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# Ruth Swailes

Independent Education Consultant

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://ruthswailes.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [All at Sea: The Hidden Burden of Guidance](https://ruthswailes.com/all-at-sea-the-hidden-burden-of-guidance/) - There was a time when keeping up to date in education meant going to a headteacher briefing once a term and checking the LA newsletter each week. Any updates would be discussed with the relevant staff and changes were made to ensure that we were fully compliant. It was busy, but things were manageable. That
- [Let's Go Outside!](https://ruthswailes.com/lets-go-outside/) - Outdoor learning has long been recognised as an essential component of high-quality early years practice. Yet in some settings, outdoor environments are not as well developed as indoor provision. This is often not due to a lack of commitment from practitioners, but a lack of time to access the outdoors (it is often not given
- [Tuning in...](https://ruthswailes.com/tuning-in/) - Recently I’ve been developing a curriculum for 0–2 year olds with my colleague and co-author, Aaron Bradbury. Alongside this, I’ve been working with schools, settings and organisations to strengthen interactions with young children, and I’ve also been fortunate to be involved in some really important work around healthy child development. All of this has led We often talk about effective interactions, but what do they actually look like? . Recently I’ve been developing a curriculum for 0–2 year olds with my colleague and co-author, Aaron Bradbury. Alongside this, I’ve been working with schools, settings and organisations to strengthen interactions with young children, and I’ve also been fortunate to be involved in some really important work around healthy child development. All of this has led Recently I’ve been developing a curriculum for 0–2 year olds with my colleague and co-author, Aaron Bradbury. Alongside this, I’ve been working with schools, settings and organisations to strengthen interactions with young children, and I’ve also been fortunate to be involved in some really important work around healthy child development. All of this has led
- [Should old acquiantance be forgot](https://ruthswailes.com/should-old-acquiantance-be-forgot/) - As we hurtle towards the end of another year, it’s only natural that we take stock of the year that’s passed, reflect on the things we’ve achieved, the challenges we’ve faced and think about the year ahead. Over the last few years, I’ve usually taken the opportunity to blog about the past year, initially I As we hurtle towards the end of another year, it’s only natural that we take stock of the year that’s passed, reflect on the things we’ve achieved, the challenges we’ve faced and think about the year ahead.
- ["In the Style Of" Rethinking imitation and authenticity in early writing](https://ruthswailes.com/in-the-style-of-rethinking-imitation-and-authenticity-in-early-writing/) - Over the last few years, I’ve led a lot of curriculum development work. Some of this was driven by schools wanting to shift their focus due to the 2019 Ofsted framework, some was commercial work, writing curricula for publishers. Over the last two or three years, I’ve been working with many schools to adapt and
- [Handwriting, Readiness and Rhythm: Finding Balance Between Policy and Practice.](https://ruthswailes.com/handwriting-readiness-and-rhythm-finding-balance-between-policy-and-practice/) - When the DfE Writing Framework (2025) landed, many of us read the line about children in Reception being taught to “form lower-case and capital letters correctly” and felt that familiar flicker of tension. On paper it sounds reasonable — who wouldn’t want children to write confidently and fluently? But in practice, those of us who spend our days alongside four- and five-year-olds know that development doesn’t always follow policy timelines.When the DfE Writing Framework (2025) landed, many of us read the line about children in Reception being taught to “form lower-case and capital letters correctly” and felt that familiar flicker of tension. On paper it sounds reasonable — who wouldn’t want children to write confidently and fluently? But in practice, those of us who
- [What's in a name?](https://ruthswailes.com/whats-in-a-name/) - Last week I was told about an Ofsted inspector who had criticised a Nursery teacher for encouraging the children in her class (aged 3 and 4 years old) to write their names. I’m always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt, so I spoke to a friend who inspects, and they confirmed that
- [I don't want to burst your bubble....](https://ruthswailes.com/i-don-t-want-to-burst-your-bubble/) - There seems to have been a lot of confusion caused by various politicians and health advisors who have referred to social distancing in briefings and in interviews. Last weekend Jenny Harries spoke about children sitting at “work desks” and Michael Gove seemed to indicate that he expected young children to be sitting at tables and staying away from each other. However, the guidance from the DFE states “We know that, unlike older children and adults, early years and primary age children cannot be expected to remain 2 metres apart from each other and staff. In deciding to bring more children back to early years and schools, we are taking this into account.
- [And times move so fast...](https://ruthswailes.com/and-times-move-so-fast/) - I’m in my office again, gearing up for the start of a new term, in the New Year, having made a deliberate choice to take the same school holidays as my younger daughter. This means that I’ve missed out on some Inset work but the time I have left with my daughters still at home
