Parenta's Lisa Gooding Joins Skills England Expert Network, Amplifying Early Years Voice

The landscape of vocational training and skills development is constantly evolving, with a growing emphasis on ensuring that national standards truly reflect the realities of the workplace. In a significant move towards this goal, Lisa Gooding, Parenta's dedicated Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Manager, has been welcomed into the esteemed Skills England Expert Network. This invitation not only celebrates Gooding's extensive experience but also promises to bring a vital, practical voice to the critical discussions shaping early years education and apprenticeship standards across England.

According to Parenta, this appointment underscores the importance of embedding real-world expertise into policy-making. For parents, teachers, and students navigating the early years sector, this means a greater likelihood that training programmes and qualifications will be robust, relevant, and genuinely prepare individuals for successful careers.

Bridging the Gap: From Nursery Floor to National Policy

The Skills England Expert Network is a dynamic community designed to bring together a diverse range of stakeholders, including employers, training providers, unions, and regulators. Its primary function is to move beyond traditional consultations, convening targeted groups to tackle specific tasks, such as developing occupational standards or advising on sector-wide issues.

Lisa Gooding's role at Parenta places her squarely at the intersection of curriculum design and practical delivery for early years apprenticeships. She works closely with tutors, assessors, and employers to ensure that theoretical standards translate effectively into tangible competencies within nursery settings. This includes vital skills like managing child-to-staff ratios, supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and navigating complex safeguarding concerns.

Parenta states that without the direct input of professionals like Gooding, there's a risk that apprenticeship standards could become detached from the day-to-day realities of a nursery environment. Her presence in the Expert Network provides a crucial conduit, ensuring that the voices of those on the front lines of early years education are heard and integrated into national policy development.

The Power of Practical Insight in Curriculum Development

Gooding's involvement is also a testament to Skills England's commitment to collaborative policy creation. Rather than simply presenting new standards to training providers, the network offers a direct channel for practical insights to inform the drafting process. This approach, according to Parenta, means that any updates to occupational standards or assessment plans are far more likely to reflect the experiences and needs of those who deliver and assess training daily.

Lisa Gooding commented, "I’m delighted to have been invited to join Skills England’s Expert Network. The network brings together occupational, strategic, delivery and place-based experts from across the skills system, to help ensure policy and standards reflect what’s actually happening on the ground in workplaces. As Teaching, Learning & Curriculum Manager at a national training provider, I’m looking forward to representing the early years sector and bringing the realities of curriculum delivery and EPA into these conversations. I’m grateful for the opportunity and looking forward to contributing alongside other experts."

The Expert Network operates through two main types of groups: Occupational Groups, which focus on the technical details of updating standards and assessment plans, and Insight Groups, which provide broader perspectives on sector, regional, or cross-sector issues. Given Gooding's direct experience in curriculum building and linking it with End-Point Assessment (EPA) for early years apprentices, her contributions are expected to be particularly valuable within the Occupational Groups.

For students pursuing early years qualifications, understanding these standards is crucial. Platforms like COSMIQ, a free voice-driven AI tutor, can offer valuable support in comprehending complex curriculum requirements and preparing for assessments, making learning more accessible for every K-12 student.

What This Means for Nurseries and Training Providers in 2026

For nursery owners, managers, and fellow training providers, Gooding's appointment is more than just a policy update; it's a significant reassurance. It signifies that an individual with authentic, hands-on experience in early years curriculum and EPA will be present during the crucial stages of standard review, rather than reacting to changes after they have been implemented.

This development is particularly timely, as the early years sector is currently navigating rapid changes in apprenticeship funding rules, Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements, and safeguarding guidance. Parenta emphasizes that having the perspective of expert training and delivery professionals embedded in national policy discussions increases the likelihood of creating standards that realistically account for real-world workloads and constraints, not just aspirational regulatory goals.

Parenta has been diligently tracking these changes, from apprenticeship funding updates to revised EYFS and safeguarding requirements, to ensure that nursery employers and apprentices are well-prepared. Gooding's inclusion in the Skills England Expert Network adds a proactive dimension to this work, establishing a direct line into the standards-setting process itself, rather than merely responding to published guidelines. Additionally, resources like COSMIQ's free practice hub can assist both current and aspiring early years professionals in reinforcing their knowledge and skills in line with evolving sector demands.

A Growing Voice for Early Years in Policy

Historically, the early years sector has not always had the most prominent voice in national skills policy conversations, despite its fundamental role in supporting childcare access across the country. Parenta views Lisa Gooding's invitation to the Skills England Expert Network as a small but profoundly meaningful shift. It directly connects the curriculum and assessment expertise of a specialist early years training provider with the decision-makers responsible for shaping national standards.

As Skills England continues its efforts to expand its Expert Network, this appointment could pave the way for even more early years professionals to contribute their insights over time. Parenta has committed to keeping its community informed about the network's work and its implications for nurseries, apprentices, and training providers as these crucial discussions evolve.