Early years blog

Nursery packed lunches: things to consider

Nursery packed lunches requires careful thought to ensure meals are safe, nutritious, and enjoyable - see our top tips checklist.

nursery packed lunches - children eating food

Top tips: Easy outdoor activities for families this spring

Spring is a wonderous time to get outside and appreciate the magnificent world around us. Encouraging parents to embrace the outdoors at this time of year can have many benefits for themselves, as well as learning opportunities for their children. Here are some benefits of being outside to share with parents and some simple, fun activities to get them started.

Early years activity: Easter maths

This Easter/spring themed sensory tray will be perfect for encouraging the children to engage in a hands on, sensory play experience. It will also help to hone their mathematical thinking and understanding.

Top tips: Bring the outside in

Bringing nature into your nursery provides children with rich, hands-on experiences that enhance curiosity, exploration and overall development.

Early years activity: Spring sense

Spring has sprung so let’s get outside and explore this busy season with all our senses. Start with a walk to observe, touch, smell and feel the environment and then create a sensory bin with all the treasures you’ve found along the way.

Schematic play: what are play schemas in early years?

Find out what schematic play is and what they look like to better understand children’s development and play patterns.

Schematic play - play schemas in early years - child throwing ball

NDNA blog: Marketing your nursery – top tips part 1

In part one of our marketing top tips blog, we look at the reasons for marketing your nursery and the first steps you need to take in your marketing strategy – researching and planning.

Top tips: Keeping special days in early years settings inclusive

Top tips to ensure you are keeping special days in early years settings inclusive to all the families in your nursery community.

Inclusion in early years - celebrating special days - same sex couple

Early years activity: Mother’s Day

This early years Mother's Day activity will support children to discuss acts of kindness and care, and identify their emotions.

Top Tips: Poetry in the early years

Getting into the habit of describing the world around us is a wonderful way to build a rich vocabulary and lays the foundation for creating and appreciating poetry. To celebrate World Poetry Day, why not share these top tips with parents to encourage them to create poems at home: