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Early Years

The following articles, taken from recent issues of our Optimus newsletters, will prove invaluable for anyone with a professional or personal interest in Early Years. To ensure you stay up-to-date with the very latest thinking in this area, please make use of the articles below. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, simply click on another category on the left or 'search the library'.

Thinking skills in action | Early Years

How can the process of developing thinking skills be put into practice? A glimpse into the environment within a day nursery in south-east England shows how

Early years PiP Cards: 1.3 Keeping Safe | Early Years

Early Years Update focuses on the importance of well being, as part of their range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

Promoting healthy early years settings | Early Years

Early Years Update looks at the National Healthy Schools Programme and the key issues it aims to address

Building an effective childcare team | Early Years

Discover how to manage the dynamics of a balanced and well-organised childcare team

Making provision for how boys learn best | Early Years

In early years especially, boys should not be forced into a "girl-like" model of learning, explains Steve Mynard

The benefits of introducing young children to ICT | Early Years

Crispin Andrews looks at how staff at two children’s centres are reaping the benefits of information communication technology

How to use ICT to support young children's learning | Early Years

Early years practitioners have used ICT to support young children’s learning in diverse ways, writes Julie Steer

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.2 Inclusive Practice | Early Years

Early Years Update focuses on the importance of inclusion, as part of their range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

What is the Early Year Professional Status? | Early Years

Early Years Update looks at the opportunities available for practitioners to gain Early Years Professional Status

The Children's Plan: key points for early years | Early Years

The Children’s Plan was launched by Ed Balls in December 2007, but what are the government's objectives for this initiative?

Good leadership and management in early years setting | Early Years

In the first of new series on managing people, Early Years Update looks at the distinction between leadership and management

Creating an outdoor learning environment for the early years | Early Years

Jan White provides a range of practical ideas for creating enabling outdoor environments that support young children's health, wellbeing, development and learning

Meeting the challenges of outdoor provision in the Early Years Foundation Stage | Early Years

Jan White, consultant in outdoor play in the early years, looks at implications of the EYFS for the development of outdoor environments for young children

Early Years PiP Cards: 1.1 Child Development | Early Years

Early Years Update focuses on development and learning as part of their range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

Encouraging young children to take risks | Early Years

Julie Leoni, emotional literacy coordinator at the Marches School in Shropshire, reflects on the need for teachers to take risks if they are to encourage creative risk-taking in their students

Identifying and providing for younger gifted and talented children | Early Years

Valsa Koshy explores the issues surrounding the identification of, and provision for, our youngest gifted and talented children

Parents as partners in children's early learning and development | Early Years

Helen Wheeler describes how the PEAL training programme helped practitioners to develop parents' involvement in their children’s learning

Transitions in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) | Early Years

Early Years Update looks at ways of making transitions an enjoyable and exciting experience for children and parents

Early Years Marketing 5: Running a campaign | Early Years

In this final article in our series on marketing and promotion Early Years Update looks at planning and running a marketing campaign

High level questioning skills in young children: part 2 | Early Years

Steve Mynard, editor of Primary Headship, considers the practicalities of helping young children to develop higher-order questioning skills

Legal basics for teachers: Health and safety limits of liability | Early Years

A headteacher was fined £12,500 after a boy died at school. What does this mean for educators? Hazel Padmore investigates

Higher level questioning skills in young children | Early Years

We tend to take questioning skills for granted; they certainly seem to develop quite readily in young children. Steve Mynard, editor of Primary Headship, explores the reasons why we might choose to guide our children towards higher-level questioning skills

Communication friendly spaces - early years | Early Years

Elizabeth Jarman looks at the impact of the physical learning environment on young children’s speaking and listening skills

Creating the Picture: assessment in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) | Early Years

Early Years Update looks at the principles, process and purpose of assessment in the early years

Listening to the views of very young children | Early Years

Some people think that children under five are too young to express opinions, but Sara Bryson and her colleagues found ways of ensuring that babies and children were at the heart of the decision-making process

Risk and challenge in the early years | Early Years

Katrina Foley describes how young children’s independence and self-management skills can be promoted in an environment which celebrates risk, challenge and empowerment

Every Child Matters - environmental wellbeing | Early Years

Early Years Update looks at the importance of environmental wellbeing in supporting the five outcomes of Every Child Matters

Early Years Marketing 3: Promoting your setting | Early Years

In this third article on marketing and promotion, Early Years Update looks at creating a range of promotional material to make potential customers aware of the services you provide

