Peer observations are a valuable approach for developing a reflective and supportive culture that promotes high-quality practice. They provide opportunities for practitioners to learn from one another, share ideas and strengthen collaborative working. For leaders and managers, fostering the right environment is essential to ensure that peer observations are seen as purposeful and beneficial. When embedded effectively, they become… Continue reading Top tips: Peer observations
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Early years activity: Nature inspired playdough exploration
Playdough offers a rich sensory experience that nurtures creativity, imagination and fine motor development. Create an inviting space where children feel inspired to explore and engage in sensory play. This open-ended experience encourages children to experiment, create and express their ideas freely, supporting their curiosity and individuality. Nature inspired playdough exploration learning aims Resources you will need for… Continue reading Early years activity: Nature inspired playdough exploration
New Welsh Government has ambitious childcare plans
Wales has voted in a new First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth who has announced his new cabinet. His Deputy First Minister, Sioned Williams, will also have the brief for delivering Plaid Cymru’s childcare expansion plans. Their manifesto stated: “…a transformational and universal new childcare offer for children from the age of 9 months to 4… Continue reading New Welsh Government has ambitious childcare plans
Early years activity: St George’s big journey
St George never visited England – so what better way to mark his day than by finding out where he came from. This activity takes children on a journey from Cappadocia in Turkey to their own front door, weaving in a dragon that just needs a friend. Big conversations about kindness, courage and belonging, through… Continue reading Early years activity: St George’s big journey
Top tips: Adapting teaching to children’s individual preferences
Every child arrives in your nursery with their own way of making sense of the world — their own pace, sensory needs, communication style and play preferences. As a manager, an impactful aspect of your role is shaping an environment and team culture that genuinely responds to those differences, rather than expecting children to adapt… Continue reading Top tips: Adapting teaching to children’s individual preferences
Top tips: Supporting parents with children’s dummy use
Dummies can be a helpful way to comfort and settle babies, especially in the early months. However, as children grow, it’s important to balance dummy use with lots of opportunities to talk, listen and interact. These tips will help staff to support parents to make confident, informed decisions about when and how to use a dummy and how to reduce reliance on… Continue reading Top tips: Supporting parents with children’s dummy use
Early years activity: Caring for our planet
This sensory play activity provides young children with a hands-on opportunity to explore caring for the environment. Through imaginative play, children are introduced to the idea that oceans can become polluted and that they can help to make a difference. The activity encourages curiosity, cooperation and early awareness of looking after the world around them in a simple and… Continue reading Early years activity: Caring for our planet
Early years activity: Gardening Week – Supporting Communication and Language
Gardening week is a wonderful opportunity to support children’s communication and language as they take part in a range of sensory activities in both the natural outdoor environment and indoor environments. Learning aims Resources Activity outline Extension ideas Create a small flower garden, either in pots or in a section of your outdoor space. Encourage children to take responsibility… Continue reading Early years activity: Gardening Week – Supporting Communication and Language
Top tips: Cultivating Curiosity through Gardening
There are numerous benefits of involving children in gardening experiences, including access to the natural environment, sensory rich activities, working together, promoting curiosity and observing cause and effect. NDNA products to support you with this activity Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have… Continue reading Top tips: Cultivating Curiosity through Gardening
Top tips: Conducting productive team meetings
Effective team meetings are essential. Well-structured meetings help staff stay informed, feel valued and work together more efficiently. By making meetings purposeful and engaging, leaders can strengthen teamwork and improve daily practice. Top tips for conducting productive team meetings NDNA products to support you with this tip Supporting Well-being in the Early Years Workforce – Online course Effective Leadership and… Continue reading Top tips: Conducting productive team meetings
Early years activity: Fruit Salad
Encouraging healthy eating habits from an early age is essential for children’s growth and development. Making a fruit salad provides opportunities for children to explore different tastes, textures, weights and colours while developing positive attitudes towards nutritious foods. Fruit salad learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Fruit salad activity outline How to extend this activity Create a ‘fruit chart’ where children can… Continue reading Early years activity: Fruit Salad
Top tips: Menu planning
Menu planning in nursery settings helps ensure children receive healthy, balanced meals that support their growth and development. A well-planned menu provides a variety of nutritious foods, allowing children to experience different flavours, textures and food groups while developing positive eating habits from an early age. Explore our top tips for successful menu planning. Top… Continue reading Top tips: Menu planning
Early years activity: Outdoors dance time
Bring movement, music and imagination together with this fun outdoors dance time activity. Children are encouraged to explore creative expression as they move like elements of the natural world – from swaying trees to fluttering butterflies. This activity supports physical development and gives children the freedom to express themselves in fun and imaginative ways. Outdoors… Continue reading Early years activity: Outdoors dance time
FREE Maths Champions Early Years Maths Training – IT test
Improving outcomes for children by embedding maths into play and activities. Maths Champions is an online professional development programme with 12 months of access. You do not need to be a member to take part. The programme is designed to improve children’s maths outcomes by giving you access to carefully developed online training, practical tools,… Continue reading FREE Maths Champions Early Years Maths Training – IT test
Farewell Purnima
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
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
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