Early years versus curriculum constraints

In this liberating episode, we dive into what it really means to cultivate creativity in the early years – not just for children, but for the adults who lead them. We explore powerful ideas from Bill Lucas’ research and Collaborative Projects with Early Years Wales discussing and deepening understanding about how to move beyond ‘arts and crafts’ to foster creative thinking, problem-solving, curiosity and confidence in every corner of your setting, together with tools to help you enable, grow and embrace creativity. If you love to measure, there are analytical tools discussed too!

This is your invitation to step into your role creatively - someone who doesn’t just deliver a curriculum, but brings it to life with gusto! Whether you’re a teacher, a TA, a childminder, or a school leader, this episode is here to fire up your imagination and remind you: creativity is not a luxury - it’s a necessity.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

• What it really means to be creative (hint: it’s not about being good at drawing)

• The five Creative Habits of Mind: spot the one missing from this list – imaginative, disciplined, collaborative, persistent and…

• How creativity links directly to resilience, independence, and innovation

• How to create an environment where everyone, including adults, feels safe to experiment

• Why leaders must model risk-taking, playfulness, and curiosity – don’t pop the bubble of creativity!

• Simple ways to make creativity visible in your planning, language, and classroom culture

Why creativity is the engine of lifelong learning and how to fuel it for all!

I'm Michelle Hague, founder of HEYD and the Early Years Impact podcast. You can contact me directly: michellehague@heyd.uk, or visit heyd.co.uk where you will find more details about our coaching offer plus our sponsors KCS.co.uk.

My guest today, David Goodger is the Chief Executive Officer for Early Years Wales and an absolute advocate for creativity in education. His active voice on LinkedIn champions early years, leading with vision and intention. During the podcast, David makes reference to many creative, educational links you will want to explore further, including:

Early Years Wales: Creative Learning

Early Years Wales: Creative Learning Project

Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity?

Professor Bill Lucas: Biography, Research and More

Creative Thinking in Schools: A Leadership Playbook – Bill Lucas

Professor Alison Clark – Slow Pedagogy

Anna Ephgrave – Planning in the Moment

Connect with David Goodger on LinkedIn to continue to be inspired!