Music and movement are not just fun activities for children; they are foundational elements of early learning that support a range of developmental areas. But have you ever considered how your team’s personal experiences with these activities, both as children and as educators, shape their confidence and creativity in the classroom? Understanding these experiences is […]
Risk assessments are crucial for ensuring safety in early years environments, but too often they become just another box to tick. Understanding their true purpose is essential for protecting children, staff, families, and the business itself. A robust risk assessment process not only identifies potential hazards but also provides actionable steps to mitigate them, making […]
The Aesthetics: More Than Just a Pretty Picture In the early years, we often find ourselves creating visually appealing activities, whether it’s a beautifully arranged tuff spot or an inviting table-top setup. These attractive displays can certainly capture the children’s attention and spark their interest, and there’s nothing wrong with that! However, we must be […]
Change can be unsettling, but it can also be the catalyst for positive transformation. In the early years sector, a shift appears to be underway as Ofsted introduces more updates to its Early Years Inspection Handbook, effective from January 19, 2024. These changes have been prompted by the tragedy surrounding Ruth Perry, do they signal […]
As 2023 ushered in crucial changes in early years legislation, it’s vital that, as an early years provider, you revisit your policies. The updated regulations and guidance, surrounding areas such as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Prevent Duty, require us to have a proactive approach to get things right not only from a […]
Imagine a roadmap for improving education, especially for children who need extra support. That’s what the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) review is all about! In March 2023, the Department for Education (DfE) shared its thoughts on how to make things better in a document called ‘Right Support, Right Place, Right Time’. This review […]
With the latest amendments coming into force in January of 2024, we’ve seen many changes to the Ofsted Early Years Inspection Handbook over the years. In this blog, we travel back to September 2019 to discover what these differences look like and what you can expect. The Learning Walk With every Ofsted inspection comes a […]
What is a language-rich environment? It’s a term we hear a lot in the early years, particularly by Ofsted, but what does it actually mean? A language-rich environment in a childcare setting means more than just having a lot of words on display. It’s about creating a fun and talkative space! Instead of just reading, […]
The horizon of 2024 is shining bright, and it’s the perfect time to reflect on the year that was and make plans for the year to come. Last year we wrote a blog that outlined a simple 5-point strategy for 2023. Now we’re curious to find out how it went. Did the year go as […]
The annual autumn statement saw the Chancellor promising a hike in staff wages and a drop in national insurance contributions. Whilst it got a large hooray from many, it has left the early years sector to deal with growing expenses without tax relief or help to make things more affordable. Here’s my take on it […]
The quest for continuous improvement is the driving force behind many industries, including early childhood education. By keeping up-to-date with new studies and ensuring best practices are followed, early years settings can deliver consistently high-quality experiences for our children. One approach to continuous improvement is the practice of peer-on-peer observations. In this blog, we cover […]
For many adults, maths is a bit like Marmite. You either love it, or you hate it. And that has a lot to do with how we experienced learning maths during our childhood. The thing is, maths is important. Simple maths concepts we learn as kids forge the foundations for skills we need in adult […]
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