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Bio: With over 30 years of experience in early childhood education, I am Twinkl's National Lead for PVI Early Years Settings, Childminders, and Parents. I am deeply passionate about the well-being and development of babies and young children, particularly during their crucial first 1000 days. My career journey is diverse, encompassing roles as a local authority consultant, manager, university lecturer, school trustee, and early years advisor, as well as various positions within nurseries. As a mother of two, I understand the challenges and joys of parenthood firsthand. Additionally, I am a Director of a Community Interest Company , dedicated to empowering children in education. My passion lies in supporting both families and educators to ensure every child has the best possible start in life. For over a decade , Twinkl has been a trusted provider of high-quality, affordable teaching resources to educators worldwide. However, there's more to Twinkl than meets the eye. What Twinkl is k nown f or:  Our dedicated teams of content  creators, production teams, curriculum writers, graphic designers, and illustrators who bring learning to life every day. They continuously create a vast and expanding library of instantly downloadable inclusive educational resources, catering to educators, parents, schools, and homeschoolers. The range covers every stage of a child’s learning journey, from maternity and antenatal care, to a baby’s first year and secondary education.    What Twinkl is l ess k nown f or:  We also foster interactive online communities across all social media platforms, offer a wide range of podcasts ,  ebooks , blogs , live webinars , and online training courses . These initiatives empower educators to build meaningful connections and achieve sustainable professional development and growth. Greetings from Twinkl Parents Our Twinkl Parents team believe  in supporting parents to create enjoyable opportunities for children to learn at home, which are filled with moments of curiosity, fun and connection. Our team is made up of parents, health professionals and experienced educators who know firsthand how to balance busy family life with meaningful learning experiences. What makes Twinkl Parents special: Easy, ready-to-go resources : Activities and plans designed for busy families who want to support age appropriate learning without the pressure. Our resources range from editable Maternity Leave letters and baby shower games, to guidance on supporting a child to adjust to a new sibling, potty training and primary curriculum activities. Weekly newsletters and updates:  Parents can sign up to weekly newsletters for free, receive age and stage appropriate activity ideas for helping your child to learn and develop through play.   A friendly online community : A welcoming space where parents share tips, ideas, ask questions to our professionals and gain support and encouragement. Inspiration year-round:  From seasonally themed campaigns and crafts ideas to our popular social media pages and groups with tips, tricks and hacks to support every family. At Twinkl Parents , we listen to our community, create resources based on your feedback, and celebrate the amazing ways families learn together. We’re not just sharing printables, we’re helping you make learning part of your child’s everyday life at home. Where to find us: Browse resources on our web page at Twinkl Parents Hub  , join one of our Facebook groups Twinkl Midwife   Twinkl Pregnancy, Baby and Toddler Group   Twinkl Parents Group  or come and find our Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube communities for ideas and support. A warm welcome from Twinkl EYFS At Twinkl, our EYFS team has a simple mission: to be ‘ right there with you’  as you nurture those magical first years of learning and navigate Government legislation like the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. Whether you’re an early years educator, teacher or nanny, we’re here to make every aspect of your early years practice intentional, impactful and enjoyable. Our Twinkl EYFS team is a passionate group of early years teachers and professionals, who are experts in understanding how young children learn best, through connection, exploration and fun. What makes Twinkl EYFS special: ●     Play-based learning made simple:  Discover engaging activities and plans designed to build confidence and curiosity within the prime and specific areas of learning and development. ●     Guidance you can trust:  From phonics to fine motor skills, our expertly created content supports every stage of early learning and development. ●     Policy and guidance:  Feel safe in the knowledge that all of our content aligns with current legislation, Ofsted Inspection Frameworks and Apprenticeship level course requirements. Our Business Tools content line supports PVI and childminding providers with everything from accounting spreadsheets and invoicing templates and guidance, to risk assessments and recruitment documents. ●     Supportive online communities:  Join our online spaces where early years professionals share ideas, successes, and encouragement. ●     Seasonal events and campaigns:  Sign up to take part in purposefully planned weeks and months run by our marketing teams, who provide bespoke blogs, newsletters and curated content for, school based EYFS, PVI settings and Childminders. This ensures the content you see and the messages you receive are relevant to your specific role within early years. Where to find us: Explore thousands of early years resources at : Twinkl EYFS Teaching Resources , and connect with us on: Facebook: Twinkl.Childminders   , twinklprivateearlyyears   Twinkl Early Years Practitioners Group Instagram: Twinkl EY in Schools    Twinkl Childminders   Twinkl Private Early Years Tiktok:   Twinkl EY In Schools   Podcast: