Rethinking early childhood.

Advancing Social Justice.

Critical Early Years Shaddai Tembo

Critical Early Years is an independent platform for research, writing, advocacy and training, focused on equality and social justice in early childhood education and care. Founded by Dr Shaddai Tembo, it brings together critical perspectives, research and practical resources to support more equitable approachs to early childhood.

About

Dr Shaddai Tembo (pronounced “Shad-eye”) is a lecturer, researcher, writer and consultant specialising in early childhood education and care.

His work draws on experience across early years practice, academic research, teaching and sector leadership, with a particular focus on social justice, identity and inclusion.

Work

Established in 2018, Critical Early Years provides speaking, training consultancy and research-informed support to organisations working with young children and families.

Areas of expertise include anti-racism, equality and inclusion, gender, identity and belonging, and the wider social and political conditions shaping childhood.

Approach

Early childhood plays an important role in how inequalities are experienced, reproduced and challenged.

Critical Early Years is grounded a commitment to challenging discrimination, questioning established assumptions and supporting more equitable and inclusive approaches to early childhood education and care.

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PROVIDING early years EXPERTISE SINCE 2018

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Critical Early Years offers speaking, consultancy and training for organisations seeking to deepen their understanding of early childhood, strengthen their practice and engage critically with questions of equality, inclusion and social justice.

Featured Work

Research & Work
Sanctuary, Belonging and the Early Years: Case Studies from Bristol
Sanctuary, Belonging and the Early Years: Case Studies from Bristol

A free practitioner booklet sharing seven Bristol case studies on sanctuary, anti-racism, migration, safety, family participation and belonging in early years practice.

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Keeping Anti-Racism on the Table: Liz Pemberton in Conversation with Dr Shaddai Tembo
Keeping Anti-Racism on the Table: Liz Pemberton in Conversation with Dr Shaddai Tembo

Liz Pemberton, founder of The Black Nursery Manager, joined Dr Shaddai Tembo and the Bristol Early Years Forum for Anti-Racist Practice for an in-conversation event on anti-racism, activism, safeguarding, hope and sustaining change in early years settings.

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BBc Radio 4 CHild Series 2… Surprise
BBc Radio 4 CHild Series 2… Surprise

From toddler jokes to toilet training, India Rakusen explores how surprise shapes learning, resilience, and the tender chaos of early childhood. Expect the unexpected.

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Playing with power: A guide for educators supporting anti-racist and decolonial childhoods
Playing with power: A guide for educators supporting anti-racist and decolonial childhoods

As part of project on ‘Diversity in Unity: Developing an anti-racist framework within Froebelian pedagogy’, Simon and I have produced this guide for educators working with young children.

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Notes

Notes
Social Justice for the Early Years is coming
Social Justice for the Early Years is coming

My new book, Social Justice for the Early Years: A Guide for Educators, will be published by SAGE in Spring 2027.

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Note #7
Note #7

A reflection on Jason Arday, Guy Debord’s Society of the Spectacle, and what happens when a person becomes a surface onto which much larger arguments about race, merit and academia are projected.

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Note #6
Note #6

What can professional guidance really change? This Note reflects on the revised Birth to 5 Matters guidance, exploring its stronger commitments to equity, social justice, anti-racism, neurodiversity and belonging, and asking how educators can put those principles to work in everyday practice.

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COMING SPRING 2027 FROM SAGE

Social Justice for the Early Years

A Guide for Educators

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  • "It was so great to have you on the panel and you really seamlessly move through the different layers of your content in a nuanced yet accessible way."

  • "Sharing your research and personal experiences added a unique depth and perspective to the discussion, making it a remarkable learning experience for everyone involved."

  • "Listening to Shaddai carefully explain key concepts with examples was brilliant. The openness of everyone taking part, including shaddai, made the course a safe place to discuss racism."

  • "I was captivated by your words and your goal to champion diversity in early years and directly face discrimination and how it can be dealt with."

  • "I firstly wanted to say how amazing and inspirational you are. I am a class teacher at X School and I came away so inspired. I have been sharing lots of the messages from the day with staff since being back in school."

  • "I like the interactive style and the way in which the presenter makes the session accessible. Really thought provoking and interactive."

  • "You say it is better to try and get it wrong than not try at all, this has stuck in my head since seeing you, and I would like the staff and I to try to do our best for the children we take care of."

  • "You have inspired the students by acting as a role model for resilience and dedication as well as demonstrating first hand alternative routes into the sector."

  • "Speaking from own background and practitioner experience, very informative on social issues. Really thought-provoking, really enjoyed the handouts to take away and focus on in more detail."

  • "Shaddai’s warmth and openness, the way he kindly challenged us to look both inward and outward so as we could reflect as individuals and take practical steps in interactions with the children in setting."

  • "The training was so well-structured and tailored to our work specifically, and it felt like you provided a really open and caring space for talking and thinking about such complicated and difficult things."

  • "I think the mix of talking from our personal experiences, the historical and theoretical context, and practical exercises and discussion was really brilliant."

  • "I really liked how you emphasised the self-care needed in anti-racist work while also not letting us off the hook - gently pushing us to confront our roles and privileges in racist structures."

  • "I definitely feel more comfortable talking about anti-racism and taking action to identify, react to and work against racism in my working life and my personal life as a result of this training."

  • "Specifically, I am coming away from this training with a clear understanding of where and how racism exists for children under 5 and the adults that interact in their learning environment."

  • "I felt expertly facilitated to contribute to conversations and particularly appreciated Shaddai’s promotion of the importance of “listening spaces” as well as conversation spaces."

  • "made me think about how important it is to have conversations with children and staff within my setting. Feel empowered by new knowledge to be confident with challenging adaptations to practice."