Following the success of Phase 1, Phase 2 of the Early Years Special Initiative (EYSI) launched in January 2023, supporting two grantee cohorts with four-year funding. SQW, the Phase 2 Learning Partner, works closely with grantees and has published its Year 2 report.
The report highlights:
- Parental engagement benefits all: strengthens skills, confidence, relationships, and learning environments both at home and in educational settings.
- Barriers identified to engagement: practical, social, and emotional challenges.
- Effective approaches: including practitioner training, inclusive communication, co-production with parents, and parent-focused activities - strengthening skills, confidence, relationships, and learning environments.
Read the final report here.
As a funder, we aim to grow sector knowledge through external Learning Partners, who foster collaborative learning, peer exchange and mutual support among grantees, helping to identify key themes and tackle arising challenges, while exploring best practices. This approach helps support grantees to reflect and develop their work, adapt delivery, and contributes to our understanding of the sector, shaping future grantmaking.
In line with this approach, In June 2025, we held a Learning Seminar to celebrate grantee achievements and facilitate knowledge sharing. Grantees shared insights into their work supporting numeracy, literacy, language development, and school readiness for children aged 2–5. They also discussed challenges faced, progress made, and future plans for their projects.
Read about our Learning Seminar here.
Phase 2, Cohort 1 grantees (funding from July 2023 for four years):
- Campaign for Learning
- Coram Family and Childcare
- Early Education
- Fatherhood Institute
- National Day Nurseries Association
- Youth Sports Trust
Phase 2, Cohort 2 grantees (funding from July 2024 for four years):