Encouraging musical creativity in the early years | Early Years

Patricia Lee explains how supporting children’s musical creativity can contribute to their sense of self-worth and emotional wellbeing

Early years: role of the key person | Early Years

Aisha Ashante of Langtry Children's Centre describes the thinking behind the centre’s approach to quality provision for young children

Attachment: Supporting young children's emotional wellbeing | Early Years

Juliet Neil-Hall discusses the importantance of attachment and meeting the emotional needs of young children and their parents

Early Years Marketing 2: Knowing your customers | Early Years

In this second article on marketing and promotion, Early Years Update, looks at how to use market research to find out more about the customers who use your services

The statutory requirements of the EYFS | Early Years

Early Years Update highlights the key management issues contained in the EYFS Statutory Framework

Early years - an end to mediocrity | Early Years

The steering group of the NQIN has produced a set of overarching principles designed to guide the future development of quality improvement processes and quality assurance schemes

Bridging the gap between health and the early years | Early Years

Linda Bartholomew and Cathy Kennedy describe their initiative to capitalise on the links which health visitors can create between early years providers and families

Helping young children understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle | Early Years

Franz Atkinson describes a whole-school approach adopted by a small rural primary school

The importance of healthy eating for young children | Early Years

Jenni Clarke discusses the important role early years practitioners can play in helping young children to develop good eating habits

Early Years Marketing 1: Creating an image | Early Years

In the first part of a series on marketing, Early Years Update looks at the vital area of creating an 'image' as part of marketing and promoting your organisation

Finding your way around the Early Years Foundation Stage framework | Early Years

Early Years Update provides a guided tour of the documents in the new EYFS package

Promoting disability equality | Early Years

All primary schools must have a disability equality scheme in place by December 2007. Margaret Collins offers some practical suggestions to help you meet the challenge

Developing a drugs education curriculum for nursery-age children | Early Years

Joanne MacDonald describes an innovative approach to drugs education for young children

Delivering early years services | Early Years

Looking at the benefits and challenges of different models for providing childcare and early education service in children’s centres and extended schools

A better start is not always sure for children with SEN | Early Years

New research evaluates how effectively Sure Start programmes help children with special needs and disabilities

High-quality environments for learning | Early Years

Practitioners need to consider the way that space and resources can be used to encourage children’s investigations. Pat Brunton and Linda Thornton explain

Dealing effectively with complaints | Early Years

How do you respond if a parent starts complaining about your setting or your staff? Steve Mynard advises that you start with prevention

Including disabled children | Early Years

A useful update on the current law regarding discrimination is provided by Patti Turner

Managing loss, grief and bereavement | Early Years

This sensitive area should be part of every setting’s PSE programme, says Margaret Collins

Nursery franchising | Early Years

There are pros and cons of chosing to take the franchise option to expand. Angela Youngman reports

Observing classroom assistants | Early Years

How can you make judgements about the performance of your assistants when they are in the room working alongside a teacher/ practitioner? Kevin Bullock provides one solution

Encouraging communication, curiosity and creativity | Early Years

Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton explore ways to use the children’s curiosity about their world to become self-motivated, independent learners.

Communicating with parents: hidden messages | Early Years

Do you always know what messages your parents are taking away with them? Carole Farrar examines some of the messages that you may be giving out.

Musical concepts and elements | Early Years

Patricia Lee explores practical ways for you to introduce children to musical concepts and elements.

Developing pencil control and mark-making | Early Years

Maggie Parker-Heys urges practitioners to appreciate the skills required to form even the simplest letters.

Preparing a training session part one: the logistics | Early Years

Sally Eaton begins a three-part series designed to support managers and leaders who are considering providing some in-house training for their staff.

A hundred years on with the Montessori approach | Early Years

Marianne Clarkson looks at the life and work of Maria Montessori.

Building a professional development portflio: a guide for managers | Early Years

An effective professional development system is essential for your setting. Steve Mynard explains how to set one up.

Creating an inclusive environment for children with disfigurement | Early Years

How can you handle children’s surprise at a new classmate’s disfigurement in a way that is positive for everybody? Jane Frances of Changing Faces offers some practical ideas.

Study of early support highlights benefits and problems of multi-agency work | Early Years

The Early Support programme seeks to improve the quality, consistency and coordination of services for young disabled children and their families. A new report examines its effectiveness.

