Brilliant ideas for sand play!
Sand is a tactile, sensory and endlessly versatile resource. Try some new ideas for making the most of it in your setting.
Sand is a tactile, sensory and endlessly versatile resource. Try some new ideas for making the most of it in your setting.
Taking part in fundraising events creates happy memories for children and tells them that they can play a part in changing the world. There are also lots of ways to link events to learning in the EYFS.
Returning to nursery after the festive season can be difficult for both children and parents, but there are a number of strategies that can help make the process easier.
Sand tray activities can be a great way to help children achieve personal, social and emotional development goals; for example, by developing sand tray rules together and inventing new games.
It may come as a shock having to match your energy levels to the children’s when they arrive back after the Christmas break – so lay plans to get them outside and letting off steam, while supporting their learning and physical development.
'There's no such thing as bad weather – just inappropriate clothing,' as the saying goes. Use children’s colourful winter clothing as a link to many areas of learning.
Find out about the latest offer from a reading scheme that provides a range of fiction and non-fiction books which celebrate diversity and gender equality.
Beanbags are easy for young children to hold, catch and throw. They can be visually pleasing, tactile and can have the added element of weight, smell and sound. Jenni Clarke shares some simple, fun and increasingly challenging physical activities to share with young children.
The creator of Elmer, the famous patchwork elephant, is David McKee, writer and illustrator. Judith Harries looks at how to explore his books which are renowned for tackling issues such as cultural differences, acceptance of others, and how to form positive relationships.
Discover how a new resource is helping pre-schoolers to develop a passion for the past with an audio experience that transports them to momentous events such as the Great Fire of London.
Discover how this spooky celebration can provide an exciting springboard for children's creative activities, including artworks, story-telling, role-play and lots of fun with friends.
Now is the time to look at how wintery weather affects British wildlife. Start with birds that can be observed in your outdoor area and help children to discover why they need our help when the days become cold.
Try these easy-to-play games which will entertain children and extend their physical and communication skills, while out for a stroll.
This month Nick Butterworth is in the spotlight. Use his books to support children to make connections with others, learning to share their thoughts and ideas about family and trips out of the setting.
Kate Williams outlines ideas for role-play with a baby doll, to encourage boys and girls to develop empathy and begin to understand the needs of a real baby. Observe how they engage with caring.
Don’t be surprised if your child comes home from pre-school looking a little grubby. They will have been exploring messy play, an activity which is all about tactile exploration, says Annette Rawstrone.
Share Jill Murphy’s wonderful books – including Peace at Last – to explore ideas of being sensitive to the feelings of others. Observe how they take turns and listen to each other’s ideas.
In this new three-part series Hilary White kicks off by exploring the meaning of the term self-regulation in the context of modern pedagogy and research, and how reflective practice is needed to support it.
Helping to grow, harvest, cook and eat their own vegetables contributes to healthy lifestyles for children, but vegetables can also provide many other opportunities for play and learning.
There is one thing you can predict about a British summer, it is completely unpredictable! But as we know, with the right assortment of clothes, we go outside come rain or shine.
Welcome to summer – a time for the older children to relax without school, for families to go on holiday and for childminders to enjoy some freedom without normal daily routines.
We hear a great deal about children being ‘school ready’, which sounds like something both very definitive and well documented, but what does this mean for childminders?
Sleeping deeply through the night contributes to good health and wellbeing. Young children need to be able to take naps in safe and comfortable spaces during the day.
Continuing our exploration of the prime and specific areas of learning, this month we focus on personal, social, emotional development and how we can support these in our settings.
It is a term that we hear regularly these days, but do we know what it really means, what range of behaviours it covers, and what we should look out for in the children in our care?