- [Speaking out !](https://ruthswailes.com/speaking-out/) - The request to “do some digging on Ruth Swales” (sic) was met with the response “ Can’t find anything specific from Ruth that brings the department into disrepute. Favour Birth to 5 Matters and promote that quite a lot via Twitter and at different speaking events but I can’t see anywhere that they have discredited Development Matters” – well that’s because I hadn’t. This was dated on the 23rd of February 2023, but the Hub lead was still told I was unsuitable to speak. So even though they couldn’t find evidence of what I was being accused of (anonymously) I was still deemed unsuitable. That’s really not ok.
- [Snap!](https://ruthswailes.com/snap/) - The impact of the last 20 months has been huge, I speak to teachers and leaders every day who tell me of the challenges many families are facing as a result of covid, loss, grief, stress, poverty, and that’s before we get to the gaps in their learning as a result of 3 National lockdowns.
- [Hope](https://ruthswailes.com/hope/) - We’re packing for a holiday we might not be able to go on. “How do you do it?” a friend asked the other day, “How do you keep being positive and optimistic and keep going?” The answer is there isn’t really an alternative. Unfortunately, we can’t ask for any of this to stop so we
- [Babies are not dogs](https://ruthswailes.com/babies-are-not-dogs/) - Babies are not dogs. It seems a fairly obvious thing to say, doesn’t it? In fact, if you’d asked me what the title of my first blog would be, I don’t think I’d have dreamt in a million years of that one. Yet, here we are.
- [Thoughts on a BrewEd](https://ruthswailes.com/thoughts-on-a-brewed/) - Some thoughts on BrewEDEY in Twickenham October 2019
- [I like to move it!](https://ruthswailes.com/i-like-to-move-it/) - McPhillips et al (2000) noted that children who experience difficulties with reading also have difficulties with balance and motor control, so it is vital that teachers understand the impact of physical development on children’s cognitive development. Over the course of the next few blogs I will focus on different aspects of physical development, and how teachers of young children can support them to develop these areas so that learning is a pleasure and a joy rather than a pain and a chore, I hope you find them useful.
- [Proprioception](https://ruthswailes.com/proprioception/) - In this blog I will explore proprioception - what it is, why it's important and what teachers and parents can do to help develop it in young children.
- [Upper Body and Shoulder Girdle Strength](https://ruthswailes.com/upper-body-and-shoulder-girdle-strength/) - In this blog I want to explore one of the areas which I find is often overlooked in the early years classroom. The development of upper body strength and the development of the shoulder girdle.
- [What do you notice?](https://ruthswailes.com/what-do-you-notice/) - There are no right or wrong answers to this question, which is instantly liberating for the child. The Early Years teacher will not be unduly surprised by potentially random responses, they are after all part and parcel of working with young children. “I notice that you smell different today.” Or, “You’ve got nice hair, lady.” are answers I’ve been given to this question!
- [Thoughts on a BrewEd in Lockdown](https://ruthswailes.com/thoughts-on-a-brewed-in-lockdown/) - Anyone who knows me well will know how much I love a BrewEd, so my initial response to BrewEdIsolation was, “Fantastic, I’m up for that!” quickly followed by, “How will that work?” and then, “Will that work?” As Ed said so eloquently in his opening talk, “The important people in the room aren’t the speakers, the important people are the audience.” BrewEd is all about connections! How would that work in the virtual world?
- [It's a bit more complicated than you think...](https://ruthswailes.com/it-s-a-bit-more-complicated-than-you-think/) - One would hope that in an effort to support schools and settings to keep safe in a global pandemic, the government would ensure that the guidance for those working with the most complex sector would be clear and extensive. On Friday 15th May, the guidance which came out late in the evening stated that further detailed guidance would follow shortly. We are still waiting.
- [A safe space for learning; written with Jan Dubiel](https://ruthswailes.com/a-safe-space-for-learning/) - A central consideration for an effective and responsible retransition in EYFS provision will be how the learning environment is structured and how leaders will strike the balance between the safety of children, their families and staff and the opportunities for learning and teaching. We need to be clear that under the current conditions it will not possible – nor responsible – to maintain a typical EYFS learning environment with multiple Areas of Provision all carefully equipped with a wide range of resources, tools and materials.
- [Whatever next?](https://ruthswailes.com/what-next/) - The last three weeks have passed by in a blur of phone calls, emails, zoom chats, webinars, interviews, articles, writing letters, draft documentation and reviews, risk assessments, recovery plans.
- [Finding the child - Written with Jan Dubiel](https://ruthswailes.com/finding-the-child-written-with-jan-dubiel/) - At the heart of all the difficult decisions that EYFS educators and managers will need to take is reconciling the need to keep children safe with ensuring that they have access to a responsive, supportive and appropriate curriculum.
