Practitioners can book onto any of the online course dates below, or you can find out about holding an online or face-to-face course for your organisation or local authority, in the UK or Ireland.

Learning Together Programme Training 2024 - find out more

Forthcoming LTP courses -  live online:

Tue 20 - Wed 21 August
Tue 10 - Wed 11 September
Tue 15 - Wed 16 October
Wed 13 - Thur 14 November

>  Booking form for Learning Together Programme Training

Duration:  2 days (9.30 - 4.30pm)  |  Platform: Teams  |  Optional accreditation unit - see below​​​​​

>  Peep LTP Training in Australia

Practitioner Accreditation 2024 - free Information session

Find out how you or LTP-trained colleagues can complete the Practitioner Accreditation unit as part of your Peep delivery:
Join our free Practitioner Accreditation Information Session: 

Thur 29 August:  3.30 - 4.30pm

> Email us and we'll send you a Teams link for your calendar:  pa@peeple.org.uk

Peep Antenatal Programme Training 2024 - find out more

Forthcoming Antenatal courses -  live online:

Thur 22 August
Thur 17 October

>  Booking form for Peep Antenatal training

Duration:  1 day (9.30 - 4.30pm)  |  Platform: Teams 

Peep Progression Pathway Training 2024 - find out more

Forthcoming Peep Progression Pathway courses -  live online:

Mon 23 September

>  Booking form for Peep Progression Pathway training

Training duration:  1 day (9.30 - 3.30pm)  |  Platform: Teams 

Peep Progression Pathway: free Information session

Find out more about using the Peep Progression Pathway qualification units with your local families:
Join our next free Pathway Information Session for practitioners and managers 

Wed 18 September:  3.30 - 4.30pm

> Email us for dates and we'll send you a Teams link for your calendar:  pathway@peeple.org.uk

Other training info:

• Email:  training@peeple.org.uk  or  tel: 01865 397970  with any questions
• Please book at least 10 working days before the course date, so there's time for your training pack to reach you.
• Contact us to find out about arranging a course for your staff.
• Payment and Cancellation Terms and Conditions:  Peep Learning Ltd, the trading arm of Peeple, will invoice you after receiving this booking form. Payment is due within 30 days of invoice date. Fees are only refundable if cancelled more than two weeks before the course. (Peep Learning Ltd vat registration no: 768 4173 94)

Peeple Centre, Oxford

Tel 01865 395145 (main office) or  Tel 01865 397970 (training queries)

To visit us/ for sat nav:
The Peeple Centre, Northfield Close (off Giles Road), Littlemore, Oxford OX4 4NH (NB this is the back entrance to The Oxford Academy Campus - there is currently no access from the front entrance to the Academy)

> link to Google map for Peeple Centre

> For precise location you can find us using the what3words addressing system:

For Peeple Centre - Training and Qualifications (Cabin 1): ///dared.organs.cases

For Peeple Centre - Practitioner base (Cabin 2): ///jump.exchanges.aside

For Little Peeple Nursery: ///soil.oven.hook

For Northfield Close Entrance pathway: ///sling.jump.crowds

You can download the free what3words apps for android and IOS - HERE

directions to the Peeple Centre: 

The easiest route is to turn off the A4142 Eastern Bypass at the Littlemore roundabout, turning north along the Oxford Road (ie left from A34/ Abingdon direction or right from London/ Birmingham/ M40 direction). 
Take the first right down Newman Road, then right at the first mini-roundabout along Cowley Road (Littlemore) and drive under the flyover. 
Take the first left down Champion Way, first right into Giles Road and second left into Northfield Close. 
The Peeple Centre (and the Littlemore entrance to Oxford Academy) are at the very end of Northfield Close. Turn right inside the gate and go down to the car park at the end of the drive, which is next to the Peeple Centre (Peep the Parrot faces mark the spot on the map below!). There is plenty of parking space.

Train and bus: Oxford train station is about 4 miles from the Peeple Centre. Stagecoach and Oxford Bus Company buses stop in Rose Hill approx every 15 minutes, about half a mile from the Peeple Centre (follow same walking route as for driving directions above). If you get a taxi, please give them the satnav postcode (OX4 4NH) or emphasise that we're only accessible from the Northfield Close, Littlemore entrance to the Oxford Academy.

Postal address:  The Peeple Centre, PO Box 1404, Oxford OX4 6XW

Peeple are based in Oxford and Edinburgh. We train and support practitioners across the UK and beyond. We have a Peep delivery team and Nursery in Oxford.  