Twinkl Talks: EYFS Podcast You can also find us on YouTube and Pinterest for even more inspiration. A big hello from Twinkl Home Ed Our Twinkl Home Ed motto is ‘ Together on Your Home Ed Journey ’ because we truly are here to support families at every stage, whatever your Home Education style. While many know Twinkl for its huge range of teaching templates and curriculum resources, Twinkl Home Ed offers so much more. Our team is made up of Home Educating parents and teachers, so we understand what families really need to make learning enjoyable, flexible and inspiring. What makes Twinkl Home Ed special: ●     Planning made easy : Our Home Learning Hub  is perfect for families who want structure without the stress. ●     Free live lessons and events : to spark curiosity and bring learning to life. ●     A vibrant online community : Full of friendly support, shared experiences and connection with other Home Educating families. ●     Fun events : Provided throughout the year including Twinkl Home Ed Bake-Off, Weeks of Wonder, CSI investigations and plenty more. ●     A huge library of videos : with playlists featuring follow-along lessons, online challenges, kid-to-kid content, tips on getting the most out of Twinkl, and showcases of our resources in action. We’re always listening to our members, creating resources based on suggestions, running themed weeks and competitions, and helping families discover all the features their Twinkl membership includes. This genuine care and dedication is what makes our community so special. We’re not just providing resources, we’re walking the Home Education journey with you. Where to find us: Join our   Facebook group  to connect with other families. You’ll also find us on   Instagram ,   Pinterest  and YouTube. Whatever your needs whether as a parent, home educator or setting based educator, Twinkl is here to help make your children’s learning easy, inspiring, and full of joy, with over 1,000,000+ resources and growing,   so come and take another look.

At RECAP, we’re passionate about sharing research that helps families access trusted, evidence-based information. This latest report, Teaching RSHE in the Home: Perspectives, Practices, and Support Needs of a Sample of Home Educators in the UK , explores how home-educating parents approach Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) and what support they need to do it confidently. This study was conducted by RECAP’s founder, Lucie Wheeler, as part of her role at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), in collaboration with Education Otherwise , a leading charity supporting home-educating families across the UK. The research sought to understand: How do home educators in the UK understand, approach, and deliver RSHE, and what support do they feel they need? Why this research matters RSHE is a statutory part of the school curriculum, helping young people learn about relationships, health, consent, online safety and wellbeing. But for home-educating families - who are not required to follow the national curriculum - there’s far less guidance available. This study fills an important gap, shining a light on how RSHE is currently being taught in home settings, and where families would value more help and resources. What we found From 33 survey responses  across the UK, an overwhelming 97% of home educators said they deliver RSHE  to their children. Most described doing so informally, through open, everyday conversations rather than structured lessons - a flexible, child-led approach that reflects the ethos of home education itself. Parents viewed RSHE as much more than “sex education.” They described it as covering: Healthy friendships and relationships Consent and boundaries Emotional wellbeing and mental health Physical and sexual health Online safety and digital awareness Identity, diversity, and inclusion While many respondents felt confident in their understanding, 42% said they would welcome more support , particularly around complex or sensitive topics such as gender identity, pornography, and online risks. How families resource their RSHE teaching Home educators are creative and resourceful. They draw on books, YouTube videos, BBC Bitesize, Talk to Frank , and peer recommendations, alongside their own life experience. However, many said they struggle to find inclusive, trauma-informed, and age-appropriate materials  that reflect their values and their children’s needs. Several parents also shared that they’d appreciate guidance on how to start tricky conversations  or training opportunities  to help them navigate sensitive topics with confidence. Key recommendations Based on these insights, the report suggests five ways to better support home-educating families: Provide flexible frameworks , not prescriptive curricula. Curate a trusted directory  of age-appropriate, inclusive, values-aware resources. Offer conversation guides  on sensitive topics like consent, online risks, and pornography. Develop trauma-informed RSHE pathways  for families with lived experience of trauma. Create opportunities for parental training and peer support. In summary This research highlights the commitment, creativity, and care  home-educating parents bring to RSHE and the need for trusted, accessible guidance  to help them continue doing so effectively. By amplifying home educators’ voices, we can ensure that every child - wherever they learn - has access to the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a complex, connected world. 📄 Read the full report:   Teaching RSHE in the Home (Wheeler, 2025) 📧

