b9e85820-ff3e-4c0e-a1d2-1b0056330d1a@03637be1-4c45-4d3e-a9d8-11ecc5b6eaaa?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b9e85820-ff3e-4c0e-a1d2-1b0056330d1a@03637be1-4c45-4d3e-a9d8-11ecc5b6eaaa?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog

31/08/2026

Affirming Children’s Rights is central to CREC’s mission statement and integrated through all of the work that we do.

This text, exemplified through the Reggio Emilia approach, exemplifies work with bilingual and multilingual families and speaks to an intentionality towards upholding Children’s Rights.

As an new addition to our library we know it will support students who are researching Rights within their own professional context.

Interested in study and research with CREC? Find out more: https://www.crec.co.uk/ma-in-education

31/08/2026

Government figures from 2025/26 show that more than 3,700 students completed T-Levels in Early Years Education, up over 50% compared to the previous year: https://buff.ly/Cb935aB

28/08/2026

Creativity within Early Childhood is central to CREC’s research focus and our post-graduate teaching.

Through the support of CREC associate Debi Keyte-Hartland, our year 1 MA students consider the breadth of creativity within our sector and the benefits of a creative pedagogical approach.

These two new additions to the library will support this. Your Brain on Art (https://www.yourbrainonart.com/) shows us all what a profound impact the arts can have on our brain whilst Creativity in the Early Years encapsulates how we instil such creativity in our different early years contexts.

More about our MA Ed course can be found via our link in bio.

28/08/2026

This Back to School Passport from TES is a brilliant transition activity for EYFS/KS1 pupils, designed to help children settle into their new classroom through exploration, curiosity and play: https://buff.ly/VEtOa1X

27/08/2026

Through both the CME and MA Education (Early Years), CREC’s taught courses support the development of Early Childhood Music Education. This latest addition to the library contains an enormous depth of wisdom on this topic including contributions from a range of authors within different policy contexts.

The Oxford Handbook of Early Childhood Learning and Development in Music contains 60 chapters on topics ranging from Music in Early Education and Care settings for communication and language support (by Jessica Pitt and Graham F. Welch) to Unfurling the musicality of children with autism (Bombay Jayashri Ramnath).

We’re delighted to finally be able to share hard copy of this entire text with our students.

For more information on our MA Ed (Early Years) course, visit the link: https://www.crec.co.uk/ma-in-education

27/08/2026

Research is our core business and training researchers through higher level study is a pleasure and a privilege. Our year two students really get to grips with research processes, different methodologies and transparency throughout their research choices.

We’re delighted to be adding the latest edition of Research Methods in Early Childhood to the library shelf and reading list. This latest edition brings additional ethical considerations and further early childhood case studies that we know our students find useful.

We’re also adding a copy of Unlocking Practitioner Inquiry to the shelf as this text is all about lasting educational change.

Most of our MA students work full time within the early childhood sector and our research focused programme supports them in focusing on practice development.

Find out more about our upcoming MA here: https://www.crec.co.uk/ma-in-education