We hosted our Early Years Special Initiative Learning Symposium with learning partner Educational Policy Institute (EPI)  on Tuesday 25 March, celebrating the incredible work of grant holders during Phase 1 of the programme (2019-2024). 

Our Early Years Special Initiative supports organisations that work to improve educational outcomes and reduce inequalities for disadvantaged children aged 2- 5 years in London, with a focus on improving school readiness and boosting children’s literacy, numeracy, and language skills. 

The Symposium brought together charities from Phase 1, hearing from the final cohort - Peeple, Speech and Language UK, Tales Toolkit and National Children’s Bureau on the successes, challenges faced and impact made on their projects in London.  

EPI gave an insightful overview of key findings across the cohorts in Phase 1 including impact on disadvantage and the home learning environment, the value of quality and accessible training for early years practitioners, as well as the importance of strong relationships to build sustainable interventions. 

The Early Years Special Initiative, which started in 2019, has funded 23 charities to date, through the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington, of which the Mercers’ Company is trustee.

Read more about our Young People & Education programme and Early Years Special Initiative here.