Is my childcare setting to cluttered? Many early years practitioners working in a childcare setting are continuously asking themselves the question how I can improve my childcare setting. A good starting point is to look at what furniture you have and is the environment to cluttered. If you are answering yes to the cluttered question then why … [Read more...] about How to improve my childcare setting
Enabling Environment
How to build children’s confidence
Helping build children's confidence In order for young children to develop their own self belief practitioners must create an environment that will help children achieve this. When working closely with children you may identify children who have lack confidence, you may be automatically drawn to children who are quiet and shy but sometimes the … [Read more...] about How to build children’s confidence
Knowing when to join in children’s play
When should an adult join in children's play? On a typical day at nursery there are many opportunities for practitioners to observe children's play. Play is crucial to children as it allows them to fully understand and learn about the world around them. It provides opportunities for children to consolidate their existing knowledge and enhance … [Read more...] about Knowing when to join in children’s play
How to display Treasure Baskets and Heuristic Play
PART 3-How to best present Treasure Baskets and heuristic Play Both of these types of play take place on the floor. Practitioners will need to find an appropriate place for this types of play. Treasure baskets items should be placed in a low basket, most settings use wicker baskets as they give that natural feel. Ideally the basket should be … [Read more...] about How to display Treasure Baskets and Heuristic Play
What to use for Treasure Baskets and Heuristic play
Part 2-Objects and items to use in treasure baskets and Heuristic play There are many suppliers who advertise ready made treasure baskets and heuristic play items, however you can find many of these objects in your local stores. In order for a treasure basket to be effective it needs to contain a range of different objects, this is to give … [Read more...] about What to use for Treasure Baskets and Heuristic play
What are Treasure Baskets and Heuristic play
PART 1 Looking at Treasure baskets and Heuristic play Many nursery settings use treasure baskets and offer heuristic play, both these types of play support many areas of children's development. Let’s look at these types of play; Both types of play involve children playing with a group of objects rather than plastic toys. Objects … [Read more...] about What are Treasure Baskets and Heuristic play
An outstanding nursery embraces British Values
Promoting British Values The Sunshine Day Nursery at Seascape Children's Centre really embraced tonights CPD on Promoting British Values. The Senior leadership were given a brief on bringing some of their childhood into the session and looking back on what makes us british. They needed to bring an English homemade food, A hymn, A traditional … [Read more...] about An outstanding nursery embraces British Values
Helping fussy eaters at nursery
How can early years practitioners help fussy eaters? Many nurseries today offer sessions that incorporate meal times.Therefore early years practitioners have an important role in feeding these children as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle. For some parents knowing that their children are offered a meal at nursery helps them when juggling … [Read more...] about Helping fussy eaters at nursery
How to educate children about food in the early years
How can Early Years practitioners teach children where food comes from? Teaching children where food comes from is a great topic for early year’s practitioners to explore. For many children they just see the food arrive on their plates and they don't fully understand where the food before them actually comes from. Therefore why not begin … [Read more...] about How to educate children about food in the early years
How can Early Years settings promote British Values?
Promoting British Values in the Early Years There has been a lot of talk on the topic about how do Early Years settings promote British Values. For some managers and practitioners it is still unclear as to how to promote these with the early year’s age group. With the new Ofsted inspections under way, more and more nurseries are beginning to … [Read more...] about How can Early Years settings promote British Values?