My mother, Denise Hevey, known as Denny, who has died aged 72 of cancer, was a pioneering educationist in the field of early years and child protection. She worked in public policy as well as academia, and was a passionate advocate of the importance of early childhood and the rights and wellbeing of young children.
A committed feminist, she also championed the undervalued and underpaid – predominantly women – who cared for, educated and protected young children. In 1977 she wrote to the Guardian on the poor recognition of childminders, which resulted in a meeting of more than 300 practitioners and led the way for the establishment of the National Childminding Association (now Pacey), of which she later served as president.
