UEL unites HE leaders for early years pledge
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Published
06 May 2026
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Higher Education leaders from around the UK came together at the University of East London today, pledging to arm the next generation of early years professionals with a deep understanding of social and emotional development.
Vice Chancellors and Further Education College Chief Executives from across the country met at UEL to mark the launch of a new educational guide for people working with babies, young children and their families.
In recognition of the unique and critical role of education in shaping understanding, practice, and workforce capability across the early years system, leaders of participating institutions have publicly committed to embedding this core knowledge within entry-level training and ongoing professional development for early years practitioners.
Foundations for Life: A Guide to Social and Emotional Development has been developed by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood (established by The Princess of Wales) to strengthen understanding across the early years sector of why social and emotional development matters so profoundly – and how these skills begin to take shape from the very earliest months of life.
Grounded in science and practical insight, and developed with early childhood experts, professionals and practitioners, the Guide highlights the vital role of loving, responsive relationships in shaping children’s lifelong health and wellbeing. The Guide will be published on a new hub on the Centre’s website, bringing together all its resources for professionals and practitioners.
In the foreword to the Guide, The Princess writes:
In a world which feels increasingly distracted, fragmented and digital, where life’s pace, noise and interruptions can be overwhelming, I believe it is more important than ever to invest in what truly helps us to thrive: human connection.
While our society often focuses on academic or physical milestones, research consistently shows that it is our earliest relationships, experiences and environments which lay the foundations for our future health and happiness. The quality of our connections – with ourselves, with others and with the world around us – shapes how safe we feel, how we relate, and how we process experiences throughout our lives.
“What the science also demonstrates is just how early these foundations are laid. By age five, our brains have already grown to 90% of their adult size, a period during which they form more than a million new connections every second. This makes early childhood a critical window for developing the social and emotional skills that become the bedrock of lifelong wellbeing and opportunity.”
The Guide supports practitioners by setting out a shared, accessible foundation of knowledge about social and emotional development. This enables more confident, consistent conversations with families and helps parents recognise how warm, nurturing relationships – built on care, connection and emotional safety – can lay the strongest possible foundations for their child’s future.
Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice-Chancellor and President of UEL, hosted a reception for HE leaders at the Stratford Health Campus, during which they also had the honour of meeting HRH The Princess of Wales, who visited UEL’s Institute for the Science of Early Years and Youth (ISEY) earlier in the day, and Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
Professor Amanda Broderick, Vice-Chancellor and President of UEL, said:
At the University of East London, we sit at the intersection of research, education and community. Our work in early childhood combines cutting-edge science with real-world application, and our scale as a provider of early years and health professional training means we can embed this knowledge across the future workforce.
“Alongside fellow higher education together with further education leaders who have committed to a shared pledge, and in partnership with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, we have a unique opportunity to help lead the shift from insight to implementation: embedding a consistent understanding of social and emotional development across systems and improving outcomes for children across the life course, ensuring every child has the foundations they need to flourish and thrive.”
By making a collective public commitment to the new guidance, UEL and other educational institutions agree to:
- Embed social and emotional development within curricula, workforce development, and professional training pathways
- Champion the earliest years as foundational to lifelong outcomes, ensuring this is reflected across our institutions and networks
- Translate evidence into action, strengthening the connection between research, education, and practice
- Elevate the early years workforce, recognising the expertise, value, and impact of those working directly with young children and families
- Strengthen cross-sector collaboration, working in partnership with health, education, and community systems to support children and families
- Advocate for sustained focus and investment in early childhood, recognising its long-term societal and economic benefits.
Professor Sam Wass, Director of UEL’s ISEY, said:
“At the University of East London’s Institute for the Science of Early Years and Youth, our work shows just how powerfully early environments shape children’s development from the very start. It’s hugely encouraging to see the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood bringing national focus to why the earliest months and years matter - especially when it comes to social and emotional development. There’s a strong alignment in our shared ambition to equip professionals with the knowledge and tools they need, and to better connect research with practice and policy so every child gets the best possible start in life.”
The publication of the Guide comes as new research from the Centre, The First Five Years: A Parent Perspective, shows that parents value opportunities to speak with knowledgeable, trusted practitioners and want clear, authoritative information from formal sources.
When professional support is limited or brief, parents often turn to friends, family or online advice. Many report feeling overwhelmed by the volume of information available, which can create uncertainty and confusion at a time when reassurance and consistency matter most.
In the coming months, The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood will work closely with leaders across the early years system to embed this essential understanding into entry level training and ongoing professional development, helping to create the conditions in which love can flourish, and children can thrive.
Christian Guy, Executive Director of The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, said:
We're so pleased to be launching Foundations for life, a major new resource created to support everyone working with babies, young children and their families. The guide sets out why social and emotional development is so important, and how these vital skills begin to form from the very earliest months of life.
Together, this gives us a real opportunity to strengthen early support, improve lifelong outcomes and help every child get the very best start in life."