Norland welcomes the Department for Education’s Director of Early Years

Norland was delighted to welcome Mr Chris Armstrong-Stacey, Director of Early Years at the Department for Education (DfE), on 12 February.

Mr Armstrong-Stacey visited Norland to learn more about our pioneering approach to early childhood education and care and our almost 135-year legacy in delivering world-leading training.

During his visit to Oldfield Park campus, Mr Armstrong-Stacey met with members of Norland’s senior leadership team to discuss the challenges facing the early years sector and explore how Norland’s expertise, research and best practice can support the wider system in delivering outstanding care for babies and young children.

Mr Armstrong-Stacey also observed Norland’s unique integrated higher education training programme, which brings together the BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care degree, the Norland diploma and our distinctive golden triangle of academic knowledge, practical skills and extensive hands-on experience. This unified model underpins all Norland training and equips students with the depth and breadth of expertise, professional competence and real-world experience needed to deliver exceptional early years care.

Dr Janet Rose, Principal of Norland, said: “It was an honour to host Mr Armstrong-Stacey from the DfE and to begin exploring ways in which Norland might contribute to addressing the pressing challenges in childcare provision across England. This visit reflects the importance of high‑quality early years education and the important part role our staff and graduates play in supporting it.”

This visit comes at a pivotal time for Norland as the institution takes the final steps towards achieving university title – fulfilling its ambition to become the world’s first university dedicated to early childhood.