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Early Years Professional

If you're an Early Years professional or Foundation Stage Leader, this section is for you. The articles here cover issues including transition, early cognitive development, creativity in the curriculum, inclusion and provision for gifted and talented children. There are also ideas for developing teaching skills, home-school partnerships and emotional literacy.

Promoting healthy early years settings | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

The benefits of introducing young children to ICT | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

Early Years Update provides a range of ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards. Here we focus on the importance of inclusion

What is the Early Year Professional Status? | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

Innovative teaching of PE and sport | Early Years Professional

Angela Youngman looks at some innovative ideas to get children moving

Sustainable nursery schools: Environmental review at EYFS | Early Years Professional

Anne Humble describes the benefits to be gained for nursery schools from participating in the Eco-Schools scheme

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

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 Professional

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 Professional

Early Years Update provides a range of ideas to underpin the information provided in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards. Here we focus on development and learning

Encouraging young children to take risks | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

Learning outside the classroom: examining the school grounds | Early Years Professional

David Storrie describes a course on learning outside the classroom that has allowed teachers to critically examine their school grounds

A global career with global choice | Early Years Professional

Teaching abroad is no longer seen as a sideways move that could harm career progression. Steve Caulfield of the Alice Smith School, Kuala Lumpar, describes some of the opportunities

Higher level questioning skills in young children | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

Early Years Marketing 4: Promotional material | Early Years Professional

The importance of producing accurate and attractive promotional material about your school or setting

Listening to the views of very young children | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

Early years - an end to mediocrity | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

The importance of healthy eating for young children | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

Creativity in the science curriculum | Early Years Professional

Many of your teachers will not be science specialists. Angela Youngman has been looking at innovative approaches to the teaching of science that help encourage children’s inquisitiveness

Promoting disability equality | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

Delivering early years services | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

Encouraging communication, curiosity and creativity | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

Developing pencil control and mark-making | Early Years Professional

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

The importance of physical touch | Early Years Professional

Psychologist Sylvia Clare discusses the importance of physical touch in helping children and young people reconnect to learning.

Engaging parents: developing equal partnerships to support learning | Early Years Professional

A Case Study: Anita Brown, Deputy Headteacher, Ponteland Community High School, Northumberland.

Home-school communication | Early Years Professional

G&T coordinator Jo Smith explains how to get the most out of working with parents.

Achieving true parental involvement | Early Years Professional

Reticence to engage with parents on the part of schools can be deep-seated. Teachers may not be aware of the benefits that parents can bring to the learning experience and the students may not realise that they will benefit too. Julie McGrane looks at how parental engagement can be initiated and how schools can find the forms of engagement that work best.

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

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 Professional

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

The benefits and challenges of Victorian buildings | Early Years Professional

Taking on an old building is a commitment that can pay dividends, says Angela Youngman.

Communicating with parents: formal approaches | Early Years Professional

Carole Farrar highlights how you can make the most of formal communications with parents.

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

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

Bringing theatre to the early years | Early Years Professional

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

Making vouchers work for you | Early Years Professional

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

Vygotsky and the child apprentice | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

Carole Farrar continues her series on communication with parents.

How local is your food? | Early Years Professional

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

Piaget and the development of intelligence | Early Years Professional

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

Making change work | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

Why your setting needs CPD | Early Years Professional

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

Geography in the early years | Early Years Professional

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

Risks, dangers and hazards | Early Years Professional

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

Bringing history to life | Early Years Professional

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

Giving medicines to children | Early Years Professional

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

Teaching young children to give each other massage | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

Developing emotional vocabulary | Early Years Professional

Extending vocabulary when talking or listening to children is a good way to develop their emotional language. Margaret Collins describes two ways of doing this.

Promoting communication | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

Nick Smurthwaite investigates current developments in radio for young children.

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

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

Monitoring team effectiveness | Early Years Professional

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

Hotseating in the early years | Early Years Professional

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

Keeping your staff safe | Early Years Professional

Faye Spalding provides an overview of your responsibilities to your staff.

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

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

Assessment for learning: a key skill | Early Years Professional

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.

Drama in the early years | Early Years Professional

Steve Mynard looks at the place of drama in your setting and how existing practice can be enhanced.

Developing your team | Early Years Professional

Julie Jennings considers how to build your Foundation Stage staff into an effective team.

Supporting new staff in the Foundation Stage | Early Years Professional

The Foundation Stage induction process can be supported by existing staff in your setting, as demonstrated at Nottingham University's Day Nursery

Extended schools: extended childcare | Early Years Professional

Half of all primary schools and a third of all secondary schools are due to be open from 8am to 6pm throughout the year by 2008.

The transition from home to nursery or playgroup | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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.

Leading a team | Early Years Professional

In this first of a short series on leadership Julie Jennings, an experienced teacher and educational consultant, looks at what it takes to be a leader.

Welcoming new staff to your team | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

Making music matter | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

Support childminder scheme comes to Milton Keynes | Early Years Professional

Jane Webb is the support childminder coordinator in Milton Keynes, employed by Milton Keynes Council and working within the childcare team at Galley Hill Education Centre in partnership with the National Childminding Association (NCMA). She recounts how her local authority set up its support childminder scheme.

Effective communication and engagement | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

Case study: the Effective Early Learning Project | Early Years Professional

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

Effective Early Learning project | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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 Professional

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

Attachment theory | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

Ofsted's report on extended services | Early Years Professional

EYU draws out the key points for early years education and childcare.

Helping young children to make good choices | Early Years Professional

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

Musical health check | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

Building a class library | Early Years Professional

Rob Sanderson of Wigan Schools Library Service offers some practical advice for building an early years library.

Communication with parents | Early Years Professional

Carole Farrar starts a series on communicating with parents by looking at what makes effective communication.

Encouraging men to enter the childcare workforce | Early Years Professional

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

Consultation on early years provision | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

Christmas carol concert | Early Years Professional

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 Professional

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

New school, new role – the reality | Early Years Professional

Top tips for surviving your first year at a new school, from teacher Ben Vessey

Encouraging independent learning | Early Years Professional

Andy Bowman explores strategies to begin to develop independence and resourcefulness in young learners.

7 ways to run effective meetings | Early Years Professional

Tips to run more efficient and effective meetings.

Learning how to learn | Early Years Professional

Every child has enormous potential for learning and is capable of progress. If this is not happening, it is most probably because we, the childrens' teachers, have not yet found the right keys to their hearts and minds, writes Eva Hoffman

Omega oils boost brain power | Early Years Professional

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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