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Early Years Professional

How your setting can foster communication skills in early years

Early Years Focus outlines three main factors which will affect your setting’s ability to develop early years communication skills, and then offers a list of practical ideas for you to initiate which support them

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How nurture relationships with early years parents

All early years practitioners are aware of the importance of establishing good relationships with the parents of the children who attend their setting. This week’s Early Year Focus suggests practical ways that you might develop this partnership

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Taking maths outdoors for early years

As the weather improves and opportunities for being out of doors for most of the day increase, it is time for practitioners in early years settings to consider the many different ways in which children’s mathematical development can be enhanced by ‘taking maths outdoors’

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How to be a reflective early years practitioner

All early years practitioners have a role to play in quality improvement by developing their personal and professional skills as reflective practitioners. Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton discuss what you can do

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Exploring light and dark with early years

Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton discuss the benefits of playing with light and dark with early years children, offering thinking skills activity ideas

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Identifying your role within an early years team

In order for your team to provide quality early years provision, each individual should be aware of the part they play in helping it to function effectively. Below are some descriptions of the roles typically adopted by different team members that will help you to define your contribution

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Festive celebrations with early years

In many cultures there are celebrations at this time of year involving light. Below are some suggestions for how you might use the themes of light and celebrations as the basis for activities in your setting

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Child-initiated learning

As an early years practitioner you will be familiar with the importance of creating the right balance between adult-led and child-initiated learning so that all children have the best opportunities to learn and develop

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Early years outdoor play in autumn and winter

Outdoor play is important for early years development, so Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton discuss ways that you can encourage playing outdoors even in the colder seasons

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Listening to babies

Early Years Focus discusses the importance of listening to babies when they cry

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Coping with swine flu with early years children

Are you worried about swine flu in your early years setting? Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton give advice on preventing swine flu spreading, keeping parents informed and managing existing cases

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Getting it right for boys in early years

Particular provision must be provided for the boys in early years settings. Here Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton discuss what early years practitioners can do

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Being a creative early years practitioner

This, the first Early Years Focus, provides advice on how to be a creative practitioner for those working with young children in the Early Years Foundation Stage

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How to teach boys through play

Boys and girls learn differently, as Steve Mynard discovered first hand when teaching five-year-old children. Here he explains how equal opportunities in school can be achieved by acknowledging gender differences in school

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Gender differences in school: implications for education

Steve Mynard considers gender differences in schools by looking at the social, emotional, intellectual and physical contrasts to bear in mind when teaching boys and girls. He explains we may need to treat them differently in order to give equal opportunities in school to both sexes

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Early Years PiP Cards: 3.2 Supporting every child

Supporting every child is an important concept in EYFS effective practice, and is explored within a range of practical ideas which underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

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Early years learning environments

High-quality learning environments for young children are vital to their early development. Sian Rees-Jones, headteacher of Bognor Regis Nursery School and Children's Centre, shares her team's approach to learning environments

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Planning quality provision for early years

What are the early years processes involved for quality provision and planning positive outcomes for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage? Early years consultant Jane Cole has a look

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Early Years PiP Cards: 3.1 Observation, assessment and planning

Observation, assessment and planning are important areas of practice to get right when dealing with early years. Early Years Update offers a range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

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Completing the early years SEF

Ofsted's new self-evaluation form and how to complete it is looked at in detail by Early Years Update

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Healthy Living in the Early Years Foundation Stage

Author: Pat Brunton and Linda Thornton

Healthy Living in the Early Years Foundation Stage shows you how to provide a strong foundation for the future learning and development of the children in your care, covering all aspects of nutrition, exercise, emotional wellbeing and staying safe with specific regard to early years

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SEN observation recording sheets

The free SEN resource for early years professionals and primary school teachers offers a number of observation sheets for individuals and groups. Each sheet is offered as a blank and as a filled-in example

Self-evaluation to improve early years provision

Self-evaluation has an important place in improving the quality of provision in early years education. Early Years Update discusses how self-evaluation can be used for maximum benefit

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The EYFS principles: a breakdown

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) principles are designed to celebrate the importance of play and learning, by putting the child back at the heart of early years practice. Sally Jaeckle, senior regional adviser for the EYFS, South West, discusses

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Early Years PiP Cards: 2.4 Key person

A key person has special responsibilities when working with small number of early years children. They are an important part of good early years practice, for which Early Years Update offers a range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

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Managing early years staff performance

Early years staff perfomance can be reviewed in a simple but effective way as part of an overall quality improvement process

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What’s the point of early years assessment?

