Early years stronger practice hubs
Updated 1 December 2025
Applies to England
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What hubs do
The stronger practice hubs support early years settings and childminders in their area to adopt evidence-based practice improvements. Through collaboration and shared learning, hubs:
- promote training and tools that reflect the latest, evidence-informed research and best practices in early childhood education, ensuring that staff feel confident and equipped to meet the diverse needs of children and families
- encourage equity and inclusion by helping settings identify and address barriers to learning so that every child has the opportunity to achieve their best, particularly those with socio-economic disadvantage
- foster a culture of continuous improvement, where early years professionals are supported to reflect on their practice, share insights and grow together as a community
- support pedagogy and help practitioners make informed decisions that nurture each child’s curiosity, confidence and wellbeing
Hub locations
There are currently 18 hubs in total – 2 in each of the 9 regions across England. Each hub consists of a lead setting and up to 4 partners.
East Midlands
Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Alfreton Nursery School, Derbyshire
Partners:
- Flying High Academy
- Sarah Smith (childminder)
- Little Explorers Nursery
East Midlands Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Pen Green Centre, Northamptonshire
Partners:
- Kingswood Community Nursery
- Leona Smith (childminder)
- Charnwood Nursery and Pre-school
- Pen Green Centre (0-3 provision)
East of England
REACHout Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: The Barn Nursery School, Essex
Partners:
- Kim Barnetson - Kim’s Kids Childminder
- Ludwick Nursery School
East of England Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Highfield Nursery School, Suffolk
Partners:
- Early Years @ Highfield
- Early Years @ Highfield - Whitehouse
- Oaks Primary School
- Wigwams Nursery
- Victoria Chenery Childminding
London
London South Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Charles Dickens Primary and Nursery School, Southwark
Partners:
- Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre
- Annette Kingsley-Scott (childminder)
- Lambeth Nurseries Federation: Triangle Nursery
Brighter Start: East London’s Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre, Newham
Partners:
- St Barnabas Pre-school
- Honey’s Childcare
North East
The Great North Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Haltwhistle Primary Academy, Northumberland
Partners:
- Cleaswell Hill School
- Bothal Primary School
- Goosehill Nursery
Northern Lights Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Benedict Biscop CE Academy (Northern Lights Learning Trust), Sunderland
Partners:
- Sunningdale Special School
- Houghton Community Nursery School
- Linthorpe Primary School
- Claire Ramsden (childminder)
North West
Liverpool City Region and Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Everton Nursery School and Family Centre, Liverpool
Partners:
- East Prescot Nursery School
- Tracie’s Treasures (childminder)
- Kids Planet Fazakerley
- Evelyn Street Primary Academy and Nursery
Bright Futures North West Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Lime Tree Primary Academy (Bright Futures Educational Trust), Trafford
Partners:
- Wellfield Infant and Nursery School
- Stanley Grove Primary Academy (Bright Futures Educational Trust)
- Kids Start Nursery, Manchester
- Linda Bedson (childminder)
South East
Thames Valley Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Blagdon Nursery School, Reading
Partners:
- Victoria Park Nursery School and Family Hub
- Maidenhead Nursery School
- Dingley’s Promise, Reading
- Paula-Jane Wylie (childminder)
- Berkeley Gardens Day Nursery
Kent and Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Northfleet Nursery School, Kent
Partner:
- Gemma Maclachlan (childminder)
- Farm, Work and Play Nursery, Faversham
- Invicta Park Playgroup, Maidstone
South West
Bristol and Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: St Paul’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre, Bristol
Partners:
- Redcliffe Nursery School
- Archfield House Nursery and Pre-school
- Millie’s Garden (childminder)
- Springboard Opportunity Group, Clevedon
Early Years South West Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Plym Bridge Nursery School and Day Care, Plymouth
Partners:
- Ham Drive Nursery School and Day Care
- The Cabin
- Willoughbee Childminding
West Midlands
Heart – Midlands Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Bloomsbury Nursery School, Birmingham
Partners:
- Weoley Castle Nursery School
- Norton Hall Children and Family Centre
- Claire Fitzgerald (childminder)
Thrive Together Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Ryders Hayes School (Ryders Hayes Academy Trust), Walsall
Partners:
- Fullbrook Maintained Nursery School
- Abu Bakr Day Nursery
- Margaret Dixon (childminder)
- Shine Nursery
Yorkshire and the Humber
Yorkshire and Humber Together Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: Childhaven Community Nursery School, North Yorkshire
Partners:
- Green Hedges Day Nursery
- St Paul’s Nursery School
- Claire’s Little Farmers
St Edmund’s Early Years Stronger Practice Hub
Lead setting: St Edmund’s Nursery School, Bradford
Partners:
- Grassroots Day Nursery
- Dixons Allerton Academy
- Alex Leigh (childminder)
- Co-op Academy Delius
Background
Early years stronger practice hubs provide advice, share good practice and offer evidence-based professional development for early years practitioners.
The early years stronger practice hubs programme launched in November 2022 as part of the early years education recovery support package. It is currently funded until late March 2026. In July 2025, in line with its Best Start in Life strategy, the Department for Education (DfE) announced a commitment to double the number of hubs and to secure their future for a further 3 years.
The Education Endowment Foundation and the National Children’s Bureau support the programme.
More information, along with our privacy notice for the programme, is available on the National Children’s Bureau website.
Contact
Email the National Children’s Bureau’s stronger practice hubs team at sph@ncb.org.uk.