After more than two decades leading NDNA, we waved goodbye to Purnima Tanuku CBE at the end of March 2026. In that time she has guided NDNA through many challenges, including funded childcare policies, debates about ratios and the Covid pandemic. In 2005 when she first arrived, NDNA had around 2,000 members but we now support more… Continue reading Farewell Purnima
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Top tips: Following the child’s interests
Children learn best when they are motivated, curious and deeply engaged. By following children’s interests, practitioners create meaningful learning experiences that build on what children already know and care about. These top tips for following the child’s interests support early years teams to remain responsive and reflective while keeping the child at the centre of practice. Top tips for… Continue reading Top tips: Following the child’s interests
Early years activity: Number rhyme time
Developing confident mathematicians with a positive attitude and interest in maths starts in a child’s earliest years. Before children can understand and count purposefully, they need to develop a sense of number (what numbers are, what they mean, what different numbers look like as a physical concept and what they can do with them) and singing number rhymes will support… Continue reading Early years activity: Number rhyme time
Top tips: Ensuring staff know and understand your policies
On average, early years settings have over 100 policies in place that set out the setting’s practice. Polices are underpinned by legislation and should reflect a setting’s daily practice. Read our top tips on how you can ensure all staff know and understand your policies. Top tips for ensuring staff know and understand your policies NDNA products to support you with this tip NDNA… Continue reading Top tips: Ensuring staff know and understand your policies
Early years activity: Loose parts art-faces
This loose parts art activity encourages children to create faces using a variety of open-ended materials. They are then able to describe their faces and perhaps their emotions that they have included in their art. Loose parts art-faces learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Provide a wide range of loose parts, including but not limited… Continue reading Early years activity: Loose parts art-faces
Brand Marketing and Corporate Partnerships Manager
Responsible to: Director of Business Development Responsible for: Marketing and Corporate Partnerships Team Location: Huddersfield (Hybrid) Salary Band: Band E Hours: … Continue reading Brand Marketing and Corporate Partnerships Manager
Early years activity: Little scientist explore…Magnets
Magnets feel magical to young children. Exploring what ‘sticks’ and what doesn’t encourages curiosity, prediction and early scientific thinking while supporting language and problem-solving skills. Little scientist explore…Magnets learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Little scientist explore…Magnets activity outline Ask the children is they have had any experience of magnets before and find out what they already know. Then show the… Continue reading Early years activity: Little scientist explore…Magnets
Top tips: Maintaining effective communication with parents
Strong communication between nurseries and parents is essential for supporting children’s well-being, development and sense of security. When families feel informed, listened to and valued, it builds trust and creates a consistent approach between home and nursery. Clear communication helps practitioners share important information, celebrate achievements and work together to support each child’s individual needs. Top tips for supporting new staff Support your team… Continue reading Top tips: Maintaining effective communication with parents
Inspire Healthy Habits to Transform Children’s Futures
Give every child the best possible start through movement, nutrition and joyful everyday learning. Healthy development doesn’t just happen: it grows through consistent, nurturing experiences. When early years settings champion physical activity and nutrition, children develop stronger bodies, more curious minds and a lifelong love of movement and food. NDNA is here to help you build that foundation with confidence. 🍎 Nourish… Continue reading Inspire Healthy Habits to Transform Children’s Futures
Ministerial letter: changes to EYFS safer sleeping requirements
Early education minister Olivia Bailey has written to NDNA to outline her intentions to update the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) this year with the primary objective to “clarify the safeguarding requirements for sleeping arrangements”. The updates will be part of their response to the Campaign for Gigi, led by Genevieve Meehan’s parents Katie Wheeler and John Meehan.… Continue reading Ministerial letter: changes to EYFS safer sleeping requirements
Top tips: Supporting new staff
A supportive start for new staff can help them feel confident and valued and know your expectations from day one. Consistent guidance helps practitioners settle faster, follow routines more accurately and build stronger relationships. This early support boosts quality of practice, improves teamwork and can help to reduce stress and staff turnover. Here are some tips to support you. Top tips for… Continue reading Top tips: Supporting new staff
Early years activity: How do I feel
By noticing and naming feelings, children start to understand their emotions and those of others. This playful ‘faces and feelings’ activity helps to build empathy, confidence and extends children’s emotional vocabulary. How do I feel learning aims Resources you will need for this activity How do I feel activity outline How to extend this activity After identifying feelings shown on picture cards, sort… Continue reading Early years activity: How do I feel
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Multi-Factor Authentication
Following our recent announcement about additional security measures, this email provides step-by-step instructions to help you set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your NDNA website account. Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a second verification step when signing in. This helps keep your account, personal information and financial details secure. Please… Continue reading Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Multi-Factor Authentication
Coram childcare survey: costs fall sharply for families in England as funding expands
Coram’s annual childcare survey shows the expanded funded hours in England are changing what parents pay. But challenges remain on affordability, sufficiency and support for children with SEND needs across the UK. Childcare costs for many working families in England have dropped following the full roll out of the 30-hour funded entitlement for children from… Continue reading Coram childcare survey: costs fall sharply for families in England as funding expands
Top tips: Making Reading Fun at Home
Reading with your child is one of the most valuable things you can do. It strengthens your bond, supports their learning and development, and most importantly – it’s fun! Whether you have five minutes at bedtime or a little longer on a quiet afternoon, those small moments together can make a big difference. The key is to keep reading… Continue reading Top tips: Making Reading Fun at Home
Early years activity: Little Gardeners – Cress Caterpillars
Bring a little nature indoors with this fun and simple Cress Caterpillars activity. Children will love creating their own cheerful caterpillar while exploring how plants grow and change. As they care for their cress each day, they’ll observe tiny seeds transform into fresh green shoots, building curiosity, responsibility and a sense of achievement along the way. Little Gardeners – Cress Caterpillars… Continue reading Early years activity: Little Gardeners – Cress Caterpillars
Top tips: Encouraging reading at home
Research tells us that one important thing that parents can do to help their child’s education is to share books with them. This can help to develop a lifelong passion for reading and enjoyment of stories in their earliest years. Parents will have a range of experiences of early reading and formal schooling and this may affect their confidence towards reading with their own child. To… Continue reading Top tips: Encouraging reading at home
Early years activity: World Book Day
World Book Day is an annual celebration that offers a chance to celebrate children’s favourite story books and characters. Our activity encourages children to share books they cherish while discovering the favourites of others too. World Book Day learning aims Resources you will need for this activity World Book Day activity outline How to extend this activity NDNA products to support you… Continue reading Early years activity: World Book Day
Top tips: Time management and prioritsing tasks
Effective time management helps the team stay calm, responsive and focused on what matters most: the children. As a nursery manager, leading good practice in prioritising tasks supports staff well-being and the effective running of the nursery. Top tips for time management and prioritising tasks NDNA products to help you with this tip Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be… Continue reading Top tips: Time management and prioritsing tasks
Early years activity: Magic mystery box
The Magic Mystery Box is a playful activity that encourages young children to communicate, listen and share ideas. The surprise element captures interest, while the predictable routine helps children feel safe to express themselves using words, sounds, gestures or facial expressions. Magic mystery box learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Magic mystery box activity outline How… Continue reading Early years activity: Magic mystery box