Veronica Williams Veronica is a Freelance Artist Educator who runs Home Ed Creatives (LIVE Online Art Classes). She also collaborates with Charities and Businesses to offer Creative Workshops. She Home Educated her two sons up until the ages of 14 & 17. Both are now at University. Children are born with a remarkable gift of being curious .  As parents you are likely to be familiar with questions children frequently ask: “What is happening?” “Where are you going? “Why do I have to go to bed?” Curiosity begets creativity.  Great art, products, inventions and discoveries are creative works sparked by a sense of curiosity by humans. The challenge today is ensuring that our children who are growing up as Digital Natives, stay curious and continue to have their creativity nurtured, Here three simple yet impactful ways that you can help nurture your child’s creativity.  1.      Stay Curious “Creativity takes Courage” Henri Mattisse (1869 -1954), French Visual Artist It takes courage to see things differently; especially as we get older.  Young children however, are natural explorers. If you need a reminder, try giving a young child a wooden spoon and a saucepan and see what happens. Stay curious with your child. Ask questions in an age appropriate way and discover things together. Doing it with Art materials is a great way to start. It can be as simple as saying, “I wonder what happens when I mix some blue paint with yellow paint.” If painting feels intimidating, start with crayons or colour pencils. Remember no one is expecting you to produce a masterpiece - you are encouraging curiosity which underpins creative thinking. 2.      Prioritise Creativity “Creativity is as important as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.” Sir Ken Robinson (1950 - 2020), Author, Speaker and International Advisor on Education We enjoy creativity through the timeless stories, plays and movies we love. With the increasing presence of AI permeating our lives; Sir Ken Robinson’s words ring louder than ever. Children's books are a great way to start.  The next time you read a book with your child, look at the illustration on the front and back cover.  Notice how the title is designed - it’s size, colour and spacing.  Are there drawings of the main characters?  Ask your child why he thinks the illustrator has chosen to draw it in that way. The same type of questions can be done over breakfast with a Cereal box or even when you are out and about as you look at different signs.  Taking steps to prioritise creativity and deliberately weaving it in our times with our children regularly will help nurture their creativity. 3. Explore local resources “When in doubt go to the library.” J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Your local library might not be as enchanting as the Hogwarts Library but it can be a treasure trove of inspiration.  I personally love going to the non-fiction section and looking through books on Visual Arts and Crafts.  These books are like portals to famous Artists Studios and sketchbooks.  There is no need to read from cover to cover. Just leafing through the images with your child might spark their interest.  Your library might also run Art classes or have a notice board about things that are happening in the local area - perhaps a local Art Club is putting up an exhibition.  In some cities, libraries have a local Museum in the same building. Apart from Libraries, there might be National Trust or English Heritage site nearby which might have education packs and activities for children. For older children, consider taking sketch book and some pencils for your child and to do observational sketching. Whenever I have done this with children, I am often pleasantly surprised by the amount of positive comments by other visitors about seeing children draw in public. Nurturing creativity is a vital practice that promotes overall well-being not just in children but adults.  By taking steps to help nurture  creativity in our children today, we are contributing towards building their confidence and resilience as they mature into adulthood.

Get Involved as a Parent At RECAP, parents are at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to make research and evidence accessible, practical, and relevant to family life — and that starts with listening to you. By getting involved, you’ll help shape how research is shared, make sure it reflects real family experiences, and connect with a community that values trusted information and shared understanding. 💬 Join the RECAP Parent Panel Our Parent Panel brings together parents and caregivers from a wide range of backgrounds to share insights, experiences, and honest feedback. As a panel member, you can: Take part in short surveys or online discussions about family life and parenting topics Review upcoming RECAP content to ensure it feels relevant and accessible Help shape future projects, resources, and events Be part of a community influencing how research reaches families You don’t need to be an expert — just a parent or caregiver with lived experience and a willingness to share your thoughts. 🎙 Share Your Story We know that behind every piece of research are real people and real stories. If you have personal experiences or reflections connected to topics we cover — from education and wellbeing to relationships and health — we’d love to help you share them. You can contribute by: Taking part in a podcast episode or video feature Writing or co-authoring a short parent perspective piece Joining a panel discussion with researchers or practitioners Your story could help others feel seen, supported, and informed. 🧠 Attend a Webinar or Event We regularly host free and low-cost webinars on topics that matter most to families — from mental health and learning to digital wellbeing and parenting confidence. By taking part, you’ll: Hear directly from researchers and practitioners Gain practical, evidence-based tips for family life Be part of a community of curious, reflective parents 💡 Ready to Get Involved? Whether you’d like to join the Parent Panel, share your story, or simply find out more about how RECAP works with families — we’d love to hear from you. ✨ Let’s chat about how you can take part! Book a free 30-minute call with our team to explore how your experiences can help shape RECAP’s work. 👉 Book your free chat here Or simply complete the form below Together, we can build stronger connections between research and real family life and make sure parents’ voices are at the centre of it all. Contact Like what you see? Get in touch to learn more. First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

