Storytime outdoors offers children a wonderful opportunity to combine literacy, physical activity and imaginative play. Taking a familiar story into the natural environment encourages children to become active participants rather than just listeners, inspiring them to explore, move, create and collaborate.
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Providing a stimulating, safe environment enables children to explore, be curious and to learn and develop in an environment where the risk of harm is minimised. Review our top tips as part of your safety in play approach.
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Practitioners play an important role in supporting children’s friendships, through creating inclusive environments, role modelling positive interactions and providing opportunities for children to socialise in varied peer groups. Learning how to be a good friend builds the foundations for future healthy relationships and confident socialisation, which supports positive mental well-being.
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Many working families are unaware of the support available to help with childcare costs. By promoting Tax Free Childcare, nurseries can help families access financial support, improve affordability, increase occupancy levels, and strengthen relationships with parents.
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Men can play an important role in children's learning, development and well-being. This may include fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, foster cares, male partners and other significant men in children’s life.
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Children are naturally curious about the world around them, and open-ended play with loose parts provides endless opportunities for exploration, creativity and discovery. Our planet is full of fascinating environments, from lush rainforests and sandy deserts to icy polar regions and rocky coastlines.
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We often praise the finished picture, model or block tower, but it’s the thinking and the changing ideas that builds real creative confidence. When we focus on the process rather than the product, children learn that ideas are worth exploring and testing and above all, valued. When engaged in creative activities with the children, keep these top tips in mind:
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Here’s a creative activity that firmly puts process before product. Children explore loose parts and recyclables with only their curiosity and freedom to change their minds and no fixed outcome expected.
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Estyn inspect quality and standards in a range of schools, settings and educational establishments including non-maintained settings that receive funding from local authorities to deliver nursery education.
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Child-initiated play is an essential part of early years practice, allowing children to explore, make choices, develop independence and follow their own interests. Practitioners play a key role in creating an environment where children feel confident to investigate, be creative and learn through meaningful experiences. Here are our top tips for facilitating effective, child initiated play.
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