- [Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose](https://ruthswailes.com/plus-ca-change-plus-c-est-la-meme-chose/) - This is my dad, aged 13. He had quite an interesting life...
- [That was the year, that was.](https://ruthswailes.com/that-was-the-year-that-was/) - Inspired by my friend Jo Gilks @freerangeplay, I thought I’d reflect on the year that has just passed and what a year it’s been.
- [A very personal blog](https://ruthswailes.com/a-very-personal-blog/) - Yesterday I read an article which asked “what would your obituary say about you?”
- [Every day is a school day](https://ruthswailes.com/every-day-is-a-school-day/) - It’s something I say all the time, “always learning”, it’s one of life’s great joys to be constantly discovering new things. Sometimes the lessons aren’t always easy though. Here’s what I’ve learned in the past 4 weeks since Pete received his terminal diagnosis:
- [Magpie Mornings](https://ruthswailes.com/magpie-mornings/) - Observations can be quite controversial in education. When carried out effectively they can be great for professional development, but I don’t think there’s a teacher alive who hasn’t had a negative experience relating to an observation. How can we change the culture around having other teachers in our classroom so that it's viewed as a positive experience? Here's one approach...
- [Happy New Year!](https://ruthswailes.com/happy-new-year/) - t’s very easy to get sucked into negativity, we’re all guilty of it, I know I am, but there’s a lot to be positive about.
- [The Gift](https://ruthswailes.com/the-gift/) - Yesterday we were given the news that we knew would come one day soon, but that we'd all been dreading, Pete's cancer has spread and is "misbehaving"
- [This much I know](https://ruthswailes.com/this-much-i-know/) - So, here we are. 7 weeks into widowhood and it’s been quite a journey. Here’s how it’s been for me.
- [Joining the Dots](https://ruthswailes.com/thoughts-on-curriculum/) - It’s almost impossible to separate the learning. The Geography is directly linked to the History and the Science. This is the way we work in the Early Years and Primary, learning is interconnected.
- [At the end of a long term....](https://ruthswailes.com/at-the-end-of-a-long-term/) - Time is one of the most precious commodities we have. Teachers and leaders know what they want to do, but the challenge is to find the time to make it happen.
- [Musings from the studio](https://ruthswailes.com/musings-from-the-studio/) - The notion that we’re in control is really just an illusion, we’re not really in control at all, illness and accidents remind us that it only takes one thing to shatter the illusion and change our lives forever.
- [It could have been me...](https://ruthswailes.com/it-could-have-been-me/) - An anonymous headteacher shares the devastating effect an inspection had upon their school, staff and community.
- [The long weekend](https://ruthswailes.com/the-long-weekend/) - Grief is something you live with. Sometimes it inhabits a huge part of your day and is at the forefront of your mind, at other times it is more quiet, always present but not dominating your every thought.
- [What about Reception?](https://ruthswailes.com/what-about-reception/) - Whilst having a clear out recently, I found this book. I remember my Headteacher at the time coming back from a conference in about 2000 and giving me this as a present. It struck me that it's a question we're still asking ourselves in schools. "What about Reception?"
- [A Valediction: So long, and thanks for all the fun.](https://ruthswailes.com/a-valediction-so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fun/) - In the last week one of the people who had joined in at the beginning and had to go back to school popped in to see us. She said she wanted to end the term where she’d started it, and this prompted me to think of a quote from John Donne (because that’s the way my mind works). “Thy firmness makes my circle just, And makes me end where I begun.”
- [Possiblity thinking](https://ruthswailes.com/possiblity-thinking/) - This blog is really me playing around with ideas, “thinking out loud”. I know this is not something which is likely to happen, but I do think a conversation from different parts of the education sector about how it might or might not work would be really interesting. I’d like to start a conversation. Tell me where I’m getting this wrong, and where it might be right (kindly of course). But let’s have a conversation. I’m sure lots of people will tell me of all sorts of issues that I haven’t even considered. I know that some of the schools I work with would be able to do this with relative ease and for others it would pose a HUGE challenge
- [Language Matters](https://ruthswailes.com/language-matters/) - What a week it’s been. This morning I woke up to the news that the children’s commissioner had said on the BBC that unions need to “stop squabbling” about opening schools on the 1st of June. The choice of words was interesting, and no doubt deliberate. Squabbling implies that this is something trivial and childish. The underlying narrative is “look at these people, they work with children and now they’re behaving like them”.
- [Tales from the staffroom!](https://ruthswailes.com/tales-from-the-staffroom/) - I have been asked on several occasions about the virtual staffroom. Is it an Early Years thing? Who can join? Is there an agenda? So I thought I’d share some information about it, in case you were thinking of joining but were too afraid to ask!

