--- title: Blog | Admin description: "Unlocking the Power of Sensory Play: Nurturing Neural Connections in Early Years — Babyzone" --- [Matched funding live: every donation is doubled from 2-16 June.](https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS00000C7riEYAR) [![Babyzone\_PrimaryLogo\_Colour\_OnLight\_RGB-1](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnLight_RGB-1.png?width=1175&height=410&name=Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnLight_RGB-1.png "Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnLight_RGB-1")](https://babyzone.org.uk) [![Babyzone\_PrimaryLogo\_Colour\_OnDark\_RGB-2](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnDark_RGB-2.png?width=1175&height=410&name=Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnDark_RGB-2.png "Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnDark_RGB-2")](https://babyzone.org.uk) - [About Us](https://babyzone.org.uk/about-us) - [Our Model](https://babyzone.org.uk/our-model) - [Our People](https://babyzone.org.uk/team) - [Careers](https://babyzone.org.uk/careers) - [Hubs](https://babyzone.org.uk/visit-us) - [Volunteer](https://babyzone.org.uk/volunteer) - [Our Programmes](https://babyzone.org.uk/programmes) - [Partners](https://babyzone.org.uk/partners) - [Academy](https://babyzone.org.uk/academy) - Impact & Insights - [Impact](https://babyzone.org.uk/research-impact) - [Research](https://babyzone.org.uk/babyzone-research) - News & Media - [News](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone) - [Media](https://babyzone.org.uk/media) - [Baby Buddy](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy) - [About](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy) - [For Parents](https://babyzone.org.uk/babybuddy-for-parents) - [For Local Authorities](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy-for-local-authorities) [Donate](https://babyzone.org.uk/donate) - [About Us](https://babyzone.org.uk/about-us) - [Our Model](https://babyzone.org.uk/our-model) - [Our People](https://babyzone.org.uk/team) - [Careers](https://babyzone.org.uk/careers) - [Hubs](https://babyzone.org.uk/visit-us) - [Volunteer](https://babyzone.org.uk/volunteer) - [Our Programmes](https://babyzone.org.uk/programmes) - [Partners](https://babyzone.org.uk/partners) - [Academy](https://babyzone.org.uk/academy) - Impact & Insights - [Impact](https://babyzone.org.uk/research-impact) - [Research](https://babyzone.org.uk/babyzone-research) - News & Media - [News](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone) - [Media](https://babyzone.org.uk/media) - [Baby Buddy](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy) - [About](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy) - [For Parents](https://babyzone.org.uk/babybuddy-for-parents) - [For Local Authorities](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy-for-local-authorities) [Donate](https://babyzone.org.uk/donate) # News [![Babyzone calls on publishers to see parents as a child’s first teacher](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/BOOKSELLERS%20CONFERENCE.jpg?width=600&name=BOOKSELLERS%20CONFERENCE.jpg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-calls-on-publishers-to-see-parents-as-a-childs-first-teacher) ### [Babyzone calls on publishers to see parents as a child’s first teacher](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-calls-on-publishers-to-see-parents-as-a-childs-first-teacher) Speaking at The Bookseller’s Children’s Conference, Babyzone CEO George Looker urged the publishing industry to work hand in hand with 0 to 5 settings to help every family build confidence with reading. November 10th, 2026 · 1 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 28: What Karen Chetwynd told us about Montessori, freedom within limits and the childhood your child might already be having](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/KAREN%20CHETWYND-2.jpg?width=600&name=KAREN%20CHETWYND-2.jpg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-28-what-karen-chetwynd-told-us-about-montessori-freedom-within-limits-and-the-childhood-your-child-might-already-be-having) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 28: What Karen Chetwynd told us about Montessori, freedom within limits and the childhood your child might already be having](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-28-what-karen-chetwynd-told-us-about-montessori-freedom-within-limits-and-the-childhood-your-child-might-already-be-having) Karen Chetwynd, CEO of Montessori Global Education, on what Montessori actually is, what it isn't and why most families are already living its principles without knowing it. November 10th, 2026 · 5 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 27: What Josephine McCartney told us about child poverty, hope and the bedroom that dared a child to dream](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/JOSEPHINE%20MCCARTNEY.png?width=600&name=JOSEPHINE%20MCCARTNEY.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-27-what-josephine-mccartney-told-us-about-child-poverty-hope-and-the-bedroom-that-dared-a-child-to-dream) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 27: What Josephine McCartney told us about child poverty, hope and the bedroom that dared a child to dream](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-27-what-josephine-mccartney-told-us-about-child-poverty-hope-and-the-bedroom-that-dared-a-child-to-dream) Josephine McCartney, CEO of the Childhood Trust, on what child poverty is doing to 38% of London's children and why only 2% of council houses are November 3rd, 2026 · 5 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 26: What Matt Buttery told us about parenting, prevention and why a tenth of the money is not enough](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/MATT%20BUTTERY.png?width=600&name=MATT%20BUTTERY.