Breadcrumb Home Resource Hub Early Years Hub Early Years Hub Copy URL https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/resources/early-years-hub Early Years Hub Copy URL https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/resources/early-years-hub IntroductionOur Early Years Hub is full of resources to help you develop your early years practice.Alongside this our Energiser Fund is supporting 11 organisations to explore co-design and participation in creative projects for early years. Make sure to explore the latest learning and research from the Energiser Fund. Developing Your Early Years PracticeYouth Music believes that working with the under 5s is an exciting place to be. It requires skilled and dedicated organisations and practitioners, with specialist knowledge and experience. Browse through resources created by Youth Music and our funded partners to help you further your practice and be inspired by others. Youth Voice In The Early Years Youth Voice means children, including babies and toddlers, are listened to, involved in decisions, and able to lead. Youth Music asks partners to embed this, and our Youth Voice Hub’s Early Years section explains what it looks like and offers practical resources. Read more Musical Development Matters in the Early Years This guidance supports practitioners and parents/carers to see, understand and support the musical development of young children. The resource, videos and reflection questions offer ideas as to how to support and nurture children’s musical development. Read more Youth Music Early Years Quality Framework Youth Music’s quality framework contains a recommended set of criteria to promote high quality, inclusive music-making sessions. This resource provides additional advice and guidance for using the framework in early years settings. Read more Prev Next Youth Music's Early Years Research Exploring Co-creation: A Resource for Anyone Working with Young Children A practical resource exploring co-creation with young children, offering research, ethical guidance and creative approaches for early years practitioners. Read more Valuing Diversity in Early Years Music From nursery rhymes to R&B, children’s musical tastes are more diverse than ever. Explore why early years music should reflect real families, real cultures, and the voices of young children themselves. Read more Tablets and Tambourines: Equalising Access for Early Years Children Young children are increasingly using digital tools to make music. Explore how technology can complement traditional approaches and help widen access to creative music‑making in the early years. Read more Are Nursery Rhymes Outdated? New research reveals many parents see nursery rhymes as outdated. Discover how families are embracing diverse genres and why early years music needs reimagining to truly reflect children’s creativity today. Read more Sound of The Next Generation 2024 Music is vital to young people's wellbeing and identity, but barriers like access and cost hold many back. Explore the findings and calls for action in the Sound of the Next Generation report. Read more Engaging ‘hard to reach’ families with young children through music Here we explore our learning from recent projects on how to access and engage families who fall within the often-cited and hugely diverse ‘hard to reach’ category. Read more Prev Next Get Inspired by our Funded Partners Case Study Magic Acorns Playtech Project Step inside Magic Acorns’ radical new early years project, where toddlers lead the creative process. Read more Case Study WILD Young Parents: Music Makes Us Happy WILD Young Parents is the UK’s biggest young parent organisation. Based in Cornwall, the organisation has been supported by Youth Music for several years now. Read more Case Study Sing our Story: The Community Music Project Bringing Families Together Sing Our Story (formerly the Lullaby Project) is a project funded by Youth Music that is designed to use song writing to support children’s early musical development while increasing their confidence, emotional wellbeing, and creating a stronger relationship between schools and parents. Read more Connect with Early Years project we support Image Explore The Map Watch Our Exchange SessionsExplore our Early Years YouTube playlist – featuring workshops and talks from a variety of organisations and experts. See Early Years Sessions THE ENERGISER FUNDThe Energiser Fund is supporting 11 organisations to celebrate and energise creative practice with 2-4-years-olds. Centring children’s voices, views and lived experience, the fund is exploring co-design and participation in creative projects for early years. Explore the latest research and learning from the fund. Read about the organisations we’re supporting. Discover the Energiser Fund organisations Evaluating Early Years ProjectsComing soon resources to support your evaluation skills.
Youth Voice In The Early Years Youth Voice means children, including babies and toddlers, are listened to, involved in decisions, and able to lead. Youth Music asks partners to embed this, and our Youth Voice Hub’s Early Years section explains what it looks like and offers practical resources. Read more
Musical Development Matters in the Early Years This guidance supports practitioners and parents/carers to see, understand and support the musical development of young children. The resource, videos and reflection questions offer ideas as to how to support and nurture children’s musical development. Read more
Youth Music Early Years Quality Framework Youth Music’s quality framework contains a recommended set of criteria to promote high quality, inclusive music-making sessions. This resource provides additional advice and guidance for using the framework in early years settings. Read more
Exploring Co-creation: A Resource for Anyone Working with Young Children A practical resource exploring co-creation with young children, offering research, ethical guidance and creative approaches for early years practitioners. Read more
Valuing Diversity in Early Years Music From nursery rhymes to R&B, children’s musical tastes are more diverse than ever. Explore why early years music should reflect real families, real cultures, and the voices of young children themselves. Read more
Tablets and Tambourines: Equalising Access for Early Years Children Young children are increasingly using digital tools to make music. Explore how technology can complement traditional approaches and help widen access to creative music‑making in the early years. Read more
Are Nursery Rhymes Outdated? New research reveals many parents see nursery rhymes as outdated. Discover how families are embracing diverse genres and why early years music needs reimagining to truly reflect children’s creativity today. Read more
Sound of The Next Generation 2024 Music is vital to young people's wellbeing and identity, but barriers like access and cost hold many back. Explore the findings and calls for action in the Sound of the Next Generation report. Read more
Engaging ‘hard to reach’ families with young children through music Here we explore our learning from recent projects on how to access and engage families who fall within the often-cited and hugely diverse ‘hard to reach’ category. Read more
Case Study Magic Acorns Playtech Project Step inside Magic Acorns’ radical new early years project, where toddlers lead the creative process. Read more
Case Study WILD Young Parents: Music Makes Us Happy WILD Young Parents is the UK’s biggest young parent organisation. Based in Cornwall, the organisation has been supported by Youth Music for several years now. Read more
Case Study Sing our Story: The Community Music Project Bringing Families Together Sing Our Story (formerly the Lullaby Project) is a project funded by Youth Music that is designed to use song writing to support children’s early musical development while increasing their confidence, emotional wellbeing, and creating a stronger relationship between schools and parents. Read more
