Early Years

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

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. read more

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. read more

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

Patricia Lee continues her exploration of music for young children. read more

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

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

Outdoor learning through nature can be very enriching for pupils. Angela Youngman discusses this broad and creative approach to learning

What help and support we can provide for early years children about to move into key stage 1? Helen MR Hann explores this issue

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. read more

Nick Smurthwaite investigates current developments in radio for young children. read more

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

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

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

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.

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

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

How do you care for children’s emotional health and wellbeing as they enter nursery or playgroup for the first time? Helen M R Hann, an experienced foundation stage teacher, looks at the practical implications

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. read more

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

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. read more

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.

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

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

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. read more

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

What should be in your early years induction policy and how can you implement it effectively?

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 at foundation stage

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

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. read more

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

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. read more

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. read more

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

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

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

How do you get more men into childcare? Angela Youngman investigates some initiatives designed to involve men in careers with young children

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

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

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

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. read more

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

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

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

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

Helen Hann considers how we can support children in the learning of maths from early years, by nurturing their emerging mathematical concepts and understanding

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. read more

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. read more

Help children to understand what risk actually is and the part they can play in minimising risk and doing things safely. Margaret Collins describes how children can learn to be risk assessors at school

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

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