Peeple Centre

Postal address: The Peeple Centre, P.O. Box 1404, Oxford OX4 6XW
To find us yourself/ sat nav: The Peeple Centre, Northfield Close, Littlemore, Oxford OX4 4NH  (click for more detailed directions)
Office: 01865  395145    General enquiries: info@peeple.org.uk       Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @PeepleCentre     LinkedIn: Peeple     Linktr.ee - Peeple

Training & Support Team 

Email: training@peeple.org.uk  or   support@peeple.org.uk
Tel: 01865  397970 
Parent qualifications - Peep Progression Pathway:  pathway@peeple.org.uk  
Practitioner Accreditation:  PA@peeple.org.uk 

Little Peeple Nursery, Oxford

sat nav: Little Peeple Nursery, in the grounds of The Oxford Academy, Northfield Close entrance, Littlemore, Oxford OX4 4NH
[Postal address: Little Peeple Nursery, P.O. Box 1404, Oxford OX4 6XW]
tel: 01865 397972   or m 07376 379680
email: littlepeeplenursery@peeple.org.uk    www.peeple.org.uk/littlepeeplenursery

Peep with families - Delivery Team in Oxfordshire 

If you’re pregnant or a parent/carer of a 0-5 year old in Greater Leys, Blackbird Leys, Littlemore or Berinsfield in Oxford/shire, or a professional working with families in these areas, please contact us to find out more about free Peep Learning Together sessions:
Tel 01865 395145  or  email families@peeple.org.uk   or find out more: www.peeple.org.uk/parents-area

If you’re a parent or professional in another part of the UK, Ireland or Australia looking for local Peep sessions for families, please contact your local children’s or family hub/ centre or service (or training@peeple.org.uk), as we train practitioners in many different areas.

To find out more about which staff members deal with what aspects of work, see our staff page.

Peeple is an independent charity which supports parents and children to learn together. Registered charity no. 1144975 in England & Wales and no. SCO44031 in Scotland, and company limited by guarantee in England & Wales no. 07514469.
Peep Learning Ltd is the trading subsidiary of Peeple, providing training and materials on behalf of Peeple. Registered company no. 4089209. VAT reg. no. 768 4173 94.
Registered address (both Peep Learning Ltd and Peeple): The Peeple Centre, Littlemore, Oxford OX4 4NH

Peeple has a board of pro-active trustees with a strong background in education, family work and management at policy, academic and leadership levels.

David Bailey became our chair of trustees in April 2023. He is a self-employed finance consultant, advising on Board development, financial management, competitive tenders and developing business cases, particularly in the health sector. He is a qualified chartered accountant with experience in marketing. David was Board Director of South West Environmental Parks Ltd, including Paignton Zoo, Newquay Zoo and Living Coasts and has been a trustee of Peeple since 2012.

Mark Harris is a business consultant with more than thirty years experience of international sales and marketing, most recently as global senior vice president of Quaker Chemical Corporation. Mark has been a trustee of Peeple since 2013 following completion of a project for the charity which he undertook as a volunteer with the Cranfield Trust, and was our chair of trustees from 2017 - 2023. He is also a trustee of Age UK Coventry & Warwickshire and the charity ZANE (Zimbabwe a National Emergency).

Neil McClelland OBE was the founding director of the National Literacy Trust, which works across the UK to raise literacy standards and promote reading. The Trust worked closely with Peep and he was on the advisory committee for the initial development of Peep. Neil was a teacher and education officer, before becoming Deputy Director, Schools for the Inner London Education Authority, with responsibility for pre-school and primary education, and then Director of Education for the London Borough of Greenwich. Neil now works as a consultant and coach, and is a volunteer mentor and adviser to a variety of charities.

Nancy Stimson joined the Board of Peeple in June 2019, having previously been a volunteer consultant through the Cranfield Trust, reviewing and updating Peeple’s employment contracts and policies. Having retired as Group HR Director for an IT organisation, Nancy supports various charities from an HR perspective, is a volunteer Adviser for Citizens Advice, and mentors women entrepreneurs through the Cherie Blair Foundation. She is completing a doctorate in Communication and Linguistics, and has a particular interest in early years language acquisition. 

Our staff

Chief Executive Officer: Sally Smith

Sally leads the staff team, develops collaborative relationships with others working in our sector, and is responsible for the strategic direction and financial management of Peeple. She has been CEO since 2011 and has worked for the organisation since 2006. Sally has a background in research, including at the Department of Education at the University of Oxford. Her doctoral thesis was about the origins and uses of the ORIM framework (which underpins the Peep Learning Together Programme).
sally.smith@peeple.org.uk    t 01865 395145   twitter/X: @Peeple_Sally 

Peep Training and Accreditation Team

National Training and Accreditation Manager: Liz Ersoy
Liz is responsible for the development, delivery, quality assurance and accreditation of Peep training and delivery support in the UK, Ireland and Australia. She worked within early learning, family support, staff training and management in Edinburgh for many years. Liz became Peeple's Training and Accreditation Manager in autumn 2021, after several years as a freelance Peep trainer, Peep Policy Officer then Family Learning Scotland manager. 
liz.ersoy@peeple.org.uk   t 07483 119866  twitter/X: @peeple_liz

