Features and opinion

The Education and Early Years Skills Collective brings together people from across the sector to share ideas and explore opportunities for practitioners to grow and build rewarding careers, writes Janet King, our Sector Manager for Education and Childcare.

Our Sector Manager for Education and Childcare, Janet King, explores why mentoring, coaching and supervision matter, and how creating space for support and reflection can help early years practitioners build confidence, develop their skills and thrive in the sector.

As employers face skills shortages and recruitment challenges, SWAPs offer a practical route into work. Andrew Barton, our Product Manager for Adult Education, explores how providers can use them to support learners, employers and local economies.

How can schools help prevent harmful attitudes from taking root? Daniel McPherson, our Product Manager for Schools, explores why education and RSHE have a vital role to play in fostering respect, empathy and critical thinking.

Explore how NCFE and Gatsby are helping Education and Early Years T Level teachers access practical resources, peer networks and employer-informed support, while enhancing curriculum delivery and creating engaging learning experiences.

As NCFE's Health and Social Care Skills Collective launch their inaugural paper, our Sector Managers for Health and Social Care, Joe Neame and Claire Montague, discuss the importance of collaboration in tackling workforce challenges.

Drawing on insights from CACHE Alumni members and NCFE’s latest research, Claire Montague explores why greater recognition and visibility of career pathways are key to attracting, developing and retaining the future social care workforce.

Michael Lemin, Head of Policy and Strategy at NCFE, reflects on his time at the 2026 Labour Party Conference in Liverpool and how the announcements and discussions could shape the education sector.