UEL and Royal Foundation Spotlight Childhood Development

The University of East London is proud to share that Professor Sam Wass, Director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years, has been invited by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to contribute to its high-profile Shaping Us campaign, an initiative championed by HRH The Princess of Wales to raise awareness of the critical importance of early childhood.

Professor Wass, a neuroscientist and leading voice in early childhood brain development, explores the vital link between focus and neurological growth in the early years in a guest essay published as part of the campaign. His contribution underscores the central message of Shaping Us that the earliest years of life lay the foundations for lifelong learning, behaviour and wellbeing.

“Early brain development follows a distinctive pattern,” writes Professor Wass. “In the first five years of life, the brain forms connections at a rate of up to one million per second. After this surge, the brain begins to refine its network, strengthening the pathways that support efficiency and pruning those that go unused.”

While these transformations are not visible to the naked eye, Professor Wass explains, parents and caregivers may observe the behavioural shifts that accompany them, particularly a child’s emerging ability to focus, ignore distractions, and engage with the world in more structured ways.

His essay also highlights a unique characteristic of early childhood: that a less filtered, more ‘messy’ brain allows for a more flexible and imaginative view of the world. This neurological openness, though it can make focus more difficult for young children, may also help them notice patterns and possibilities that adults often miss.

Professor Wass said, 

I'm delighted to be working with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood on the Shaping Us campaign. It’s an honour to contribute to such an important initiative that recognises how deeply early childhood experiences shape our future. I’m also proud that this partnership highlights the impactful work taking place at the University of East London.”

The Shaping Us campaign continues to bring together leading researchers, practitioners and policymakers to champion a society that places greater value on early childhood.

Professor Wass’s involvement in the Shaping Us campaign reflects the University of East London’s ongoing commitment to impactful research that supports the well-being and development of future generations. Through collaborations with national initiatives like this, UEL continues to shape conversations around education, health and equity.

For more information on the Institute for the Science of Early Years and its ongoing research, visit https://www.isey.org/.