Baby Talk and Play

About Me

'I found (the course) inspirational, it's lovely to see how passionate you are and can truly see you love your job'

Early years practitioner

Debbie Brace

Specialises in developing the relationship between babies and young children and their parents and carers. She is a highly skilled EY trainer with a passionate and infectious style. Utilising her MA in psychoanalytic observation, a degree in drama and experience as a qualified primary school teacher, working with Debbie promises to be good fun.

Following the birth of her children, Debbie found her passion for Early Years as she registered as a Childminder and was humbled to be awarded Outstanding by Ofsted. Her thirst for learning continued as she studied for a Masters in the emotional development of babies, young children and families at the world renowned Tavistock clinic where she graduated with distinction.

Debbie sits on the executive committee and is the London hub lead of the Association of Infant Mental Health UK. AiMH UK is a multidisciplinary body of professionals working in the field of infant mental health. AiMH UK advocates for universal acknowledgement of the importance of the early nurturing environment on the short and long-term development of babies, and specifically on their future social, emotional and behavioural wellbeing.

She is proud to be a joint winner (alongside inspirational child psychotherapist Ben Yeo), of the 2019 Louise Emanuel Essay Prize; an award presented for an outstanding piece of writing in the area of Infant Mental Health.

Find her published work and other reading about BTaP here.

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Last 10 Years

Currently (Since 2023) Specialist Parent, Infant Practitioner for the Hounslow PAIRS- (Parent and Infant Relationship Service)

VIG UK (video interaction guidance practitioner) for Hounslow PAIRS service.

Currently Commissioned PT (since 2012) - to lead the Let’s Talk Together programme (based on the ECaT principles) for Hounslow Early Years Education Dpt. This workforce development programme (co created by Debbie Brace and Bhavna Acharya SLT ) works with practitioners in schools and EY settings to deliver relationship centred training and on site support to develop the quality of adult-child interaction in practice and thus promote communication development and mental good health.

Currently-Part of the BR-IL BabyRoom-Inspiring Leaders working group.

Currently-Part of The Feltham Convening Partnership. A new collective impact initiative that aims to improve outcomes for children and young people in Feltham.

2021-Completed Attention Autism training for professionals with coaching

2020- Developed a programme of Parent- Infant work for the Reach Foundation in Feltham.

2019 - Winner of the Louise Emanuel Essay prize for ‘an outstanding piece of writing in the field of infant mental health'

2019 - Commissioned by Hounslow Borough to deliver Connected Interaction work force development project delivering training then working alongside Children Centre workers in Stay and Play sessions across the borough.

2018 - Graduated with distinction from The Tavistock and Portman Clinic with an MA in work with infants and the early years: A psychoanalytic and observational approach.

2017 - Completed Watch Wait and Wonder initial training- Oxford

2015 - Completed VIGUK initial training- video interaction guidance - London

2012 - Qualified to deliver New Born Behavioural Observation (NBO)- Cambridge

2011 - Commissioned to deliver the Baby Talk and Play training programme in baby rooms across the Hounslow borough as well as and one and two day courses on positive interaction.

2010 - Works in collaboration with local Children's Centres and the National Childminding Association (NCMA) to deliver practical early language development training courses for childminders to attend with their minded children.

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and going back even further!

2009- Founded Baby Talk and Play for parents, an early language development programme offered to families at Children’s Centres across Hounslow.

2009 - Joined the Hounslow Every Child a Talker (ECaT) project as an Early Language Lead Practitioner.

2006 - Registered as a childminder and became passionate about the early years. Awarded the Outstanding grade in by Ofsted in 2009.

2000 - Qualified as a primary school teacher working in schools in Leeds and London and leading creative projects in art, drama, dance, West African music and speaking and listening.

1997 - BA Hons Drama from The University of Hull

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