Development Manager (England): Diane Campkin 
Diane is responsible for the development and delivery support of Peep Training in England. She has a long background in teaching in early years, as well as delivering training and support to other early years professionals. She joined Peeple as a freelance trainer before taking up her current role in June 2022.
diane.campkin@peeple.org.uk  t 07442 500693  twitter/X: @peeple_diane

Development Manager (Scotland): Vivianne McWhinnie
Vivianne is responsible for the development and delivery support of Peep Training in Scotland.  Vivianne’s background is in Early Years, where she found her love for Peep. She has delivered a variety of groups for many years, as well as training and supporting other Early Years professionals. She began working for Peeple in April 2024.
vivianne.mcwhinnie@peeple.org.uk    t  07934587973     twitter/X: @Peeple_Vivianne   

Lead Trainer/ Implementation Support Manager: Debbie Rudman
debbie.rudman@peeple.org.uk    t 07774 329292

Qualifications Manager: Debbie Holmes
Debbie leads on the Peep Progression Pathway qualification units for parents, and the Peep Learning Together Programme accreditation for practitioners. She became a passionate advocate for Peep after delivering the Peep programme and parent accreditation to families whilst working as an Early Years teacher in both inner-city schools and children's centres. 
debbie.holmes@peeple.org.uk   t 07578 285002  twitter/X: @peeple_debbie

Families Learning Together Project: Scotland

Project Manager: Laura Niven
Laura leads our Families Learning Together project, part of the Scottish government's Whole Family Well-being Funding initiative. Laura's background is in early education, working in nurseries and nannying for several years before becoming a Lecturer of Early Learning and Childcare, during which time she discovered her passion for all things Peeple and Peep!
laura.niven@peeple.org.uk  t 07767 169539   twitter/X: @peeple_laura

Trainers and Training Administrators
We have a network of trainers based around the UK and Ireland who work for Peeple on a sessional basis. They are experienced in working with families, and the use of Peep programmes. Several of our trainers also co-ordinate delivery of the Programme within their local authority area, and deliver the training locally within a Peep Training and Support Agreement.
Our training administrators are central to the smooth organisation of Peep training and of both parent and practitioner accreditation.
training@peeple.org.uk  t 01865 397970

communications, development and operational teams

Communications Manager: Charlotte Holmes and Communications Officer: Keira Garrigan
Charlotte and Keira are responsible for communications which support the delivery of Peep programmes, including the Peeple website and digital media, and for marketing Peep training. Charlotte has worked in various roles at Peeple over the past twenty years, and has a background in psychology, literacy and education.  
charlotte.holmes@peeple.org.uk   twitter/X: @PeepleCharlotte
Keira joined Peeple in 2022, bringing her experience of content creation, digital marketing, writing and sharing her passion for getting children outdoors connecting with nature. 
keira.garrigan@peeple.org.uk
support@peeple.org.uk   t 01865 397976   Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram: all @PeepleCentre    LinkedIn: Peeple

Project Manager - STEM/ Early Steps Together: Katy Baker
Katy leads on our projects supporting the foundations of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and Early Steps Together (in partnership with Learning with Parents) - developing digital content to support the Learning Together Programme.  She has worked in a range of roles at Peeple since the late noughties, and has a background in community learning and development, early years education, and adult and family learning.
katy.baker@peeple.org.uk  t 07825 775459  

Finance Manager: Janet Sly
Janet manages our Peeple and PLL finances, overseeing our financial and legal planning. She has worked at Peeple for many years, with her role previously incorporating HR and premises.
janet.sly@peeple.org.uk  t 01865 397978

Human Resources Manager: Carey Hope
carey.hope@peeple.org.uk  or  jobs@peeple.org.uk for job enquiries   t 01865 592569
 

peep delivery, services and childcare in Oxfordshire

Local delivery and Growing Minds Manager: Becky Young
Becky is responsible for our work with families - in the Leys and Rose Hill areas of Oxford, and via Growing Minds, our collaborative school readiness project with Homestart Oxford & The Berin Centre, in Littlemore and Berinsfield. Becky has several years' experience as a primary school teacher and in working with families of under 5s, and joined Peeple in 2022.
becky.young@peeple.org.uk   t 01865 397971   twitter/X: @peeple_becky

Early Education and Childcare Manager (Oxfordshire): Lindsey Hart
Lindsey manages our Little Peeple Nursery in Littlemore, Oxford, and previously managed the Red Kite Children’s Centre in Thame on our behalf. She is an experienced NNEB and has set up and managed day nurseries at the local school and FE college, where she also lectured in Childcare and Education.  
lindsey.hart@peeple.org.uk  t 01865 397972

