Getting started
It usually starts with one person
A head reads something, hears a talk or watches a film, and thinks: this is what our children need. If that’s you, this page is for you, and for the colleagues you’ll want to share it with.
From idea to cluster
Five steps to your first Catalyst day
Talk to us
Book a call with Leonie. We’ll talk about your neighbourhood, who might be involved and whether the timing is right.
Find your people
Think about the leaders who serve the same children as you: nurseries, primaries, secondaries, special schools and colleges. You don’t need everyone at the start. A small group who want this is enough.
Share the idea
Send colleagues this page, a film from a neighbourhood like yours or get together to explore the “C2C in your place” tool. We can join a conversation or run a taster session for your group.
Meet as a group
Get together at least once before Catalyst begins, so you arrive knowing each other and with something to talk about.
Register for Catalyst
When you’re ready, register your cluster for the next Catalyst cohort. Registration usually opens in the spring and summer before.
The start line
You’re ready for Catalyst when…
Clusters that arrive ready get much more from their first year. None of this needs to be perfect.
- You know each other and have met at least once as a group
- You can say in a sentence why you’re doing this together
- You share a sense of what could be possible for children in your neighbourhood
- Someone has the time to keep things moving between meetings
Questions
What leaders usually ask us
What is a cluster?
A group of leaders of schools and settings who serve the same children in the same neighbourhood, usually across phases. There’s no fixed size. What matters is that you share children and want to work together.
Do we need our local authority or trust involved?
Not to start with. Many clusters begin with a few heads, and local authority and trust colleagues often become important partners as the work grows.
How much time does it take?
Catalyst involves a series of conference days across the year, with work in your cluster between them. We’ll be clear about the commitment on your first call, before you register.
What does it cost?
Fees are set for each cohort. We’ll go through them on your first call, along with what’s included.
What happens after Catalyst?
Most clusters move into the Partnership, where leaders keep learning together and colleagues take on modules matched to your priorities. How it works
The first step is a conversation
Tell us about your neighbourhood and the children you serve. We’ll help you work out what to do next.
Leonie Ratty leads the Cradle-to-Career Partnership. A first call is a conversation about your neighbourhood, not a sales pitch.