When you're on the front line working directly with children, families and teams day in, day out, you have to navigate the gap between research and reality.
That reality filled with observations, trials, tribulations and successes is where policy is put to the test.
Qualifications is a prime example. Research tells us there is a small but consistent correlation between higher-qualified educators and better child outcomes. But then there is the everyday experiences that nuance that wisdom.
The unqualified educator who won the trust of the child who wouldn't trust, the apprentice who reached that hard-to-reach parent, the Level 2 educator whose leadership inspired their team. Daily reality is filled with exceptions and providers need flexibility to adapt provision to meet their context.
Many policies that seemed sensible have had unintended consequences.
Qualification ratios resulting in greater inconsistency for children. An unqualified and qualified educator swapped, leaving their key groups behind, because their respective rooms had an imbalance of Level 3s. Raising professional standards through a greater emphasis on maths, entirely sensible in theory.
In reality, numbers qualifying at Level 3 plummeted, increasing reliance on agency workers, increasing workload, burnout and labour turnover for the dwindling number of Level 3 educators. Reducing the number of qualification pathways following the Nutbrown review seemed logical.
Now as a provider having to routinely turn away people who believe they are qualified, the policy seems nonsensical.
The latest DfE consultation on qualification requirements isn't designed to increase quality. It's intended to boost workforce supply. However, that doesn't mean it can't be used to boost quality.
The positive impact this DfE consultation would have should not be underestimated. We can't sacrifice current reality for future utopia.
The workforce must be boosted. That doesn't mean this is the only initiative that should be adopted.
We know the Graduate Leader Fund, brought in by the previous Labour government, has been the only policy that was successful in raising qualification levels.
Repeating that success would be hugely welcomed, and wise. For now, though, and given the current Government, I'm happy to balance aspiration with pragmatism and reap the rewards for our children, families and team.