Who We Are
Our Story - COMING SOON
Our Community - COMING SOON
Our Story - COMING SOON
Our People
Our Community - COMING SOON
Our Story - COMING SOON
Our Community - COMING SOON
Our Community - COMING SOON
Our Community - COMING SOON
Building a gender-diverse Early Years workforce
Our Work
The Early Years Movement is an initiative focused on equity, representation, and workforce transformation in Early Childhood Education and Care. We exist to challenge long-standing gender stereotypes, and ensure that every child, regardless of background, grows up seeing care, leadership, and emotional literacy as gender inclusive. To do this our aim is to place more men in early years education. More male early years practitioners will help children to see that care isn't gendered when gender starts to become personal to them.
Our work is grounded in evidence, powered by community, and built in collaboration with partners across education, social justice, research, and workforce development.
Why We Exist
By the age of three, children begin to form their idea of gender identity. The messages they absorb at this stage, about who cares, who leads, and who belongs, can shape their self-image for life. If they do not experience men in care roles, nor do they experience men in early years settings, this limits their experiences of whose role it is to care.
Currently, fewer than 3% of the Early Years workforce in the UK is male, and 75% of EYFS settings do not employ a single man. This imbalance perpetuates outdated tropes and deprives children of seeing diverse, healthy caregiving relationships during a formative life stage.
The Early Years Movement believe representation through more male early years practitioners in Early Years settings matters. It matters for children’s socio-emotional development, for stronger outcomes later in life, and for a more equal society.