## Pages

- [Complaints Policy](https://ruthswailes.com/complaints-policy/)
- [Privacy Policy](https://ruthswailes.com/privacy-policy/) - Last updated: September 2025 1. Introduction Assure Education Limited (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share, and protect personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and all
- [Published](https://ruthswailes.com/published/) - Books Links to view or purchase books written by me and my colleagues. A Manifesto for Early ChildhoodThe Early Childhood Sector faces many challenges today. Sector-wide pressures and policy changes mean settings are struggling with many issues including funding, retention and recruitment of staff.As change looms, this new book takes the opportunity to explore what
- [Events](https://ruthswailes.com/events/) - Here you will find a selection of my upcoming bookable events.Use the 'Details' link to find out more and the 'Sign up' button to book your place. If you have any specific training requirements please don't hesitate to get in touch.You can find a collection of my past events here. External events and conferences Here
- [Feedback](https://ruthswailes.com/feedback/) - Please take some time to provide feedback on your training or presentation experience by completing the form below. Your feedback is highly valued and will help shape future sessions.
- [No Access](https://ruthswailes.com/no-access/) - [dlm_no_access]
- [Cookie Policy (UK)](https://ruthswailes.com/cookie-policy-uk/)
- [Blog](https://ruthswailes.com/blog/) - UnfortunaUnfortunately no posts were foundd
- [Archives](https://ruthswailes.com/archives/)
- [Embed Link](https://ruthswailes.com/embed-link/)

## Downloads

- [Assure_Education_Comments_Complaints_Policy](https://ruthswailes.com/sdm_downloads/assure_education_comments_complaints_policy/)
- [Assure_Education_Safeguarding_Policy](https://ruthswailes.com/sdm_downloads/assure_education_safeguarding_policy/)

