Denny Hevey, also known as Denise Hevey, was an educationist and child protection advocate who passed away at the age of 72 due to cancer. Her work as a trailblazing early years educator is well-known in both academia and public policy. She advocated the importance of early childhood education and took a firm stance in ensuring the welfare of young children.

Denny was also a proud feminist, fighting for the rights of women who were underappreciated and underpaid, primarily those caring for, educating and protecting young children. She wrote to the Guardian in 1977, highlighting the inadequate recognition of childminders by the public. Her efforts led to a meeting of over 300 practitioners and the formation of the National Childminding Association, which is now known as Pacey. Denny served as its president in the later years of her career.

Born and raised in Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, to Doreen and Raymond Edwards, Denny attended Great Yarmouth High School for Girls where she was the first in her family to study at a grammar school and later, a university. She completed her BSc and PhD in social psychology at the University of Southampton in 1969 after eloping to Dublin, where she married Seamus Hevey.

Denny joined the Open University (OU) in 1983 and spent 18 years as a social science staff tutor and in the school of health and social welfare. During her tenure, Denny created innovative courses and training packs for childminders and early years practitioners. She was instrumental in developing training guidelines for child protection and safeguarding which were instrumental in shaping child protection policies in the UK.

In 1992, Denny established the OU’s Vocational Qualifications Centre. She argued that vocational qualifications were as valuable as academic degrees and an excellent means to achieve social and professional mobility.

Denny later moved to Whitehall in 2001, serving as the first head of policy on early years in Ofsted before seconding to a senior adviser position in the department for education. In the Sure Start unit, Denny spearheaded the consultation and development of the 2004 childcare approval scheme. She led the government’s response to the Bichard inquiry into the Soham murders, which included a revamp of the vetting and barring procedures for those working with children.

Denny returned to academia in 2005, serving as the inaugural professor of early years and director of the early years professional status programme at the University of Northampton. During this period, she established international collaborations with centres in Japan, Kazakhstan and China, among others. She continued to shape child-related policies by close interaction with the Children’s Workforce Development Council. Denny retired notionally as an emeritus professor in 2013.

Denny’s fierce intellect and energy, as well as her warmth and kindness, made her renowned among colleagues, friends, and family. She was looking forward to spending her retired years pursuing her passion for travel, gardening, and as a keen naturalist. Dancing around the kitchen while entertaining friends and family, glass of wine in hand, was one of her favourite pastimes.

Her husband, Seamus, her children, Ciaran and the author, and her granddaughter, Frances, survive her.