Promoting a Literacy Rich Environment
October 26, 2023 7:50 amWhat do we mean by ‘literacy rich’? A literacy-rich environment can be defined as a space that inspires engagement in... View Article
Articles
Emergent Writing
October 3, 2023 9:06 amWith an increasing focus on literacy in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and beyond, the subject of emergent writing... View Article
Working Effectively with Parents and Carers
September 13, 2023 9:33 amThe need to work in partnership with parents and carers is embedded in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (DfE,2021). ... View Article
Inspiring Awe and Wonder in the Early Years
August 2, 2023 8:47 amThe concept of awe and wonder is embedded in the Ofsted inspection handbook with the statement that… ‘It is the... View Article
Let’s Get Talking!
July 6, 2023 8:16 amWith the introduction of the revised EYFS in 2021 came a stronger focus on communication and language development. As a... View Article
Preparing for Learning Before Phonics
May 30, 2023 11:08 amThe teaching of phonics has become more and more prominent in recent years following the introduction of the phonics screening... View Article
Outdoor play – How important is it?
May 4, 2023 11:55 am“The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky” McMillan, 1925 This quote really does highlight... View Article
How to support children transition to school
April 4, 2023 9:08 amThe transition from nursery or preschool to a reception class is a hugely important milestone requiring careful consideration, with the... View Article
Emotions – How can we support children with their feelings?
March 1, 2023 10:28 amThe Early Years can be a time of big emotions for young children. Their brains are developing rapidly, they are... View Article
Pedagogy – What is it in the Early Years?
January 31, 2023 3:22 pmPedagogy in the Early Years – What is it? Pedagogy in the simplest terms is the ‘how’ of teaching. It... View Article
Car Seat Regulations
August 9, 2022 9:06 amThe regulations on car seats have changed: Updated at the end of September, the law has changed regarding children using... View Article
Keeping Children Safe in the Sun
July 26, 2022 1:08 pmWith summer approaching the days are getting warmer which means UV levels are getting stronger. It is vital that parents, carers,... View Article
3 Ways Settings Can Support Children’s Emotional Health
March 18, 2020 1:48 pmMental and emotional health is something we’ve only recently seriously started to consider in workplaces and schools. But the earlier... View Article
3 Ways Nursery Practitioners Can Help Encourage a Love For Reading
February 19, 2020 10:10 amWith so many digital distractions in the modern-day world, it can be difficult to anchor the love of reading in... View Article
Heuristic Play – 5 Key Benefits for Nurseries
January 3, 2020 3:59 pmWhen you spend a lot of time around children, you’ll see that they would often rather play with the box,... View Article
How Educational Apps Can Support Early Development
December 4, 2019 3:42 pmThe idea of letting young children use smartphones and tablets is divisive. Many argue that young children should not be... View Article
13 things you’ll only know if you work in a nursery or pre-school
November 22, 2019 1:53 pmIf you are fortunate enough to work in a nursery or early years setting you will have accumulated a sense... View Article
How to Promote Diversity and Inclusion
October 11, 2019 9:41 amAs a childcare provider, you have a responsibility to ensure your space encourages equality and represents diversity fully. It’s in... View Article
Promoting Positive Behaviour in Early Years Settings
September 13, 2019 1:12 pmNegative or challenging behaviour can manifest in many ways from general disruption to physical violence, so it’s important that your... View Article
Early Speech and Language Skills
July 11, 2019 11:28 amHow EYFS Practitioners Can Help… Speech and language skills are the foundation of education. It’s important that these skills be... View Article
Keeping Communication Simple – Daily Communication Diaries
July 1, 2019 8:00 amGood communication with parents is a critical focus for professional nurseries and childcare settings. And one thing parents are always curious... View Article
The New Education Inspection Framework
June 21, 2019 2:15 pmAs you’re probably already aware, Ofsted has released a number of important updates to the Education Inspection Framework which come... View Article
What is PLAY THERAPY?
June 19, 2019 12:56 pmThis article explains what Play Therapy is and how it can help children who are struggling to self-regulate their emotions,... View Article
Risk Management in UK Early Years Setting
June 7, 2019 9:52 amManage Risks in your Nursery as there is no such thing as a risk-free environment… The formative years of a... View Article
How to Make Safety a Priority at Your Nursery
June 7, 2019 8:58 amIt’s your responsibility as the childcare provider to ensure safety is a priority in the minds of your staff and... View Article
Ask the expert panel – The owner of Little Angels Nursery gives us her take on School Readiness
May 3, 2019 12:19 pmSchool readiness is a product of the interaction between the child and the range of environmental and cultural experiences that... View Article
Tracking Development In The EYFS
April 15, 2019 1:40 pmTracking a child’s development in the EYFS can be a very time-consuming process for early years practitioners, but it is... View Article
Safeguarding in the Early Years
March 18, 2019 12:56 pmIf you work in Early Years it is important you comply with safeguarding measures and understand fully what safeguarding is,... View Article
School Readiness – A Definition and How Early Years Key Workers Can Help
February 6, 2019 12:00 am‘School readiness’ is a term often used to describe how ready children are socially, physically, and intellectually, to start formal... View Article
Characteristics Of Effective Learning In Early Years
January 8, 2019 3:27 pmCharacteristics Of Effective Learning (COEF) is an evolving field and as practitioners, we should embrace this and always add new... View Article
The Importance of Communication With Parents in EYFS
January 7, 2019 10:31 amIn relation to the importance of communication with parents in the EYFS, The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) seeks to... View Article
Why accurate recording of allergens is essential in the EYFS
December 6, 2018 2:06 pmIt may now have been a few years since new allergens laws came into place. We understand that many of... View Article
Teething problems with HMRC’s Tax-Free Childcare And Everything You Need To Know
November 29, 2018 10:53 amA technical glitch at the government’s Tax-Free Childcare scheme this month has meant childminders across the whole of the UK... View Article
Teaching British Values in EYFS
November 20, 2018 12:00 amWhat are British Values, and how can you bring them into your childcare setting? Actively promoting and teaching British Values... View Article
Creating an Enabling Environment
November 15, 2018 12:00 pmThe Early Years Foundation Stage has several requirements and guiding principles. One of these principles is ‘creating an enabling environment’… but... View Article
HMRC Tax Guidance for Childminders Income and Expenses
November 15, 2018 12:00 pmRunning your own business as a childminder Being a childminder usually means you’re self-employed (a sole trader). As a sole trader, you... View Article
10 Creative Ideas for an EYFS Learning Journey
September 5, 2018 10:31 amA Learning Journey is an effective way to collect evidence of children’s development under the key areas identified by EYFS. But are... View Article
In The Moment Planning and Child Initiated Play for the EYFS
June 7, 2018 7:52 amWhat is In The Moment Planning and Child-Initiated Play for the EYFS? You may have heard the term ‘in the moment planning’.... View Article
Why Children Need A Healthy, Balanced Diet
June 6, 2018 10:11 amBNF Healthy Eating Week 11-15 June 2018 With Healthy Eating Week fast approaching, now is the perfect time to remind... View Article
Ideas and Activities for Outdoor Learning in EYFS Settings
April 23, 2018 3:28 pmPractical Ideas and Activities for Outdoor Learning and Education There are many benefits to taking the classroom outdoors and giving... View Article
How Many Children Can a Childminder Look After?
June 13, 2016 8:10 amAre you thinking about becoming a childminder? Or are you already a Childminder and just want to double-check the laws... View Article
