Dr. Aaron Bradbury
@aaronearlyyears.bsky.social
Early Childhood Academic,Author, International Speaker: Nurture, Play, Child Development & Social Mobility. Co Chair ECSDN, MNS/PVI School Governor: Views my own #EarlyYearsSky #PlayMatters #edusky
Watch Westminster Hall debate: e-petition 729440 relating to play in the key stage 1 curriculum recorded today here:
parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
January 26, 2026 at 8:46 PM
Watch Westminster Hall debate: e-petition 729440 relating to play in the key stage 1 curriculum recorded today here:
parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
An article I have written for Nursery World
The problem isn’t play – it’s the system
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/opin...
The problem isn’t play – it’s the system
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/opin...
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.
www.nurseryworld.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 5:59 PM
An article I have written for Nursery World
The problem isn’t play – it’s the system
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/opin...
The problem isn’t play – it’s the system
www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/opin...
Reposted by Dr. Aaron Bradbury
Publication of the year ! Wow !
January 23, 2026 at 10:25 PM
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
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
January 22, 2026 at 10:02 AM
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
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.
January 21, 2026 at 10:50 PM
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
Day 15
“Following the child’s lead isn’t about losing control”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 15, 2026 at 6:20 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 15
“Following the child’s lead isn’t about losing control”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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
Day 14
“Mess usually means thinking”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 14, 2026 at 6:40 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 14
“Mess usually means thinking”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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
Day 13
“That tea went cold. Again”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 13, 2026 at 7:15 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 13
“That tea went cold. Again”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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
Day 12
“You answered ‘why’ more times than you can count”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 12, 2026 at 6:50 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 12
“You answered ‘why’ more times than you can count”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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
Day 11
“A quiet room usually means trouble”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 11, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 11
“A quiet room usually means trouble”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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
Practical. Research-informed. Play-led.
👉 Download here:
www.early-years-reviews.com/guidetomathe...
#PlayMatters #EarlyYears #MathematicalPlay #EYFS
January 10, 2026 at 10:02 AM
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
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
Day 10
“Children remember how you made them feel.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 10, 2026 at 7:41 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 10
“Children remember how you made them feel.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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
Day 9
“Play didn’t get in the way of learning. It made it possible.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 9, 2026 at 7:38 AM
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
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
Day 8
“Big feelings come in small bodies.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 8, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 8
“Big feelings come in small bodies.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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
Day 7
“The best learning moments were never on the plan.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 7, 2026 at 8:44 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 7
“The best learning moments were never on the plan.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
Day 7
“The best learning moments were never on the plan.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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...
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...
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...
www.early-years-reviews.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:04 PM
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...
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
Day 6
“The most important resource in the room is you.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 6, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 6
“The most important resource in the room is you.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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
Day 5
“That wasn’t challenging behaviour. It was communication.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 5, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 5
“That wasn’t challenging behaviour. It was communication.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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
Day 4
“You didn’t just play today. You regulated emotions and built trust.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 4, 2026 at 12:09 PM
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
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
Day 3
“If it looks like chaos, you’re probably doing early years properly.”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 3, 2026 at 8:07 AM
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
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
Day 2
“There was a plan. Then the children arrived”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 2, 2026 at 11:54 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 2
“There was a plan. Then the children arrived”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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
Day 1
“The moment you sit down is the moment everything needs you”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
January 1, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Things Only Early Years Educators Will Understand
Day 1
“The moment you sit down is the moment everything needs you”
#EarlyYears
#EarlyYearsEducation
#PlayMatters
#EarlyYearsProfessionals
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.
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.
December 12, 2025 at 8:03 PM
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.
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
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
November 27, 2025 at 12:36 PM
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
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...
November 17, 2025 at 9:08 PM
New on #PlayTalkRadio The Magic of Play. Why is play essential in early years? Listen now open.spotify.com/episode/0gR4...