Recording and assessing children's language using 'virtual books' | Early Years

Joanne Haine, foundation stage coordinator at Baring Primary School in London, describes how innovative use of ICT made assessment exciting for children and practitioners alike.

Singing in tune | Early Years

Patricia Lee explains how we can help children to acquire ‘pitch’.

Bringing theatre to the early years | Early Years

Peter Wynne-Willson urges settings to bring live theatre to their children.

Making vouchers work for you | Early Years

Ross Midgley of the Crocus Early Years group offers some practical ideas for managing payments by voucher.

Vygotsky and the child apprentice | Early Years

Lev S. Vygotsky is the subject of Steve Mynard's article on the psychology of child development.

Communicating with parents: meetings and presentations | Early Years

Carole Farrar continues her series on communication with parents.

How local is your food? | Early Years

Locally produced food is increasingly popular in schools and may become more important than going organic, writes Angela Youngman

Fire safety in the early years | Early Years

When an early years setting is damaged by fire, the effects are far wider reaching than the material damage to the building. Consider the trauma to staff and children, loss of work and resources, and effect on the local community.

Making working memory work in the classroom | Early Years

Dr Tracy Packiam Alloway of the University of Durham has researched the difficulties faced by children who have a low working memory.

Communicating with parents: one to one | Early Years

Carole Farrar continues her series by looking at ways to make the most of personal contact with your parents.

Planning for participation | Early Years

Patricia Lee continues her exploration of music for young children.

Piaget and the development of intelligence | Early Years

Steve Mynard opens a series of articles on educational thinkers who have influenced our approaches to early education.

Making change work | Early Years

Sally Eaton of the Manor Tree Group helps you to think about how you will prepare the ground when you need to make changes in your own setting.

FUNdamental movement ideas | Early Years

British Gymnastics' play programme helps young children develop physical skills. Jo Prescott and Liz Liebman explain how.

Why your setting needs CPD | Early Years

Sally Eaton examines the benefits of CPD and the line manager’s role in implementing it.

Geography in the early years | Early Years

Geography can reward the inquisitiveness of young children, says Steve Mynard.

Risks, dangers and hazards | Early Years

Margaret Collins describes how children can learn to be risk assessors.

Bringing history to life | Early Years

Archaeologist and teacher John Crossland, describes how you can use an historic site with Foundation Stage children.

Giving medicines to children | Early Years

Mary Mahoney examines our responsibilities when asked to give medicine to children.

Appointing staff to work in early years settings | Early Years

Carole Farrar, an experienced headteacher, takes you through the process of appointing new staff members.

Teaching young children to give each other massage | Early Years

Small children can get quite noisy and frenetic. It can take time to calm them down. Angela Youngman investigated one very popular method – to teach the children to give and receive simple massage.

Emerging mathematicians | Early Years

Helen Hann considers how we can support children and nurture their emerging mathematical concepts and understanding.

Promoting communication | Early Years

Margo Turnbull explores the development of children’s communication skills, by focusing on the role of the practitioner.

Radio and the early years | Early Years

Nick Smurthwaite investigates current developments in radio for young children.

The great how-and-when-to-teach-reading debate | Early Years

We all know that learning to read is a very important step for any child to make, but how can we be sure that we are offering children the best introduction to this skill. Roger Hurn unpicks some of the issues currently under debate.

The transition from foundation stage to Key Stage 1 | Early Years

Helen MR Hann looks at the help and support we can provide for those children about to move into Key Stage 1.

Learning through nature | Early Years

Angela Youngman found out about a broad and creative approach to learning.

Monitoring team effectiveness | Early Years

Julie Jennings considers how you can go about monitoring the effectiveness of your Foundation Stage team.

Hotseating in the early years | Early Years

Steve Mynard explores a process to enrich your children’s language and literacy experiences.

Managing the transition from pre-school to the foundation stage | Early Years

Helen MR Hann suggests strategies to help children transfer into the foundation stage.

Assessment for learning: a key skill | Early Years

Assessment is dependent upon our observations of the children. Anne O’Brien, an experienced teacher and headteacher of young children, explores how we can use the observations we have made to inform the next stage of our planning.

The transition from home to nursery or playgroup | Early Years

Helen M R Hann, an experienced foundation stage teacher, looks at the practical implications of ensuring children's emotional health and wellbeing as they enter nursery or playgroup for the first time.

Storytelling in the early years | Early Years

A love of stories is common to all young children, and by telling stories, rather than reading them, a storyteller can really bring the tale to life and make it a more interactive experience for the children. Former headteacher Steve Mynard explains how everyone has the ability to become a storyteller, it is just a matter of following some easy guidelines.

