Discover the key aspects of nurturing children’s emotional well-being as well as strategies to support children in the early years to develop resilience and happiness. Well-being is at the core of the early years and vital for all areas of learning. Increasing levels of well-being in the first five years of a child’s life is… Continue reading Nurturing children’s emotional well-being
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Dancing around the world: Cultural dance activities for early years
International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance. People everywhere use dance to express themselves, tell stories and to simply have fun. This cultural dance activity will take you on a magical dance journey to explore and celebrate how people move and dance in different parts of the world. Learning aims Resources you will… Continue reading Dancing around the world: Cultural dance activities for early years
The Building Blocks of Reading: Why phonics is only part of the story
How do children learn to read? How children learn to read has fascinated people for generations. The truth is, there’s no single formula, Research has not reached any definitive conclusions. All we know is that every child’s journey into literacy is slightly or vastly different, shaped by their experiences, environment, and developing skills. What we… Continue reading The Building Blocks of Reading: Why phonics is only part of the story
Top tips: Building resilience
Resilience is a person’s ability to adapt, recover and thrive in the face of challenges and setbacks. Investing in children’s resilience will support their confidence, health, and well-being now and in the future. Take a look at our top tips for building resilience in young children. Top tips for building resilience NDNA products to support… Continue reading Top tips: Building resilience
Early years activity: Naming emotions
The ability to identify and name emotions supports children to develop their self-regulation skills and build strong social relationships and a positive sense of themselves. Learning aims Resources you will need Naming emotions activity guide How you can extend this naming emotions activity Read ‘The Colour Monster’ story book to the children and talk about… Continue reading Early years activity: Naming emotions
Nursery leaders and nursery managers: what’s the difference?
Explore the difference between nursery leaders and nursery managers and understand the vital role each plays in making a fantastic early years setting. Effective leadership and management skills are vital to providing high-quality childcare. Crucially, inspectors will make a judgement on how effectively these skills are put into practice for the benefit of the children. … Continue reading Nursery leaders and nursery managers: what’s the difference?
Early years activity: Easter bunny obstacle course
Easter is a time for fun, movement, and imagination. This exciting Easter bunny obstacle course is a great way for young children to celebrate while developing their gross motor skills, coordination, and teamwork. Through hopping, crawling, and balancing, children will take on the role of the Easter bunny, collecting eggs along the way. Learning aims… Continue reading Early years activity: Easter bunny obstacle course
Top tips: Promoting healthy eating with parents
Nurseries play a vital role in shaping children’s eating habits and encouraging a positive approach to food. By working in partnership with parents, you can help create a consistent message about healthy eating both in the setting and at home. Top tips for promoting healthy eating with parents NDNA products to support you with this… Continue reading Top tips: Promoting healthy eating with parents
NDNA comments on BBC programme How Safe Are Our Nurseries?
NDNA’s Executive Chair Purnima Tanuku CBE said: “The case around the tragic death of Genevieve Meehan at nursery was a truly shocking incident. These cases are extremely rare but for those affected, one case is too many. Her parents, who have been through the worst imaginable experience for any family, are showing great courage in… Continue reading NDNA comments on BBC programme How Safe Are Our Nurseries?
Nursery packed lunches: things to consider
Nursery packed lunches requires careful thought to ensure meals are safe, nutritious, and enjoyable. The following key considerations will help create a positive and supportive mealtime experience for every child in your nursery. Share your expectations with parents through your Nutrition and Mealtimes Policy. Where to store nursery packed lunches Ensure you provide a designated… Continue reading Nursery packed lunches: things to consider
Top tips: Easy outdoor activities for families this spring
Spring is a wonderous time to get outside and appreciate the magnificent world around us. Encouraging parents to embrace the outdoors at this time of year can have many benefits, including: What can we do outdoors? NDNA products related to these tips PANCo – https://ndna.org.uk/panco/ Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including… Continue reading Top tips: Easy outdoor activities for families this spring
Early years activity: Easter maths
This Easter/spring themed sensory tray will be perfect for encouraging the children to engage in a hands on, sensory play experience. It will also help to hone their mathematical thinking and understanding. Learning aims Resources you will need Easter maths activity guide How can you extend this Easter maths activity? Make an Easter/spring themed treasure… Continue reading Early years activity: Easter maths
Government approves grants for 300 school-based nurseries
The DfE has announced that it has approved grants for the first 300 new or extended nurseries in schools today. This is part of their plan to boost early education and care places in areas of high demand and low supply. But NDNA has been warning since the plan was first suggested in Labour’s manifesto… Continue reading Government approves grants for 300 school-based nurseries
Top tips: Bring the outside in
Bringing nature into your nursery provides children with rich, hands-on experiences that enhance curiosity, exploration and overall development. Incorporating nature into children’s daily activities, cultivates a deeper connection to the world around them and potentially, a life-long engagement with the environment and an accompanying sense of responsibility towards it. Here are 10 tips to help… Continue reading Top tips: Bring the outside in
Early years activity: Spring sense
Spring has sprung so let’s get outside and explore this busy season with all our senses. Start with a walk to observe, touch, smell and feel the environment and then create a sensory bin with all the treasures you’ve found along the way. Learning aims Resources you’ll need Spring sense activity guide How can you… Continue reading Early years activity: Spring sense
Take nurseries out of unfunded NIC increases – sign the petition
With National Insurance Contribution (NIC) changes about to hit underfunded nurseries and increase the cost of childcare, NDNA is fully supporting a new petition to exempt childcare settings. This was launched by NDNA’s Nottinghamshire network chair Karen Richards in December but has taken months to go through the Petitions Committee’s clearance process. According to NDNA’s… Continue reading Take nurseries out of unfunded NIC increases – sign the petition
Schematic play: what are play schemas in early years?
Find out what schematic play is and what it looks like to better understand children’s development and play patterns. One of the key elements of early childhood learning is play schemas – repeated patterns of behaviour through which children explore and understand the world around them. What are schemas? Schemas in early years are repetitive… Continue reading Schematic play: what are play schemas in early years?
NDNA blog: Marketing your nursery – top tips part 1
In this series of blogs, National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) provides top tips on developing and implementing a marketing strategy for your nursery. The articles address each important aspect of promoting your nursery. We also provide links to where you can find further training and information. In part one of our marketing top tips blog,… Continue reading NDNA blog: Marketing your nursery – top tips part 1
NICs debated in Parliament: “different treatment” for maintained nurseries highlighted
The Department for Education has published how it will deliver £25 million of additional funding to help schools with early years provision and publicly maintained settings. The funding for 2025/26 is to support those settings with NICs costs relating to both teachers and support staff costs associated with the increase to NICs. The NICs grant will provide additional funding in respect… Continue reading NICs debated in Parliament: “different treatment” for maintained nurseries highlighted
Coram report: cost of childcare increasing in Wales and Scotland but halved in England
Coram’s annual childcare report 2025 shows just how much the funded entitlement can support parents with the average childcare bill halving for parents in England. https://www.familyandchildcaretrust.org/childcare-survey-2025 However, those who are not eligible have seen their bills rising by £100 a week or more. In Scotland and Wales where expansion of places for two year olds… Continue reading Coram report: cost of childcare increasing in Wales and Scotland but halved in England