Learning and Development

Introduction Play is the universal language of childhood. It is how children learn, explore, and make sense of the world around them. Early years educators have long recognised the importance of play in fostering a child's physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on play-based … [Read more...] about Unlocking the Power of Play-Based Learning: A Guide for Early Years Educators

How music can help children's development The benefits of music are enormous; both consciously and subconsciously music is a part of our everyday life. Children are exposed to music through songs we sing to celebrate birthdays, nursery rhymes, lullabies and songs we sing to our children. Music helps improve a child’s dexterity and ability it … [Read more...] about More attention needed for the benefits of Music

How to support children's communication From the outset it is second nature to support a child’s communication; parents often do this without thinking. Talking and listening to their child repeating their coos as a baby, singing and reading to them. Outside influences such as nursery see their vocabulary grow but can sometimes be the … [Read more...] about Supporting Communication

How practitioners can support children language development Language development is always a hot topic and with the success of the ‘Every child a talker’ campaign (a national programme to develop language and communication) children birth to five are reaping the results. The importance of supporting new parents and developing practitioners with … [Read more...] about The importance of language development

Great influencer Jerome Bruner  Jerome Bruner The legacy of Jerome Bruner who was an eminent Psychologist, professor and researcher whose work greatly influenced theories on early year’s education and the four modes of thinking and how they affect performance is evident. He is held in high regard in the field of early years … [Read more...] about The legacy of Jerome Bruner

The Christmas period leads to practitioners falling in to old methods of practice Christmas is always an exciting time of years in the early years with many young children besotted by the magic and wonder created around Christmas time. Not only is this time of year well loved by children, practitioners and parents are also often very fond of … [Read more...] about Does Christmas bring out the worst practice in the early years?

Are children suffering because of routine disturbing valuable play? Everyone who works in the foundation stage is very much aware that the EYFS is a play based curriculum and the value that play hold for children. There are many different types of play, each having a variety of benefits. Meaningful play where children are fully engaged is the … [Read more...] about Is play often unnecessarily interrupted?

Planning to promote children's next steps Everyone working in early years is very aware of the importance of supporting children to reach their next steps. There are many ways of doing this from specific boards, on planning sheets, or from wow moments achieve that are in learning journals. However, recently it has been suggested by Ofsted … [Read more...] about Are your planned next steps meaningful?