The Scottish Government has now published its Programme for Government, including an update on plans for childcare. The Programme for Government (PfG) 2026 to 2031 sets out the priorities Scottish Government would like to achieve by the next election in 2031 and how they are planning to achieve it. The key elements of the latest… Continue reading Scottish Government’s plans for childcare announced
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Booming Demand, Shrinking Sector. The Real Story Behind Nursery Closures.
Written by: TradeBridge · Early Years Finance Demand for childcare has never been stronger. So why are nurseries still closing? The problem isn’t demand. It’s finance that doesn’t match how nurseries actually get paid. You already know the numbers because you’re living them. Government spending on the early years entitlement has nearly doubled in two… Continue reading Booming Demand, Shrinking Sector. The Real Story Behind Nursery Closures.
Top tips: Inclusive Physical Storytelling
Storytelling is a wonderful way to engage young children, and physical storytelling makes the experience even more meaningful. By combining movement, imagination and language, physical storytelling encourages children to become active participants as they bring a story to life. Use our top tips below to help ensure every child can take part, feel included and… Continue reading Top tips: Inclusive Physical Storytelling
Early years activity: Outdoor Storytime
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. By inventing their own version of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, children develop… Continue reading Early years activity: Outdoor Storytime
Top tips: Safety in play
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. Top tips for safety in play 1. Ensure appropriate supervision according to children’s age, stage of development… Continue reading Top tips: Safety in play
Early years activity: Friendship circle
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. Friendship circle learning aims Resources… Continue reading Early years activity: Friendship circle
Majority of Scottish councils not paying genuinely ‘sustainable rates’
An investigation by National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) Scotland has revealed that the majority of councils in Scotland are failing to adequately cover the increase in costs for partner providers in their funding rate for the 2026-27 period. This leaves providers and parents to pick up the slack and pay for the difference themselves. Nurseries… Continue reading Majority of Scottish councils not paying genuinely ‘sustainable rates’
Early years activity: Exploring our amazing planet with loose parts
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. This activity introduces children to some of the diverse habitats found around… Continue reading Early years activity: Exploring our amazing planet with loose parts
Top tips: Engaging the important men in children’s lives
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. When the important people in children’s lives feel welcomed, valued and involved in nursery life, children benefit from stronger relationships, increased confidence and positive learning… Continue reading Top tips: Engaging the important men in children’s lives
Top tips: Process over product
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: Top tips for process over product NDNA products… Continue reading Top tips: Process over product
Early years activity: Making it up as we go
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. Making it up as we go learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Making it up as we go activity outline How to extend this activity NDNA… Continue reading Early years activity: Making it up as we go
Early years activity: Beanbag play
Physical activity is an essential part of children’s development, helping to build strength, coordination, balance and confidence while promoting a healthy lifestyle. These simple beanbag activities encourage active play through fun, engaging experiences. Beanbag play learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Beanbag play activity outline How to extend this activity You could redo each… Continue reading Early years activity: Beanbag play
Early years activity: Sensory sounds space
Outdoor play provides children with opportunities to use their energy as they run, climb, play, and explore. To support the body’s natural rhythm of activity and rest, the outdoor environment should also include quiet spaces where children can relax, recharge, reflect, and observe the natural world, enjoying peaceful moments that promote their emotional well-being and self-regulation. Sensory sounds space learning… Continue reading Early years activity: Sensory sounds space
Top tips: Child safety – Promoting safety in the home
Children under the age of five are the group most at risk of accidents in the home. Our top tips will help you to promote the importance of creating a safe home environment with parents and families. Top tips for child safety – Promoting safety in the home RoSPA say the leading causes of home accidents for under-fives are falls, burns and… Continue reading Top tips: Child safety – Promoting safety in the home
Lucy Powell appointed new Education Secretary
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed late last night (Monday 20 July) that Lucy Powell is his new Secretary of State for Education. The Manchester Central MP replaces Bridget Phillipson who served as Education Secretary under Sir Keir Starmer. Ms Phillipson will continue within the Department for Education as the Minister for Women and Equalities… Continue reading Lucy Powell appointed new Education Secretary
Screentime for children – getting the balance right
By Stella Ziolkowski, NDNA’s Director of Quality and Training As technology has evolved over the years, I have increasingly noticed the impact it is having on children’s daily lives. Over the past few years, while travelling on trains, sitting in cafés, or simply observing families in public spaces, I have been struck by the amount… Continue reading Screentime for children – getting the balance right
Early years activity: Nature Rangers Role Play
Promote imaginative and outdoor play with a Nature Rangers-themed role play area. Children can search for natural treasures, care for wildlife and discover the wonders of the natural world through exciting adventures. This engaging activity encourages curiosity, communication, teamwork and a love of nature as children take on special missions to protect, investigate and care for the world around them. Nature Rangers Role Play… Continue reading Early years activity: Nature Rangers Role Play
Top tips: Managed risk taking
Children are naturally curious and have an instinctive desire to explore, investigate, climb, test boundaries and challenge themselves. Opportunities to take managed risks are an important part of children’s learning and development, helping them to build confidence, resilience, problem-solving skills, physical competence and an understanding of how to keep themselves safe. By providing children with opportunities to… Continue reading Top tips: Managed risk taking
Top tips: Inclusion starts here
Creating a genuinely inclusive team doesn’t just happen. It requires nursery leaders to look honestly at the culture they are building, not only policies in the file, but the everyday moments that let each member of the team know they are valued and belong. The following tips are starting points for reflection and action. Top tips for inclusion starts here NDNA products… Continue reading Top tips: Inclusion starts here
Early years activity: Look what I can do
This July, we mark Disability Pride Month with a simple, sensory printing activity using paint and paper. Children make prints with their hands, feet, elbows, fingers, fists, feet, knees, choosing for themselves how their body meets the page. The resulting display celebrates the fact that there is no single right way for a body to work and that… Continue reading Early years activity: Look what I can do