At RECAP, we believe research should reach beyond journals and conference halls — it should make a difference in everyday family life. Our mission is to connect parents, educators, and practitioners with trusted, evidence-based information in ways that are accessible, engaging, and practical. If you’re a researcher, educator, or practitioner passionate about sharing knowledge that supports families, there are several ways you can contribute to RECAP’s growing community. 🔬 Share Your Research Bring your work to life by sharing it in a clear, engaging format for parents and caregivers. We help translate academic findings into short articles, infographics, or Q&As that highlight real-world relevance. Whether your research is newly published or still in progress, RECAP offers a platform to make it accessible and impactful. Ways to contribute: Submit a summary or short article about your research Collaborate with our editorial team to create family-friendly content Share key insights, tips, or resources drawn from your work 🎙 Join the RECAP Podcast Our podcast features conversations with researchers, educators, and parents exploring what evidence means in practice. If you have research or insights that could spark meaningful discussion, we’d love to hear from you. You could: Be a guest on the podcast to discuss your research or experience Co-host a special episode on a specific theme Suggest a topic or nominate a guest whose work deserves to be heard 💬 Host a Webinar or Talk Help bridge the gap between research and real life by leading an online session for parents, teachers, or fellow researchers. Webinars and talks can focus on a single study, an area of expertise, or practical applications of research evidence. We offer: Guidance on creating engaging, evidence-based sessions Technical and promotional support Opportunities to connect with a wide, family-focused audience 🤝 Collaborate with Us RECAP is always open to partnerships and collaborative projects — from research translation initiatives to co-hosted events or joint funding bids that promote knowledge exchange and public engagement. If you have an idea that aligns with our mission, let’s explore it together. 💡 Ready to Contribute? We welcome contributions from across disciplines — education, psychology, health, sociology, early years, and beyond. ✨ Let’s chat about how you can get involved! Book a free 30-minute call with our team to explore how your research, expertise, or story could feature on RECAP. 👉 Book your free chat here Or simply fill in the form below. Together, we can make research more accessible, relatable, and useful for families everywhere. Contact Like what you see? Get in touch to learn more. First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

Discover more about our Education Research Center in Chelmsford, UK. Learn about our mission and values. Explore our About Us page today! About Us At RECAP Ltd, our mission is to empower parents, carers, teachers, and professionals with trusted, evidence-based knowledge that supports every stage of a child's education, development, and wellbeing. We aim to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world practice, making knowledge accessible, practical, and transformative for families and communities. We deliver high-quality information and support through a variety of platforms, including videos, blogs, podcasts, infographics, articles, books, and both face-to-face and online training. Our content is designed in flexible, bite-sized formats, allowing individuals to access learning easily, at their own pace and convenience. RECAP Ltd is committed to breaking down barriers to knowledge. By making research accessible and relatable, we help promote social mobility and empower individuals to grow in confidence, wellbeing, and contribution to society .At RECAP Ltd, we’re not just sharing knowledge - we’re creating lasting change for families, professionals, and future generations. Our Mission Statement Empower To empower parents and carers with access to trusted, evidence-based knowledge that supports every stage of their child's education, development, and well-being. Impact To amplify the reach and real-world impact of academic research by creating direct pathways between researchers and the families who can benefit from their work. Nurture To nurture and elevate small and medium-sized businesses that offer reliable, valuable, and family-centred services, resources, and products. Transform To break down barriers between research and real life, transforming cutting-edge insights into practical support that strengthens families and communities. Lucie Wheeler RECAP Founding Director , First Aid Instructor & Researcher Lucie is a researcher, PhD student, first aid instructor, author and mother. She is incredibly passionate about sharing research and information to parents, carers, schools/settings and professionals, within the fields of education, child development and parenting. After spending 12 years working in mainstream primary schools, preschools, nurseries, SEND schools and parent & toddler groups, she moved into researching in Higher Education in 2020, and launched RECAP Ltd in 2023. Qualifications : PhD - in progress MA Early Childhood Education BA Early Childhood Professional Studies First Aid at Work Instructor AED Instructor Paediatric First Aid Instructor TQUK Level 3 Award in Education & Training (RQF) Mental Health First Aider DBS Approved Contact me