Top 10 essentials for your outdoor space With the emphasis and research on outdoor play growing in strength every day, practitioners are increasingly questioning how they can improve their outdoors area. There are 2 main approaches early years practitioners are taking, one is based around a loose parts approach filling the outdoors … [Read more...] about Top 10 essentials for your outdoor space
Enabling Environment
England’s largest outdoor learning project reveals children more motivated to learn when outside
The Natural Connections Demonstration project has published new evidence on the benefits of outdoor learning to pupils, teachers and schools. Press release from Natural England Children from 125 schools across the South West of England are happier, healthier and more motivated to learn thanks to a new project commissioned by … [Read more...] about England’s largest outdoor learning project reveals children more motivated to learn when outside
Should all early years settings have a minimalist environment?
Should all early years settings have a minimalist environment? Early years settings are often environments full of colour, resources, loud sounds and music but is this really the most effective way to expect children learn and play? Many settings take a continuous provision approach and have a multitude of resources available at the children’s … [Read more...] about Should all early years settings have a minimalist environment?
Outdoor play should be based on a loose parts approach
Early years settings need to embrace loose parts outdoor play Outdoor play is always rising on the early year’s agenda with the benefits regularly being stated for children’s holistic development. Recently reported is the rise in forest schools groups within the community with many early years’ settings becoming their forest schools or regularly … [Read more...] about Outdoor play should be based on a loose parts approach
Forest Schools are on the Rise in the Early Years
Forest Schools are on the Rise in the Early Years Unfortunately children having access to forests and woodlands spaces on a daily basis is becoming a thing of the past. There simply are not the forests and woodland spaces around that once were; with the demand for houses rising these spaces are becoming more and more limited as building works … [Read more...] about Forest Schools are on the Rise in the Early Years
How should mathematics be promoted within Early Years?
Promoting early mathematics skills Early mathematics is an important part of the Early Year’s Foundation Stage. It is down to practitioners to fully embrace this area of the EYFS and promote mathematics throughout the learning environment. As mathematics is a specific area of the EYFS, it means that it is more commonly focussed upon with … [Read more...] about How should mathematics be promoted within Early Years?
Is EAL language support confused with cultural diversity in childcare?
Why supporting EAL is not all about cultural diversity Many practitioners will have some experience of working with children who have English as an Additional Language and can offer strategies on how to support them; however there is much dispute on the value of support offered to bilingual children in the Early Years. The most common strategies … [Read more...] about Is EAL language support confused with cultural diversity in childcare?
How to evidence diversity within your planning
Ideas of how to incorporate diversity within planning Many practitioners struggle to show evidence of diversity within planning. However, there are many activities and experiences that can be planned around this. When Ofsted visit to carry out an inspection, they will be looking to see how diversity is promoted within the settings. It is … [Read more...] about How to evidence diversity within your planning
5 great story sack ideas
Great ideas on how to extend 5 favourite stories into a story sack A Story sack can be a great resource to use with the children. They can extend a story and support children in a range of development areas. The sacks are often made up using a story book and visual aids or activities that are based around the story. This can help children to … [Read more...] about 5 great story sack ideas
Creating an outdoor classroom
An outdoor classroom is a valuable resource and can provide a range of benefits to the children's development. The outdoor classroom is a crucial learning environment, enabling some learning to take place that simply does not inside. It is a good idea to allow free flow from the indoors to the outside environment for the children to access; this … [Read more...] about Creating an outdoor classroom