On May 6th, we will be invited to vote in a new Mayor for London and 25 members of the London Assembly – one year later than planned. Together, they make up the Greater London Authority (GLA), which governs the Capital and our daily lives to some extent. With a whopping budget of £19bn, the … Continue reading Let’s Hear How the Mayoral Candidates Will Support Early Years in London?

Last week we hosted a good humoured (it was at  wine-time, as chosen by you!) virtual London Ofsted Big Conversation, one year to the day from when inspections were suspended due to COVID-19. "I is for Inspection" and inspections were definitely on the mind. As with all OBCs we had a presentation from Ofsted, in … Continue reading The London Ofsted Big Conversation: Keep Your Eye on the Ofsted Ball

To mark International Women’s Day (8 March), I ask, "Have Feminists Failed Childcare?" The COVID-19 crisis identified the importance of childcare for both children and their families. Suddenly, the contribution of the ‘Cinderella service’ emerged from the cellars. No longer were we just a dowdy little servant, we were the sparkly princess - or rather, … Continue reading Have Feminists Failed Childcare?

On the 17th of March we usually celebrate St Patrick’s Day but this year we are inviting St Patrick to join the London OBC! In the days before Covid, when Ofsted came to call, we ran OBC at least twice a year across the country. I know Cheryl Hadland has led the South West OBC … Continue reading The London OBC and St Patrick Welcomes You!

Child poverty is back on the agenda. New reports highlight how we have made no progress improving the number of children living in poverty and how the COVID-19 pandemic, has catapulted even more children into this crisis. In 2018 I gave a TEDxTalk about the impact of child poverty and what shocked me the most … Continue reading Child Poverty Affects Us All: Don’t Pretend It Has Nothing to Do with YOU