'The nurseries were becoming extraordinarily organised. Their day was broken up like at school. They were getting stiff... I wanted to see what would happen if I took thirty children, if I didn't organize them, but if I gave them structures to play... It was absolutely fascinating" (Beeby, 1990, quoted in May, 2013, page 341). Clarence Edward Beeby was a New Zealand educationist and a very influential man who helped transform education into what it is now how he believed that every child deserved and was entitled to a free education. This essay will also highlight how his ideas and beliefs still have relevance to current early childhood education and how his proposals are still applied today. Clarence Edward Beeby (16 June 1902 – 10 March 1998) was born in Meanwood, Yorkshire and emigrated with his family to Christchurch, New Zealand in 1906 at the age of four. Beeby attended New Brighton School and Christchurch Boys High School, and initially studied law at Canterbury College before becoming interested and involved in primary school teaching at Christchurch Training College (Wikipedia, 2013). Over the course of his career Beeby has become not only an “internationally respected educational leader, but also an educational psychologist, university lecturer and ambassador” (Gibbs, 2006). Thanks to Beeby's determination and willingness to be innovative and take risks, he was appointed Director of Education in New Zealand in 1938, which was a huge achievement. Beeby had always been interested in the idea of ​​children learning through play, however he first became involved with this concept in 1932 when... the medium of paper... would support them in the decision they would make. I must also take into consideration that every child, regardless of circumstances, has the right to an education. In conclusion, throughout his life Clarence Beeby had a huge impact on education during his time, which is still demonstrated in today's early childhood services. . He was a very influential man and was enthusiastic about his ideas and hopes. These included his interest in children's learning through play and his belief that every child was entitled to a free education. Gradually his ideas are becoming more familiar over time and more and more children are getting involved in early childhood services which has a positive impact on the child, as Beeby believed as the child is capable of learning social and independence skills. His legacy and ideas will continue to be demonstrated in future educational services.