Teachers may question the purposes and techniques of assessment at EYFS. Jan Dubiel, Programme Leader for the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile at the National Assessment Agency, discusses the practical reality of assessment at this level

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A healthy diet for early years

What constitutes a healthy diet for babies and toddlers under five years old? Sarah Almond, a registered dietician, discusses this query with reference to examples of the nutritional standards of food served in a range of childcare settings

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Ofsted inspections for early years

What are the implications of recent changes to Ofsted inspections of early years education? Early Years Update explains

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Early Years PiP Cards: 2.3 Supporting Learning

Supporting learning is an important part of good early years practice with babies, toddlers and three- to five-year-old children. Early Years Update offers a range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

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Effective school staff induction for early years

An effective induction process is an integral part of welcoming new members of staff to your school. This article discusses things to remember during your school staff induction

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Fostering thinking skills in early years

Jenni Clarke offers some practical suggestions on how to encourage young children to think

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Involving early years children in planning and evaluating their own learning

A reflective early years learning environment is not only conducive to achievement, but it is also required by the EYPS and the EYFS. Cathy Williamson describes how a pre-school aimed to create one as part of a school action research project

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Teaching early years children to read using phonics

Despite his initial scepticism about using synthetic phonics to help young children learn to read, Steve Mynard enthuses about its benefits

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Early Years PiP Cards: 2.2 Parents as partners

The importance of your relationship with parents of babies, toddlers and three- to five-year-old children is the focus of this article from Early Years Update. This is part of a range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

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Education employment law: statutory leave and pay entitlements

Do you know your way around educational employment law? Does your school's pay and remuneration package meet or exceed minimum standards? Tamara Ludlow gives a legal overview of essential information for both leadership teams and staff

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Interviewing and appointing early years staff

After advertising and shortlisting for your early years staff position, you will be ready to interview the prospective candidates. This article looks at how to plan and structure the interview

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Traditional playground games

This free resource comprises of 10 traditional playground games for you to print out and use to enhance and enrich playtime

Creative solutions to early years behaviour

When dealing with the feelings and behaviour of early years pupils, teachers should try looking at creative ways to approach and deal with problems says Anni McTavish

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Promoting good early years behaviour

Good behaviour in early years is something that practitioners can and should promote, says Juliet Neill-Hall, who offers some strategies on 'how to'

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Early Years PiP Cards: 2.1 Respecting each other

Early Years Update focuses on the importance of respectful relationships in environments with babies, toddlers and three- to five-year-old children. This is part of a range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

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Advertising and shortlisting early years staff

In order to recruit the right candidates to your early years staff, after putting together a teaching job description, you must think about how you will advertise and shortlist for the role

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Basic classroom skills

Teaching basic classroom skills early is a simple and essential way to instil good behaviour principles in students, explains Dave Stott in this issue of Behaviour Matters

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Early Years Handbook

Author: Pat Brunton and Linda Thornton

Early Years Handbook provides a complete guide to establishing and running high quality, sustainable early years provision which provides good outcomes for children and meets the needs of parents and carers

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Early Years Update

Author: Edited by Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton

Early Years Update brings together essential news and information in a concise and practical format, ensuring you stay up-to-date with all the latest thinking in your area. Published 10 times a year, Early Years Update covers a variety of topics from developing curriculum provision to the broader issues of child development, pedagogy and working with other professionals.

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Early years: eight principles for observational assessment

The eight principles for observational assessment, provided in the DCSF’s Creating the Picture, can be used by practitioners in all early years settings to ensure that the requirements of the EYFS are met read more

Wraparound childcare provision

How effective is wraparound childcare provision in addressing issues in areas of deprivation? Therese Allen, head at Mychall Primary in Birmingham, dicusses why it plays such a key role in her school

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Early Years PiP Cards: 1.4 Health and well-being

Early Years Update focuses on the importance of health and well being with babies, toddlers and three- to five-year-old children. This is part of a range of practical ideas to underpin the information in the Early Years Foundation Stage Principles into Practice cards

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Observing, recording and planning young children's learning

What is best practice when it comes to facilitating young children's learning? Stephanie Mathivet, curriculum and standards manager for the Pre-school Learning Alliance, discusses this issue

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EYFS: where to start

How does the EYFS framework fit into an early years setting in reality? How should early years education now move forward? Abigail Steel discusses

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