Welcoming new staff to your team | Early Years

EYU contacted nursery managers about their experience of induction. In this issue we focus on your induction policy and how you can implement it effectively.

Parlez-vous Francais in your nursery? | Early Years

Angela Youngman finds out what is possible if you want to introduce a modern foreign language in your setting.

Attachment, transitions and early emotional development | Early Years

John Cousins is a primary mental health worker, supporting children and their families. He explains what we mean by 'transitions' and how they can affect the child.

Making music matter | Early Years

Leonora Davies, chair of the Music Education Council, talks to Nick Smurthwaite about the vital role of music and movement in early years development.

Diets and their effect on children's behaviour | Early Years

How much does food affect children’s behaviour? Mary Whiting reveals some research-based facts and offers some tips.

Effective communication and engagement | Early Years

Communication is by its very nature a two-way process. Children need to have these skills if they are to particpate in shared and meaningful communications. In this Inset package, based on the need for effective communication and engagement as described in the Common Core, Roger Hurn provides information and activities to help your staff think about ways of helping children to practise and develop their communication skills.

Making sense of the world of mathematics | Early Years

Dr Alison J Price of Oxford Brookes University explains why understanding the relationship between numbers, and the connections between calculations, is an important part of developing mathematical awareness, and how this can influence delivery of the curriculum.

Computers and early years | Early Years

Angela Youngman talked with Justine O’Driscoll of the Bedford Just Learning Nursery about making computers accessible for children in the early years.

Make the most of your marketing | Early Years

Marketing a nursery is more than advertising and promotion. Marketing covers other activities, including the development of the nursery, market research and what prices should be charged. Whether your nursery is at the planning stage or is an existing business, you will still have to think about marketing. Joanne Taylor talks us through.

Case study: the Effective Early Learning Project | Early Years

Pauline Cox explains what was involved in taking part in the Effective Early Learning (EEL) Project.

Effective Early Learning project | Early Years

The Effective Early Learning (EEL) Project, aims to improve the quality of children’s learning in early years settings. Pauline Cox explains the project's aims.

When quality counts | Early Years

A quality assurance scheme is an ideal way to help you improve the care you offer children and families: What is involved? Hayley Doyle of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) explains.

Self-esteem in young children | Early Years

Children’s therapist John Cousins examines the concept of self-esteem, which is integral to a child reaching Early Learning Goals in the PSE area of learning.

Appropriate and affordable childcare for all | Early Years

EYU reviews a new report calling for increased government spending to bring about a childcare system that combines quality, affordability and appropriateness for all children.

Safe in the sun | Early Years

Margaret Collins looks at ways to raise children’s awareness of sun protection.

Attachment theory | Early Years

Attachment theory is explored here by Steve Mynard, who summarises some of the research and suggests ways that you could use this in your setting.

Training your staff | Early Years

In her second article on training, Sally Eaton looks at some everyday opportunities.

Helping young children to make good choices | Early Years

Margaret Collins explores ways in which we can help children to think about their responses and their reactions.

Musical health check | Early Years

Pat Lee begins her series on developing music within the Foundation Stage by looking at using music to enhance children’s social and emotional development.

Studying management online | Early Years

Petra Luck describes the benefits of learning alongside colleagues from around Europe.

Encouraging men to enter the childcare workforce | Early Years

Angela Youngman investigates some initiatives designed to involve men in careers with young children.

Consultation on early years provision | Early Years

The government’s 10-year strategy for childcare, Choice for parents, the best start for children, promised to establish a single coherent development and learning framework for all young children from birth to the age of five. The DfES is currently consulting on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which provides that framework.

Managing writing in the early years | Early Years

Use all the openings possible to encourage your children to express themselves through the written word, says Lynn Cousins.

Christmas carol concert | Early Years

This seasonal assembly for infants looks at the carol service or carol concert – an annual fixture in many schools

Early Years: signs for success | Early Years

Angela Youngman finds out about a scheme to improve communication in early years settings through the use of sign language.

Synthetic phonics: more research needed | Early Years

As the Rose review of the teaching of early reading continues, primary SENCOs will be interested in the latest research findings contributing to the debate on the merits of synthetic phonics teaching.

Omega oils boost brain power | Early Years

The interim results of a pioneering study involving 60 toddlers in Durham have provided impressive evidence of the effects of omega-3 oil on children's learning abilities.



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