All Archives - Page 12 of 21

Early years science and outdoor play

What better place to explore science in early years, than outdoors where you can really bring learning to life. Early years consultant and qualified forest school leader, Tricia Pillay, explores some of the ways in which you can explore science outdoors at your nursery. Firstly, what is a scientific study? In a scientific study, we… Continue reading Early years science and outdoor play

Food allergies at nursery

With almost 1 in 12 children in the UK suffering from a food allergy, how can you be sure you are doing everything you can to accommodate food allergies at nursery? What is the best way to care for children with food allergies at nursery? How can you manage the juggling act of multiple allergies… Continue reading Food allergies at nursery

Learning through play in early years

Baby Boy And Girl Playing With Toys In Playroom Together

Best practice in early years encourages a play-based curriculum coupled with practitioners who hold a full understanding of the pedagogy of play and the different techniques and methods for teaching children through play. A range of research tells us that children learn best through play too and there are a number of play theorists that… Continue reading Learning through play in early years

Setting up a nursery forest school

Early years consultant and qualified forest school leader, Tricia Pillay, explores how you can introduce a forest school to your nursery. Once you have the basics in place for an early years forest school, you will soon notice your children increasing in confidence, developing a ‘have a go’ attitude and persevering when they encounter problems.… Continue reading Setting up a nursery forest school

Ofsted early years inspection: what you need to know

Babies with teachers playing with developmental toys in nursery

What documents does Ofsted need at your inspection? And how can you demonstrate high-quality practice? Worry not! Our Early Years Adviser will answer all your questions about Ofsted inspections at nurseries in this blog post. What documentation will Ofsted ask to see during your nursery inspection? A full list of documents that the inspector will… Continue reading Ofsted early years inspection: what you need to know

Nursery Ofsted inspections

What happens during nursery Ofsted inspections? What does Ofsted want to see when inspecting your nursery? And just how much paperwork should you be doing? The paperwork myth There are so many myths about the paperwork that nurseries are expected to have “for Ofsted”. Ofsted is actually now much clearer about what it is they… Continue reading Nursery Ofsted inspections

Early years parent partnerships: developing positive relationships with parents

With each new term, comes a new cohort of babies and children joining your nursery – now is an ideal time to reflect on parent partnerships. Parents and carers are the most significant influence on their child’s development in the early years and studies show that the quality of the home learning environment has a… Continue reading Early years parent partnerships: developing positive relationships with parents

Managing snack times at nursery

For young children, snack times at nursery should be about so much more than just eating. Early years consultant, Tricia Pillay, explores the wonderful opportunities snack time can present. Snack times at nursery that are well prepared for and well managed can support children’s learning and development in many ways. It’s a great opportunity for… Continue reading Managing snack times at nursery

Supporting staff well-being in early years

Work plays a strong role in our mental health and well-being but can also make us unwell. Deborah Somerset, has some top tips for you to support your nursery team and colleagues. According to the World Health Organisation, mental health is: “a state of well-being, in which every individual realises his or her own potential,… Continue reading Supporting staff well-being in early years

Prime Minister visits Monkey Puzzle Nursery

Hear from the Owner of Monkey Puzzle Greenford, John Gill, about when the PM came to visit for a coffee. Why did the Prime Minister visit Monkey Puzzle Nursery? We have another nursery in Uxbridge and the Prime Minister is our MP there. I previously had interactions with him as London mayor in my other… Continue reading Prime Minister visits Monkey Puzzle Nursery

Mindfulness in nurseries & early years settings

Mindfulness in nurseries is a way of children bringing attention to the present moment, creating a calming effect; evidence shows it can help with anxiety and depression. What role should a nursery play in teaching children about mindfulness? And what are the practicalities and how can you go about introducing it? Why is teaching mindfulness… Continue reading Mindfulness in nurseries & early years settings

Child of the North report: Inequalities have worsened during pandemic

A report published today by the Northern Health Science Alliance, Child of the North: Building a fairer future after Covid-19 paints a stark picture caused by chronic underfunding in the North of England. Inequalities which existed before Covid have deepened, with children in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber being disproportionately affected. They now… Continue reading Child of the North report: Inequalities have worsened during pandemic

Childcare and early years interviews and inductions

Starting a new role can be a nerve-wracking prospect. This blog post has a few handy tips and tricks to prepare you for early years interviews and inductions. Preparing for an early years interview There are a number of things that you will definitely need to think about before going into an early years interview:… Continue reading Childcare and early years interviews and inductions

Free myNDNA factsheet

Improve your practice with your free factsheet below. NDNA members receive 99+ free factsheets with an NDNA membership.

Promoting Positive Behaviour Quiz

Test your knowledge with our online Promoting Positive Behaviour quiz or download a pdf version to use in staff meetings below. For more support, access our ‘Promoting Positive Behaviour’ online course and ‘Promoting Positive Behaviour’ factsheet for nurseries. You can also download and share our free parent factsheet ‘A guide to Promoting Positive Behaviour’.

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