Educational consultant: Helen Stroudley
Helen is the educational consultant on behalf of Peeple for CBeebies' The Baby Club and The Toddler Club, and Moonbug's Little Baby Bum. She previously delivered Peep programmes and training, and managed local Peep delivery, and has previous experience as a nursery nurse (NNEB). 
helen.stroudley@peeple.org.uk

Administrators and Practitioners
At the Peeple Centre, we have a team of experienced administrators and Peep practitioners who work with local families and settings in and around Oxford, including in our Little Peeple Nursery. 
families@peeple.org.uk   t 01865 395145

>  Our trustees
>  Our programme/ website contributors

The starting point for Peep was a breakfast meeting in the early 1990s between Michael O’Regan and Tim Brighouse, who was then Oxfordshire’s Chief Education Officer. Mike had developed a deep interest in the education of very young children; Tim was nationally renowned and about to become Professor of Education at Keele University.

Mike had one vital question: “Would an early years parent-focused project be a good idea?” Tim’s answer was emphatic and positive. 

Mike started to develop a network of professional and academic supporters, and he became a governor of Peers School in Blackbird Leys, Oxford. He began to question the causes of underachievement and disaffection among some pupils, with the support of Bernard Clarke, the head teacher. His trail of questioning led down the age groups from secondary to middle to primary and then to pre-school children. First School teachers expressed their difficulty when children arrived with few social skills and little predisposition to read and learn.

Teresa Smith from Oxford University helped in setting up some mini-research, with two of her colleagues interviewing 19 local mothers. The response was consistent: they all desperately wanted to help their young children have a good start at school but didn’t know what they should do to support children’s early development; nor were they confident in their own abilities.

So, with backing and advice from experts in early literacy development, education and social policy, Peers Early Education Partnership (PEEP) was established in 1995. It had a particular mission to work with families in the catchment area of Peers School. The project was led by Dr Rosemary Roberts, crucial in shaping what PEEP did, as the first Director. She and music specialist, Dr Alison Street, developed sessions for families which became the basis of the Peep Learning Together programme. Tim Brighouse remained hugely enthusiastic and supportive, becoming a PEEP trustee.

Additional to their local impact, the early Peep team helped affect national policy. They influenced the Department for Education’s definition of ‘early years’ changing to start at birth instead of age 3 as before, and the Treasury’s creation of Sure Start [later re-named Sure Start Children's Centres], which drew heavily on what they learned from Peep.

Over the following twenty years Peep was grounded in its Oxford base. This included leading one of the trailblazer Sure Start Local Programmes in the Rose Hill and Littlemore part of the local catchment area. The Peep vision was to transform a community by working with the students of the future by supporting their parents as first educators - and to do so from birth.

The project quickly established itself and drew attention; it grew beyond Oxford into a programme of national potential. Practitioner training and accreditation was developed. Since 2000 well over 10,000 practitioners, working in a wide variety of family support, education, health and community organisations, have been trained to deliver Peep programmes. The approach was clear from the outset: 'working with' rather than 'doing to' families. The replacement of ‘Peers’ with ‘Parents’ for the first initial of Peep reflected this change, while reinforcing the fundamental importance of ‘Partnership’.

Peep’s ideas were innovative, pre-dating and contributing to the Sure Start initiative and the now-accepted national focus on early intervention. As Mike O'Regan recalls: "Less helpful at that time were the Charity Commission: when we applied to be a charity, they rejected our charitable Object [aim] ‘to support the education and cognitive development of children from birth’. They said, ‘education of a 0-3-year-old is a contradiction in terms’. So we had to cheat, changing our Object to 3-5-year-olds but then ignoring that constraint as much as we could in what we did. Later, the Charity Commission did allow us to change our Object to ‘from birth’ ".  By 2011 Department of Education policy was stating: “Mothers and fathers are their children’s first and most important educators.”

A number of university studies have evaluated the effectiveness of the Peep programme on parents and children, including those who are sometimes considered ‘hard to reach’. The development of qualification units for parents as well as practitioners - known as the Peep Progression Pathway - extended the learning opportunities for parents, often acting as a first step into further learning, volunteering or employment.

With Mike O’Regan still involved and since 2012 under the leadership of Sally Smith and a distinguished board of trustees, Peep’s progress needed one further evolution of its name. To reflect its growing reach and distinguish between the organisation and the programmes, while remaining committed to its origins and humane principles, the organisation became known as Peeple in 2014. This was chosen to reflect that Peeple is a learning enterprise with an inclusive, human approach, focused on parents, carers and young children.

> Read more about the difference between Peep and Peeple.