Hello friends and colleagues,

Can you believe it’s August already?

For many of us, this month is a chance to slow down. Holidays are booked, suitcases are packed, and we’re finally getting around to all those appointments we’ve been postponing since the start of the year. But if you’re an early years leader, you probably know that even while you’re enjoying a break, a small part of your mind has already wandered to September.

You’re thinking about the children you’ll be welcoming. The educators joining your team. The classrooms are waiting to be prepared.

The opportunities that come with a brand-new academic year.

There is something exciting about a fresh start. Every September gives us the chance to reset, to improve and to be intentional about the kind of nursery we want to create for our children, our families and our teams. So as you enjoy the last few weeks of summer, I’d like to leave you with one question to think about:

What do I want this academic year to feel like for the people who walk through my doors?

Onboarding, Hiring and Culture in Early Years Settings

Recruitment doesn’t end when someone signs a contract.In many ways, that’s where the real work begins.The way we welcome new educators, introduce them to our values, support them through those first few weeks and help them feel that they belong has a lasting impact on the culture of our settings.

In this month’s featured podcast,with The HR Sisters, Desma and Elrona D’Souza, you will find a practical and thought-provoking conversation about recruitment, onboarding and building positive workplace cultures in early years settings.
Whether you’re welcoming one new team member or twenty, this episode is full of ideas that will help you prepare for a strong start to the new academic year.

Featured Podcast

On the Blog This Month

Beyond the Binder: Embedding School Policies into Everyday Practice

Once your team is in place, the next challenge begins.

How do we move beyond policies that sit in folders and create practice that is consistent every single day?

In this month’s featured article, Alistair Downs a respected leader in the international education community, shares practical strategies for bringing policies to life through everyday routines, professional conversations and shared accountability. Rather than seeing policies as documents to be read once a year, he challenges leaders to make them part of the daily rhythm of their setting. It’s a timely read as we prepare to welcome our teams back in the weeks ahead.

A quick chat with Alistair during his recent visit to Sharjah.

The Conference Is Back

The countdown is officially on!

The Let’s Talk Early Years Conference returns to Dubai on Saturday, 7 November 2026, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring our community together once again.

Over the coming weeks we’ll be announcing our speakers, signature experiences, venue details and program, so make sure you’re following @letstalkearlyyears on Instagram to be the first to hear the latest updates.

And one more thing…

August is our birthday month!

To celebrate another year of growing this incredible community together, we’ve got some exciting giveaways planned throughout the month. Keep an eye on our social media

-you won’t want to miss them.

A Final Thought

When we prepare for a new academic year, it’s easy to focus on the practical things.

The classrooms.
The resources.
The displays.
The timetables.
But I believe the strongest settings are remembered for something much deeper.
Their culture.
Culture, however isn’t created during induction week.
It’s created in the conversations we have, the standards we model, the way we support one another and the example we set every single day. I encourage you, before your team returns this September, take a quiet moment to ask yourself:
"What kind of culture do I want to build this year? What do I want my team to say it feels like to work here? And what will I do, consistently, to make that a reality?"

Wishing you a wonderful remainder of the summer and a successful start to the new academic year.

Thank you, as always, for being part of the Let’s Talk Early Years community.