Small world play grows big imaginations
‘Small World Play’ isn’t a term that is widely understood outside of the Early Years sector, but it simply means imaginative play with small toys or resources. Early years settings are extremely busy, with […]
EYFS
Activities for EYFS children during the holiday season
As the holiday season begins and there’s plenty of time together as a family you may be wondering how to keep your little ones learning and entertained. The activities below are just some of the […]
Making mealtimes matter
Mealtimes can be a difficult element of an Early Years Setting’s day. There’s a lot for practitioners to get done, it’s a transition time which can often be difficult for young children to manage […]
Why mud play is magical!
Had you looked for me as a 5-year-old and you would most likely have found me somewhere in the garden, doing something with mud. Look for me as an Early Years Teacher and you will […]
Developing Creativity in the Early Years Foundation Stage (& why I don’t want a handprint card this Christmas!)
This year my youngest child is in Foundation 1 (3-4 year olds) and I’m praying he doesn’t bring me home a card with his handprint on this Christmas. Christmas cards where handprints are transformed into […]
Dealing with separation anxiety in the Early Years Foundation Stage
Separation anxiety is hard on everyone; the child, the parents and the EYFS practitioners too. It usually starts sometime between 8 and 18 months old but can be expressed by older children too. We […]
Do we need sex education in the Early Years Foundation Stage?
When and how sex education is delivered has attracted a decent amount of media attention in the UK within the last year. In May, parents in Birmingham protested outside of schools, objecting to their children […]
The importance of working in partnership with parents
Sometimes, parents look to Early Years Practitioners as ‘experts’ and seek their guidance and advice, and whilst Early Years practitioners may be experts in early education and child development, they still have plenty to learn […]
The social benefits of playing soccer
Personal, Social and Emotional Development are some of the ‘Prime’ areas of the EYFS, meaning that it is considered foundational to other types of learning. Social skills are highly prized in society, and necessary throughout […]
Raising resilient children in Early Years settings
What is resilience? Resilience is not an especially simple concept to define, it encompasses many characteristics, thought processes and active management strategies. It is a term traditionally used to describe a character trait but more […]