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-26-what-matt-buttery-told-us-about-parenting-prevention-and-why-a-tenth-of-the-money-is-not-enough) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 26: What Matt Buttery told us about parenting, prevention and why a tenth of the money is not enough](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-26-what-matt-buttery-told-us-about-parenting-prevention-and-why-a-tenth-of-the-money-is-not-enough) Matt Buttery, CEO of Triple P, on parenting as a public health issue, the 10:1 funding gap since Sure Start and what 700,000 Australian families prove is possible. October 27th, 2026 · 5 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 25: Dr. Dan Wuori on the myth we built instead of a system](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/DAN%20WUORI.png?width=600&name=DAN%20WUORI.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-25-dr.-dan-wuori-on-the-myth-we-built-instead-of-a-system) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 25: Dr. Dan Wuori on the myth we built instead of a system](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-25-dr.-dan-wuori-on-the-myth-we-built-instead-of-a-system) Dr. Dan Wuori, author of The Daycare Myth, on why separating childcare from education is a century-old myth, what it has cost, and how we fix it. October 20th, 2026 · 6 min read [![Best Beginnings Episode 24: Dr. Stephanie Culler on the garden inside every baby's gut](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/STEPHANIE%20THUMBNAIL.png?width=600&name=STEPHANIE%20THUMBNAIL.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-23-dr.-stephanie-culler-on-the-garden-inside-every-babys-gut) ### [Best Beginnings Episode 24: Dr. Stephanie Culler on the garden inside every baby's gut](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/best-beginnings-episode-23-dr.-stephanie-culler-on-the-garden-inside-every-babys-gut) Dr. Stephanie Culler speaks about the infant gut microbiome, the My Baby Biome study and why 9 in 10 babies are missing key bacteria. October 13th, 2026 · 5 min read [![Babyzone Preston opens at Vault Youth Zone](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Preston%20Team.jpeg?width=600&name=Preston%20Team.jpeg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-preston-opens-at-vault-youth-zone) ### [Babyzone Preston opens at Vault Youth Zone](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-preston-opens-at-vault-youth-zone) Our 14th hub and fifth in the North West opened at Vault Youth Zone, welcoming 228 people on day one. Free early years support every Wednesday. October 6th, 2026 · 2 min read [![Babyzone Brent opens at Brent Hub Community Enterprise Centre](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Brent.jpg?width=600&name=Brent.jpg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-brent-opens-at-brent-hub-community-enterprise-centre) ### [Babyzone Brent opens at Brent Hub Community Enterprise Centre](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/babyzone-brent-opens-at-brent-hub-community-enterprise-centre) Babyzone's 13th hub opens in Stonebridge, the first funded by a local authority through Brent Council's Best Start in Life programme. Free for families. October 6th, 2026 · 2 min read [![Sir Lindsay Hoyle officially opens Babyzone Chorley](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Hoyle.jpeg?width=600&name=Hoyle.jpeg)](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/sir-lindsay-hoyle-officially-opens-babyzone-chorley) ### [Sir Lindsay Hoyle officially opens Babyzone Chorley](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/sir-lindsay-hoyle-officially-opens-babyzone-chorley) The Speaker of the House of Commons and MP for Chorley officially opened Babyzone Chorley at Inspire Youth Zone. Free early years support for families. October 6th, 2026 · 1 min read [1](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone) [2](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/author/admin/page/2) [3](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/author/admin/page/3) ... [11](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone/author/admin/page/11) [Read our 2025 Strategy & Impact Report](https://babyzone.org.uk/hubfs/Babyzone%20Impact%20Report%202025.hr.pdf) [![Babyzone](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnDark_RGB-2-1.png?width=250&height=59&name=Babyzone_PrimaryLogo_Colour_OnDark_RGB-2-1.png)](https://babyzone.org.uk/) Supporting families through early years with expert guidance, resources, and community connection. Every child deserves the best start in life. ![Living wage](https://babyzone.org.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Living%20Wage%20Employer%20Logo.png?width=100&height=79&name=Living%20Wage%20Employer%20Logo.png) [![Fundraising Regulator badge with validation link](https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/fr-badge/5bbc7fb5-38d5-4c79-aa8e-22ec919a9f84/en/colour)](https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/directory/babyzone) ### Quick Links - [About Us](https://babyzone.org.uk/about-us) - [Our Team](https://babyzone.org.uk/team) - [Hubs](https://babyzone.org.uk/visit-us) - [Our Programmes](https://babyzone.org.uk/programmes) - [Partners](https://babyzone.org.uk/partners) - [Academy](https://babyzone.org.uk/academy) - [Impact](https://babyzone.org.uk/research-impact) - [Research](https://babyzone.org.uk/babyzone-research) - [News & Media](https://babyzone.org.uk/blogzone) - [Baby Buddy](https://babyzone.org.uk/baby-buddy-old) ### Contact Us hello@babyzone.org.uk Scale Space, 58 Wood Lane, London, W12 7RZ Babyzone is a registered charity in England and Wales (1198316) and in Scotland (SC054355) ### Sign up to our newsletter here Get the latest Early Years News Roundup delivered to your inbox [Early Years News Roundup](https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1Vneg2jsPR5C3b2eBW289Jw2b57kc) [Donate](https://babyzone.org.uk/donate) © 2026 Babyzone. 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