## My Testimonials

- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-participant/) - Fantastic! Course. Thank you, Great ideas.
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-participant-3/) - Fantastic - Going back to school with lots of ideas.
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-participant-4/) - An inspiring day that has given time for reflection. Very thought provoking!
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/feedback/) - I found the whole day enlightening and informative. As a non EY specialist, I found the content fascinating and it really helped develop my understanding as to what effective provision looks like. Thank you for such an engaging day.
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-attendee/) - Excellent course Ruth was a joy to listen to and provided some amazing ideas. This has been one of the best conferences/CPD/courses I have attended in a long time. Ruth Swailes was amazing to listen to; a superb advocate for Early Years and truly inspirational!
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-attendee-2/) - It has helped me to go back to the basics and check against what we learned at the conference We are making small but meaningful changes to the continuous provision and the daily timetable.
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-attendee-3/) - This part has supported us in realising why and how children have changed and how self regulation and executive function play an important part in how our children will learn.
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-attendee-4/) - We have to be strong in our beliefs of knowing our children well and building a firm foundation based on what our children are like.
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-attendee-5/) - It was affirming and reinforced the priority of supporting pupils to develop skills in prime areas through play and holistic, child-centered provision
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-attendee-6/) - Thank you for a brilliant day of training with an excellent speaker.
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-attendee-7/) - An extremely beneficial course from which I came away excited about what we can do to improve our EYFS setting to ensure the best start for our pupils. Thank you for organising this course.
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-participant-6/) - Fantastic! Than you so much. Very valuable and informative :-).
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-participant-2/) - Really valuable course - given us the confidence to have more of a voice.
- [Training attendee](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/training-participant-5/) - A very valuable session with a good balance of reflection and opportunity to talk with colleagues from the other School.
- [Debra Kidd](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/debra-kidd/) - Ruth is an authority on Early Years education and child development. But more than this, she’s an authority who can communicate her knowledge with humour, humanity and humility. She is able to bring together ideals and practical knowledge of systems to help teachers to understand how a healthy, challenging and stimulating early years environment can
- [Sandy Churchward](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/sandy-churchward/) - Ruth speaks with passion and a clear knowledge of her subject. She adds personal anecdotes to support her presentation with a witty charm that makes her incredibly easy to listen to. The day long CPD I attended flew by and I left feeling positive and re-energised and determined to do her justice by sharing the
- [Dr Christine Challen](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/dr-christine-challen/) - I first heard Ruth speak at Brewed Wakefield. While this was a relatively informal setting Ruth was a true professional and had the audience immediately engaged. She has an avid knowledge of all things relating to EYS development, pedagogy and government policy and she is able to deliver this clearly to experts and people like
- [Ros Wilson](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/ros-wilson/) - In October 2018 I accompanied a colleague to London to attend a day’s conference led by Ruth Swailes on the Foundation Stage and Early Years. It was a most enjoyable and informative day with the very latest ‘cutting edge’ updates, advice and guidance. Ruth is a delightful speaker who exudes passion and empathy for the
- [Greg Bottrill](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/greg-bottrill/) - People like Ruth are a rare find - passionate, dynamic and with a wealth of school leadership experience, Ruth is unafraid of posing challenge whilst at same time being supportive towards positive change. She has gift of providing effective guidance to improve Early Years practice and provision, and training sessions with Ruth always enable reflection
- [Bryn Llewellyn](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/bryn-llewellyn/) - Ruth is the Go to Guru for all things EYFS. Her knowledge of this area of education is unparalleled. Ruth is insightful and inspirational. She offers the perfect blend of support and provocation.
- [Benjamin Doxdator](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/benjamin-doxdator/) - Ruth speaks with power and a great depth of knowledge both about the policies that shape Early Years education and the realities of running a classroom that benefits all children.
- [Simon Kidwell](https://ruthswailes.com/wpt-testimonial/simon-kidwell/) - Ruth has worked with a number of schools across Cheshire West and Chester over the last twelve months. Her training has helped me and many of my colleagues develop a greater understanding of outstanding early years practice, curriculum and child development, assessment and inspection. When supporting schools, Ruth skilfully draws upon her experience as a

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