Campaigns & Media

PACEY
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Campaigns & Media

PACEY speaks on behalf of its members – childcare and early years professionals in England and Wales – on a range of subjects. This page the place for getting in touch with the press team and catching up with PACEY’s latest campaigns and news.

#changealife campaign

Every day, early years and childcare professionals are supporting the most important first years of a child’s life. It is those little moments, such as giving a child emotional support or teaching them about numbers that although may seem small, have a huge impact on the development of that child and the rest of their life.

This digital campaign for local authorities aims to showcase the impact that a professional has on a child and the opportunity this sector creates to start your own business, build your skills, become part of a team and enjoy a varied and rewarding career path.

#notababysitter campaign

Our campaign #notababysitter has been created to tackle one very common myth that many parents think; that childcare providers are babysitters.

Childcare providers includes all types on providers including childminders, nannies and nursery workers and the campaign has been extended to be inclusive of all providers.

We are aiming to reach parents across the country, through local authorities, Job Centre Plus to improve awareness, education and understanding of the professionalism of providers.

Contact the press office

PACEY’s press office provides the association’s latest news and views to journalists, broadcasters and researchers from across the media.

We are also able to set up interviews with our childcare experts, and provide professional case studies working as nannies, childminders and nursery staff throughout England and Wales.

For all media enquiries please contact our switchboard: 0300 003 0005 or email media@pacey.org.uk

PACEY Spokespeople

PACEY has a range of experts in childcare and childcare policy who are able to speak knowledgeably on a wide range of issues affecting the childcare sector.

Penny Tassoni MBE President

Penny Tassoni is a well-known education consultant, author and trainer who specialises in the whole spectrum of learning and play within early years.

Penny has written over 40 books, many of which are best sellers in the sector. Her latest professional book is Reducing Educational disadvantage; A strategic approach in the early years.

Penny is a sought after speaker both in the UK and internationally where she has worked in Istanbul, China, and Japan.

In addition to training, Penny has worked as a consultant for awarding organisations as well as leading toy manufacturers.

“The early years sector is wonderfully diverse, but yet I see it as a united community as it always puts children and their families first. It is therefore an honour to be President of PACEY – an organisation designed to support members who work in a variety of roles within this early years community.”

Penny has been President of PACEY since 2013.

Helen Donohoe Chief Executive

Helen Donohoe leads PACEY, championing the vital role practitioners play in helping children prepare for a bright future and working to ensure everyone in childcare and early years can provide high quality care and early education.

Helen joined PACEY as Policy Advisor in 2019, taking the role of Chief Executive in December 2022. She has almost 30 years of experience across policy development, campaigning, and senior leadership, including time as the Director for Public Policy at Action for Children and as a Parent Governor of Islington North Nursery. She is passionate about early intervention and ensuring every child gets the best start in life.

Working with PACEY staff, volunteers and members, she ensures PACEY provides information, advice and support to childminders, nurseries; pre-schools and nannies as well as families and others involved in childcare and early years; enables members to share their ideas and experiences with each other and represents and advocates on their behalf. Helen represents PACEY at the Department for Education’s Early Years Strategic Forum; Ofsted’s Early Years Consultative Forum and shares PACEY members’ views and experiences on other coalitions, at conferences and parliamentary forums, as well as to the media.

Claire Protheroe Head of Contracts & Projects

Claire’s job is to lead all of PACEY Cymru’s work in Wales with Welsh Government and other key stakeholders as well as managing PACEY’s wider work with local authorities (LAs) in England and Wales. This includes managing contracts to deliver services and any grant funded projects PACEY run alongside maintaining relationships with childcare and early years leaders in local authorities in both nations. Claire has held a number of roles since joining PACEY in 2009 and before this Claire was a registered childminder for a number of years.

If you would like to request someone for an interview, soundbite, statement, or panel discussion, please contact our switchboard: 0300 003 0005 or email media@pacey.org.uk