Celebrating the Launch of A Care Manifesto for the Early Years by Dr Zoë Raven

We were delighted to celebrate a major milestone in our organisation’s journey: the launch of A Care Manifesto for the Early Years – The Need for an Ethic of Care in Childcare Policy and Practice, the powerful book by our CEO and founder, Dr Zoë Raven.

The excitement across Acorn has been building as colleagues prepared the venue, arranged books, and welcomed guests for this special event honouring Zoe’s decades of leadership and advocacy in early childhood care. [linkedin.com]

Drawing on more than 35 years of hands-on experience in the early years sector, Zoe’s book calls for a fundamental rethinking of how society cares for its youngest children. Rooted in ethical practice, scholarly research, and real-world examples, the book highlights how care, embodied, relational, and deeply human, must sit at the centre of childcare policy and provision.  The book also explores the challenges facing the sector today, including workforce pressures and sets out a compelling argument for more inclusive, affordable, and non‑exploitative childcare provision.

Zoe has been a leading voice in early years care since founding Acorn in 1989, where she has championed outdoor learning, ethical practice, professional development, and a warm, family‑centred approach to childcare. Today, Acorn operates 18 nurseries, forest schools, and training services, an organisation shaped by Zoe’s unwavering commitment to care at the heart of education.

Her new book, published in March 2026 by Policy Press, represents the next step in her mission to strengthen the sector and support children, families, and educators to thrive.

At the launch, the atmosphere was buzzing with pride and anticipation as colleagues, friends, and respected figures from across the industry gathered to mark this meaningful achievement. The event celebrated not only the publication itself, but also the values that have shaped Acorn for over three decades: care, ethics, compassion, and the belief that children deserve the very best start in life.

A Care Manifesto for the Early Years is now available to purchase offering essential insight for practitioners, students, policymakers, and anyone passionate about creating nurturing, equitable environments for young children.

Bristol Policy Press has kindly agreed to give a 50% discount to readers of NMT if you order directly from its website, by using the code DSC50 (valid until 30 June) or you can use the QR code below to order a copy.