103 articles in this category

'Words come too easily’: exploring compliments and the impact they can…
by Caroline Vollans on December 10, 2021
Caroline Vollans takes a closer look at compliments and their impact on young children. 
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Urban planning and risk aversion: an interview with Tim Gill
by Caroline Vollans on March 11, 2022
Caroline Vollans interviews play specialist Tim Gill. 
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To Decolonise or Diversify? Is that the question?
by Adam Vasco on February 9, 2022
Adam Vasco, who leads the 3-7 Early Years Post Graduate Route at Liverpool John Moores University, reflects on the learning and unlearning that needs to happen to decolonise and diversify our education spaces and curriculums.   
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Pack-away power
by Anneka Russell on March 15, 2022
Early Years consultant Anneka Russell reflects on the hugely important role played by 'pack-away' nurseries in their communities. 
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A Reflection Toolkit: supporting educators to reflect on their provisi…
by Ann Lowe on April 25, 2022
Ann Lowe, Early Years Inclusion Officer with Doncaster EY Service, shares the reflective journey that led to the Reflection Toolkit, designed to support educators to consider their provision for children with learning differences.
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Exploring oracy in early years and its links to literacy
by Sejal Payne on June 16, 2022
Independent Education Consultant Sejal Payne helps us take a closer look at oracy, why it is so important, and how it links to literacy. 
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Awe and Wonder
by Emma Davis on February 7, 2023
Preschool Manager and qualified Early Years Teacher Emma Davis invites us to share in awe and wonder. 
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Intergenerational learning and care part 2: An Intergenerational Nurse…
by Caroline Vollans on August 17, 2022
Caroline Vollans finds out more about the first Intergenerational Nursery in the UK. 
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Intergenerational learning and care - Part 1: The Together Project
by Caroline Vollans on July 14, 2022
In the first of a 3 part series about intergenerational learning and care, Caroline Vollans tells us about the benefits for the oldest and youngest generations offered through The Together Project. 
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Early Years in the community: a case study
by Caroline Vollans on October 16, 2022
Caroline Vollans takes a closer look at the work of one early years centre and its connection within the local community, reminding us of the far reaching importance of all early years settings.
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Exploring support for children with English as an Additional Language …
by Sejal Payne on July 14, 2022
Education Consultant Sejal Payne reflects on how we can support our young learners of EAL. 
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Love and Play for Building Brains
by Carly Budd on August 17, 2022
Developmental play expert Carly Budd explains the importance of play for babies' brain development. 
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Intergenerational learning and care part 3: the Belong nursery
by Caroline Vollans on September 13, 2022
In the final part of a series about intergenerational learning and care, Caroline Vollans learns about an intergenerational setting in the North West. 
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Choosing a school as your child transitions to Reception
by Alicia Wilkins on October 19, 2022
Early Years Practitioner and Tiney home nursery leader, Alicia Wilkins, shares her experience of looking for a school for her son, with advice for families and reminding early years educators of all the emotions that parents/carers feel.
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'I felt supported, safe and understood': Community based support for …
by Suma Din on February 7, 2023
Author, researcher and educator Suma Din shares the narratives of educators and mothers about their experience of community based support. 
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Technology in the early years
by Richard Waite on May 15, 2023
Early Years Educator Richard Waite shares his passion for helping us all to understand the importance of sharing technology with young children. 
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What is mathematics for children at the developmental stage/age of 0 t…
by Sharon Day on June 9, 2023
Maths consultant Sharon Day begins a three part series on Maths in the early years.
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How do children learn about numbers and mathematics from the developme…
by Sharon Day on June 9, 2023
In part two of Sharon Day's maths series, we look at maths for 2 to 4 years olds, and the concepts of subitising and conserving. 
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How to support children with learning about numbers and mathematics fr…
by Sharon Day on June 8, 2023
In the final part of her series on Maths, Sharon Day explores how to support children aged 4-5 years old in all areas of your provision. 
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Offering 'challenge' to children in the Early Years
by Emma Davis on December 13, 2023
Emma Davis reflects on why offering 'challenge' to children in the early years is so important, and what educators need to consider to support this. 
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Characteristics of Effective Learning: play and exploration in action
by Ruksana Mohammed on July 18, 2015
Characteristics of Effective Learning (CoEL) are a revived element in the current Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS). CoEL advocate that in planning and guiding children’s activities, practitioners must reflect on the different ways that …
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Understanding and Developing Reflective Practice
by Penny Borkett on November 15, 2014
This article will focus on the need for early years practitioners to develop their knowledge of reflective thinking. It will focus on some of the history and theory of reflective practice considering and discussing how theory can help develop practi…
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Objective-led Planning
by Alistair Bryce-Clegg on August 2, 2015
Many of the FSF members follow Alistair Bryce-Clegg's blog and have attended his very popular presentations. Following a discussion here about his innovative 'objective-led planning', we invited Alistair to explain this approach.
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Give your book corner a makeover!
by Michael Jones on March 3, 2014
What children need in settings is a chance to spend quality time with an adult, with reading material that excites the children’s interests, in a space that is inviting.  
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Choosing 'Next Steps' from your observations
by Kathy Brodie on October 14, 2014
It is not always clear  how observations should be used to inform planning, assessments and evaluation of children's progress. Sometimes the huge array of choices can make choosing a next step a really confusing task.
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