Nature pedagogy is defined as a natural way of working with children that embraces nature. It is all encompassing, from the educational environments we create, to the process of assessment and planning, through to the Learning Journeys that we enco…
As teachers, we are constantly making decisions. Choosing how to respond, to the events in any given day, is never a neutral undertaking. Our decisions have impact on not only our own experience, but also that of the children we teach and the commun…
Recently I participated in a Step 3 complaints panel at Ofsted HQ. I had applied for the position a couple of months previously and had to show my credentials as an early years specialist before I was accepted as suitable. It is a voluntary role, how…
In this article we look in detail at two observations and explain, in depth, how we assess and allocate refinements to what we are seeing. From the article, you will learn how you can use information gathered from observations, in conjunction with t…
In this article we look in detail at two observations and explain, in depth, how we assess and allocate refinements to what we are seeing. From the article, you will learn how we, at Tapestry, use information gathered from observations, in conjunc…
Planning for individual children is a statutory requirement. However, such plans do not have to be written down. A skilful practitioner is making several hundred “in the moment” plans every day.
At this year’s NDNA conference Denise Kingston, co-writer of the SSTEW scale, led a session to explain the scale, how it can be used and how it can positively impact on practice. The scale can be used to assess the quality of interactions between ad…
I spent over twenty rewarding and stimulating years as a classroom teacher in the North of England and for the most part as a senior manager responsible for the early years foundation stage (EYFS). I delighted in working with children and parents an…
From Spring 2017, all schools will be required to assess and report on English proficiency in the Department for Education (DfE) census for any child with English as an additional language (EAL). As this will include children in maintained nursery sc…
I am currently working towards Early Years Teacher Status as an Early Childhood Studies graduate. I am sharing my academic journey hoping to inspire those considering academic studies of their own.
