Tiny Chair Podcast

Mary Anderson is the co-founder of My Music Starts Here alongside her husband Mike. My Music Starts Here provides early music education through resources, support for educators, and they even have their own certification. Their mission statement is: "We strive to ensure that all young children, regardless of their race, gender, abilities, location, school, childcare, or socioeconomic status, have the very best music learning experiences that we can provide." Mary was a preschool and elementary school teacher for over 12 years. She's also a musician and a singer in her own right, with a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance and a Master's degree in music education.Her website and Youtube channel:mymusicstartshere.com youtube.com/@mymusicwithmary

Dr Lewis Fogarty is a lecturer in Education At Brunel University and one half of the duo of directors at Always Growing. They have four settings across Berkshire and Middlesex, and are famous for their 4POP pedagogy. He is also a trustee of TACTYC, The Chair of the Board of Trustees of the charity ConnectED AND is the founder of Edventurous Leadership. Lewis is now a published author; his book, “10 Principles for Professional Confidence in Education: The transformative power of believing in yourself” is out now.His bookhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-Professional-Confidence-Education-transformative/dp/B0GQBZWBY1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1OZ92PVLXJ0NN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cC_y-ASuL2SLNTx2JvW0Ew.MusIfWyBCLhoivPydi4hDKa-lfVSpHghMTq5oGCWTaI&dib_tag=se&keywords=10+Principles+for+Professional+Confidence+in+Education%3A+The+transformative+power+of+believing+in+yourself+%28English+Edition%29&qid=1777462765&sprefix=10+principles+for+professional+confidence+in+education+the+transformative+power+of+believing+in+yourself+english+edition+%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-1

Dr. Alistair Bryce-Clegg, otherwise known as ABC, is an international early years consultant and trainer with three decades of experience in the sector. He's an author, a speaker, and author of the PlayList. He's advised the government's Education Select Committee on Early Years policy and practice and even the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. He has even had a debut on the TV in the BAFTA-winning Old People's Home for Four-Year-Olds.Email us at:Tinychairpod@famly.co.ukLink from the episode:https://abcdoes.com/

Dr June O'Sullivan is the CEO of the London Early Years Foundation. June has headed projects involving intergenerational care, parents in prisons, sustainability, bringing more men into the EY sector, engaging dads, ratios, Ofsted, the role of chefs, and many, many more. June has an OBE for services to education, recently got her doctorate in developing sustainability sustainability, informed staff, and has co authored many, many guides and books, including the Twoness of Twos.Links in the episodePrison article - https://www.leyf.org.uk/news/what-has-prison-got-to-do-with-early-years/LEYF prison pack download - https://mailchi.mp/4364d5fb0b61/a5bv48km0oArticle - https://kinderly.co.uk/2024/06/18/changing-the-world-through-love-and-nurture-in-the-early-years/ Book - https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/love-and-nurture-in-the-early-years/book287047

Kerry Murphy is an early childhood specialist and lecturer in Early Childhood and SEND at Goldsmiths University. She specialises in neurodiversity- and disability-affirming practice, improving inclusion, understanding and promoting a celebratory framework of assessment and support. She’s a 22-year veteran of the Early Years as well as a consultant and author. She has delivered seminars and training for local authorities, as well as a webinar for us here at Famly. Kerry is currently working on a doctorate in the pathologisation of play and child development in neurodivergent children.Website:Diversepathways.org

This week we sit down with Neil Leitch, the chief exec of Early Years Alliance. We get the gossip on what it’s really like working with the government, how his own childhood shaped his own views on why Early Years matters so much, and why football is the one time he can switch his brain off. You’ll hear about his proudest moments supporting 14,000 members at the alliance, and why he thinks the real answer is getting our policy makers in a nursery for a week.

Liz, is an Early Years consultant under the title The Black Nursery Manager. She writes articles, leads webinars, and was a part of Famly’s inaugural children’s champion judging panel. Liz has an MA in early childhood and is a qualified secondary school teacher. She ran a setting for many years herself, before launching the Black Nursery Manager consultancy in 2020. She has been nominated as a Nursery World Trainer of the year, nominated as a future leader in 2022 by the Black Cultural Archives, and was recognised by the Serendpity Institute as 1 of a 100 Black women who have made a mark in 2024.Books mentioned in the podcast:Strong Like Me - Kelechi OkaforI Am Golden - Eva ChenThe Many Colors of Harpreet Singh - Supriya KelkarMy First Jewish Baby Book - Julie Merberg & Beck FeinerRepublic of the Congo - Mel NyokoBathe the Cat - David RobertsHomeland - Hannah Moushabeck