Childcare Professional magazine
Childcare Professional is Coram PACEY’s official award-winning membership magazine, keeping childminder, nanny and nursery worker members across England and Wales up-to-date with the latest news, campaigns, ideas and innovations in childcare and early years.
Winner of ‘Best Magazine for a Professional Association’
at the 2018 Memcom Awards
Summer 2026: Get your hands dirty
On any given day, you’ll likely spot a young child irresistibly drawn to a muddy patch, a pile of leaves, or a handful of soil. For early years professionals and parents, this moment can highlight a familiar tension: on the one hand delight in their curiosity about the world around them, and on the other a background worry about mess, germs, and laundry. But what if that muddy moment isn’t just harmless fun but essential for a child’s development? Alexia Barrable from Queen Margaret University shares research into why soil, mud and microbes matter more than ever. Zara Smith, Coram PACEY Writer explores how secret tracking and recording by parents is reshaping safeguarding in early years. Penny Tassoni explains that children are born to move and gives practical ideas that help children thrive through active play. Selective Mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder that can puzzle and worry parents, carers, and educators alike; understanding more about selective mutism and how to support children. As part of our mental health and wellbeing series, we explore how joyful moments nurture a healthier and happier you. Childminders showcase how Schema Play has helped them understand how children learn through repeated patterns.
Read the latest issue in MyPACEY
Other features include:
Every Child Achieving and Thriving – What the England SEND reforms mean for childminders
Setting the standards in Wales – Key changes for providers
One-to-one a conversation with Dr Shaddai Tembo – Social justice in the early years
The importance of being a professional nanny – Skilled, structured, essential
Planning for tomorrow – A practical guide to pensions for self-employed childminders
Nourishing our future – A home-based approach to earl years mealtimes.
Foundations for life – Understanding social and emotional development in early childhood
Get involved – Researching what quality looks and feels like for 0-2-year-olds in childminding provision
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Summer 2026 issue | Schema Play in action
Every child has unique ways of exploring the world, testing ideas, and making sense of what they see. In early years education, these patterns of exploration are known as schemas.
Summer 2026 issue | The importance of being a professional nanny
Being a nanny is sometimes reduced to “just looking after children”, yet the day-to-day reality is skilled, accountable and rooted in early childhood practice.
Spring 2026 issue | Beyond the icons
Amit Singh Kalley, founder of For Working Parents, is back to support our understanding of dangerous apps.
Spring 2026 issue | Building strong foundations
Coram Life Education discusses how SCARF supports social and emotional learning in the early years.
Autumn/Winter 2025 issue | Decoding Emojis
Amit Singh Kalley, founder of For Working Parents, helps us decode emojis.
Autumn/Winter 2025 issue | Giving every child a voice
Speech and Language UK and Coram PACEY’s project to develop targeted training specifically for childminders.
Summer 2025 issue | The Woodland Nanny
We hear from The Woodland Nanny, Emmy Benjamin about her career as a nanny.
Summer 2025 issue | Under the influence
What to do if you suspect that a parent/carer is under the influence when collecting their child.
Spring 2025 issue | Children first
We speak to the Minister for Early Education about his inspirations and passions.
As early education becomes ever more pressurised, slow pedagogy aims to take an unhurried, mindful approach to learning.
We speak to Liz Pemberton, Director of The Black Nursery Manager Training and Consultancy, about anti-racism in early years
Nanny, entrepreneur and DJ Joss Cambridge-Simmons tells us about his passion for helping families and how facing prejudices has driven him to succeed.
We explore the benefits of sand play and how to support children’s learning and development through this versatile activity.
Many childcare providers feel anxious when it’s time to be inspected. How can you prepare without feeling huge pressure?
Spring 2024 issue | Promoting kindness
Early years professionals should create a “cultural of kindness” to help prevent bullying behaviour says Paula Timms, Chief Executive of Kidscape and a Coram PACEY Trustee.
We talk to early years consultant, author and travelling tutor about her work with the Frobel Trust, experiencing racism and receiving a lifetime achievement award.
Although it’s a sensitive subject, practitioners suspecting child abuse linked to faith or belief including witchcraft should raise the alarm around their concerns.
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Latest News
Keep up to date with everything that's happening in the childcare sector
Lucy Powell MP appointed as new Secretary of State for Education
Childcare expansion update for Wales/Diweddariad ar ehangu gofal plant yng Nghymru
Coram Family and Childcare publishes its annual Holiday Childcare Survey
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