Summer can be a time when parents are looking for budget friendly ideas to entertain the family. Having fun doesn’t have to cost money, so why not create a list of fun, free activities for your families to enjoy, starting with the tips below. NDNA products to support you with this tip Early years parent partnerships: developing positive relationships with parents… Continue reading Top tips: Free summer activity ideas for families
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Early years activity: Ball bonanza
Physical activity is essential for good health and well-being and the activity ideas below are designed to support children’s gross and fine motor skills, balance, coordination and confidence through a range of high energy ball games, offering lots of fun. Ball bonanza learning aims Resources you will need for this activity See individual activities. Ball… Continue reading Early years activity: Ball bonanza
Top tips: Movement matters
Movement comes naturally to young children – they climb, spin, jump and wriggle their way through the world long before they can put any of it into words. However, understanding that movement is good for their overall well-being is something children learn gradually, through experience and through the language and attitudes of the adults around them. As a nursery practitioner, you are uniquely placed to… Continue reading Top tips: Movement matters
Early years activity: World Bee Day
Celebrate World Bee Day with this meaningful activity. Children use natural and recycled materials to build their very own bee hotel – a safe, cosy shelter for bees to rest and nest. Through exploring, making and doing something real for nature, children begin to understand why bees matter and how even the smallest actions can make a huge difference. World Bee Day learning aims Resources you… Continue reading Early years activity: World Bee Day
Nursery healthy eating activity: Teddy Bears Picnic
This fun and engaging activity encourages children to explore new foods, make choices and enjoy meaningful shared moments in a relaxed outdoor environment. Children are actively involved throughout the experience – choosing healthy foods, helping to prepare them and then enjoying their picnic together with friends and their teddies. Along the way, they develop communication and social skills,… Continue reading Nursery healthy eating activity: Teddy Bears Picnic
Using visual aids and prompts – Early Years Tips
Visual aids and prompts are valuable tools within the early years environment, supporting young children to understand routines, build confidence and develop independence. By providing clear and consistent visual support, practitioners can create a more inclusive and enabling environment where children feel secure and able to engage fully in nursery life. Although visual aids are particularly beneficial for… Continue reading Using visual aids and prompts – Early Years Tips
MBEs for two NDNA members
Long-standing NDNA trustee Hazel Moody and founder and director of Bee in the Woods in Brighton, Lucy Owen-Collins, have been given an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Hazel of Advantage Day Nursery in Surbiton joined NDNA in 2004 and has been a trustee since 2007.… Continue reading MBEs for two NDNA members
Employment Rights Act 2025: What nursery owners need to know now
Running a nursery in 2026 is already tricky enough with staffing pressures and rising costs. Add into that significant employment law changes, and it’s hard to know what you need to know. Our partner Citation have pulled together what’s happened, what’s coming and what you can do now. Already in force since April 2026 Statutory Sick Pay From 6 April,… Continue reading Employment Rights Act 2025: What nursery owners need to know now
The key announcements from NDNA Conference 2026
Several high profile sector figures spoke at NDNA’s conference in Liverpool on Friday 5 June, with some using it as a platform to make important new announcements. Among the presenters were Olivia Bailey, Minister for Early Education and Equality and Sir Martyn Oliver, HMCI at Ofsted. Education veteran Ger Graus opened delegates’ eyes to how… Continue reading The key announcements from NDNA Conference 2026
NDNA celebrates excellence at 2026 Conference and Awards
The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) brought together nursery leaders, owners and early years professionals at its 2026 Conference and Awards. They celebrated innovation, leadership and outstanding practice across the sector. Held at the Titanic Hotel Liverpool, the conference returned with the theme Transforming tomorrow: the power of early years today, giving delegates practical insight,… Continue reading NDNA celebrates excellence at 2026 Conference and Awards
Tip tips: Supporting parents with healthy eating at home
Supporting families with healthy eating is an important part of promoting children’s overall well-being. By building positive relationships and sharing simple, achievable strategies, you can help parents feel more confident in creating healthy eating habits at home that work for them and their children. Top tips for supporting parents with healthy eating at home NDNA… Continue reading Tip tips: Supporting parents with healthy eating at home
Early years activity: Making a picture book together
This activity supports practitioners to create a special picture book by inviting children to draw their own ideas as part of a shared story. Adults are there to support each child with their picture and write down their words, helping to build language and confidence. All the pages are then put together into a book… Continue reading Early years activity: Making a picture book together
Families need action on childcare places in first 100 days
Following lobbying by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland, MSPs have agreed a motion in Parliament for the Scottish Government to work with local authorities to ensure families can access childcare placements across council boundaries. A debate on expanded childcare took place in Holyrood yesterday (27 May) and an amendment on supporting children from across council boundaries at a national level tabled by Scottish Greens was accepted. On the back of that motion, NDNA… Continue reading Families need action on childcare places in first 100 days
Top tips: Listening to and acting on the voice of the child
Providing meaningful opportunities for the voice of the child requires adults to genuinely listen, act upon what children are sharing and to teach children the power and importance of their own voice. Review our top tips below to assess your daily practice for including the voice of the child in your setting. Top tips for… Continue reading Top tips: Listening to and acting on the voice of the child
Early years activity: We’re Going on a Shape Hunt
Support children to develop positive attitudes and interests in mathematics through engaging activities to explore shape. Our activity takes children into their local community to identify shapes in a familiar environment. We’re Going on a Shape Hunt learning aims Resources you will need for this activity We’re Going on a Shape Hunt activity outline How… Continue reading Early years activity: We’re Going on a Shape Hunt
Government asks Competition and Markets Authority to look at nursery charges
Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education has written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) asking them to look into the way nurseries operate, in particular regarding deposits and “additional charges”. NDNA has told journalists that the Government has at least realised that the system does not work for parents or providers. CEO Tim… Continue reading Government asks Competition and Markets Authority to look at nursery charges
Top tips: Peer observations
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
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