Find out all you need to know about a career in childcare. The importance of high-quality childcare From the moment children are born, they are constantly learning about themselves and the world around them. If you have that natural love and fondness for every little aspect of curious children then you’ll find that this is… Continue reading Your guide to a career in childcare & early years
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Nursery advice: Using social media
Social media can be a great online channel to boost communication with parents and raise awareness of your nursery. And the best part? It’s absolutely free! Sharing news, pictures or videos with parents of your setting allows them to see the day to day activities taking place and is a great tool to promote your… Continue reading Nursery advice: Using social media
Self-regulation in early years
Self-regulation is so important in contributing to children becoming positive learners and for their long-term mental health. So what is self-regulation? Self-regulation is the ability to manage your own energy states, emotions, behaviours and attention, in ways that are socially acceptable. It enables us to monitor and control our own behaviour and adjust the way… Continue reading Self-regulation in early years
Coronavirus: Well-being tips for nurseries
In the current pandemic, self-care and relaxation have never been more important. Stacy Mann has kindly offered to share her expertise as a Relax Kids and Charge-Up coach in this blog post to support the sector. The term ‘self-care’ is changing at this time because there are some very strong emotions coming alongside the ‘normal’.… Continue reading Coronavirus: Well-being tips for nurseries
Toys or no toys at nursery?
More and more nurseries are beginning to reassess their use of certain or all toys in their setting. No toys – or no plastic toys – can mean new enriching learning opportunities for children and also benefits the environment. This is why, among other reasons, some nurseries have chosen to get rid of plastic toys,… Continue reading Toys or no toys at nursery?
Nursery staff well-being
According to the World Health Organisation, mental health is: “a state of well-being, in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” What role does your work as a… Continue reading Nursery staff well-being
Support children to develop a positive sense of self
The Early Years Foundations Stage framework promotes from an early age, children’s ability to learn about identity and culture, supporting them to develop a positive sense of themselves and others. Early years practitioners must strive to help children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others through the experiences they provide helping them to… Continue reading Support children to develop a positive sense of self
Settling children into nursery
See our top tips for settling children into nursery. Thinking about childcare and returning to work can be a daunting and often scary thought, especially when baby places in popular, high-quality nurseries often fill up fast – meaning you may have to make these decisions when your baby is still quite young. See our tips… Continue reading Settling children into nursery
Why is maths important in early years?
Maths is important in early years as receiving a good foundation in maths is essential for life skills. As well as developing numeracy (understanding and using numbers), it helps with skills such as problem-solving, understanding and using shapes and measures and developing spatial awareness. Mathematical development in the EYFS helps children to recognise, create and… Continue reading Why is maths important in early years?
Top tips: Supporting nursery children to manage feelings
Managing feelings and behaviour is a crucial element of Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) for nursery children. Here are our NDNA early years expert’s tips on supporting PSED at your nursery. Personal, Social and Emotional Development is a prime area of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework (2017). As an early… Continue reading Top tips: Supporting nursery children to manage feelings
NDNA Member Discount Codes
Product Description Discount Code 24 hour member legal helpline Owners or managers call: 02921 153 812 Hope Fantastic discounts for members off everything you need for your early years setting. Follow instructions to sign up first, on the separate Hope page of the NDNA website. See the download below to view products and the savings on these… Continue reading NDNA Member Discount Codes
How nurseries supported families during the pandemic
We have been so inspired by your stories, photos and videos over the last few months. By sharing these, we hope other members can find ideas and tips too! Supporting children and parents – Kidzrus, Salford Kidzrus nurseries initially remained open during the crisis to care for key worker children, but closed due to low… Continue reading How nurseries supported families during the pandemic
Makaton in early years
Being able to communicate is one of the most important skills we need in life. What is Makaton? Makaton is a language programme using signs and symbols to help people communicate. It is designed to support spoken language and the signs and symbols are used with speech, in spoken word order. Why do we need… Continue reading Makaton in early years
Bullying in the early years workforce
Bullying can happen in any workplace and can have a real impact on staff well-being. It has a negative effect on staff morale, which in turn can impact the children they are caring for. The early years sector does not have a particular problem with bullying at work compared with other industries, but given the… Continue reading Bullying in the early years workforce
Nursery uniforms and dress codes
When setting a dress code policy for your nursery, health and safety should be at the forefront of your mind, for both your staff and the children in your care. As nursery owners, you should ensure your employees are aware of the appropriate attire to comfortably and safely care for the children. But looking beyond… Continue reading Nursery uniforms and dress codes
Emotional literacy
During this pandemic – and any other time – children have big emotions that they sometimes struggle to control. Well, let’s face it, as adults we do too. Stacy Mann has kindly offered to share her expertise as a Relax Kids and Charge-Up coach in this blog post to support the sector with emotional literacy.… Continue reading Emotional literacy
GDPR for nurseries: top tips
There was a lot of worry and concern about the GDPR (that came into effect on 25 May 2018). Here, Gayle Seekins, NDNA’s Head of IT, explores GDPR for nurseries. Can you believe it’s been over five years since GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 was introduced? And unfortunately, there is still a cause… Continue reading GDPR for nurseries: top tips
Life as a nursery & early years apprentice
Apprenticeships are a great way for young people wanting to work in early years and childcare to build and develop their skills and knowledge and open the door to a rewarding career. How can I qualify to become an early years practitioner? Most childcare qualifications can be gained while you work in a setting. Apprenticeships… Continue reading Life as a nursery & early years apprentice
Your guide to becoming a nursery manager
Early years and childcare is a great sector for career growth and development. There are many different roles in the sector with opportunities for everyone to start a career, whether you want to work full-time, part-time or, initially, to volunteer. If you are interested in management, you could end up being your own boss, running… Continue reading Your guide to becoming a nursery manager