Every child deserves the best possible start in life, with the right support to help them achieve their potential. The early years are a critical time, as experiences from birth to five strongly influence future life chances. High Quality Inclusive Practice SEND refers to children who need extra support with learning and development, or who… Continue reading SEND in early years
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NDNA Conference 2026: Virtual Conference stream
We’re excited to welcome back our Virtual Conference stream for 2026. Online, accessible and practical for early years professionals and practitioners everywhere. Here are your Virtual Conference stream speakers for 2026. Your sessions:
Employment tribunals and early years: what you need to know
Running an early years’ business means you’ve already got plenty on your plate – from supporting children to managing day-to-day operations, dealing with an employment tribunal is likely the last thing you want to think about. But with 97,000 claims made in 2023/24 – and the highest award reaching £995,000 – it’s an issue that’s… Continue reading Employment tribunals and early years: what you need to know
Top tips: Supporting children with their communication and language
A well designed environment promotes social interaction, removes communication barriers and builds essential learning skills. Prioritising positive communication spaces ensures every child thrives, regardless of ability or background. Language and communication skills grow best with rich exposure to sounds, sights, speech and daily interactions with others. Explore our top tips and reflect on your daily… Continue reading Top tips: Supporting children with their communication and language
Early years activity: Fruit kebabs (The Very Hungry Caterpillar)
This week’s activity brings The Very Hungry Caterpillar story to life through a fun and interactive fruit kebab making session. As children create their own fruit kebabs, they’ll reinforce the story’s themes of healthy eating and develop their fine motor skills. It’s a great way for children to connect with the story and enjoy a… Continue reading Early years activity: Fruit kebabs (The Very Hungry Caterpillar)
Top tips – Safe bites: food safety essentials
Ensuring food safety is a key factor in safeguarding children’s health and well-being. Here are some practical, easy to follow tips designed to help you effectively manage food safety and create a secure, hygienic environment for everyone. Top tips for food safety NDNA products to support you with this tip Food Safety and Hygiene –… Continue reading Top tips – Safe bites: food safety essentials
Early years activity: Smoothie sensation
Explore healthy eating with this hands-on smoothie making activity. Children mix and match ingredients to create a sensational smoothie, supporting confidence in trying new tastes and an appreciation of healthy, nutritious food. Smoothie sensation activity learning aims This early years activity will help children to: Resources you will need Smoothie sensation activity outline How to… Continue reading Early years activity: Smoothie sensation
Managing people in a nursery
Why are nursery leadership and management skills important? Effective nursery leadership and management skills are crucial to running a successful early years settings. If a nursery is strong in this area, it will lead to a happy and high performing team, good inspection outcomes, and most importantly, better outcomes for the children. For instance, in… Continue reading Managing people in a nursery
Oral health in early years: Healthy mouths, healthy children
Find out about the importance of good oral health in early years, as well as how to support it in your setting. Looking after children’s teeth is essential for keeping their whole bodies healthy. Creating good oral health habits early is essential to preventing and controlling tooth decay. Tooth decay is largely preventable but is… Continue reading Oral health in early years: Healthy mouths, healthy children
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in early years
Find out what FGM is, why it happens and what to do if any children in your early years setting are affected. What is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)? FGM is a collective term for procedures that include the removal or partial removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical purposes. It is sometimes referred to… Continue reading Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in early years
Top tips: parental involvement in early years activities at home
There is an abundance of research that demonstrates the importance of parents and carers in a child’s life, and the significant impact that parental involvement in children’s education has on their learning, with positive effects that last into adulthood. Read our top tips to ensure you create supportive strategies for home learning opportunities to all… Continue reading Top tips: parental involvement in early years activities at home
Let’s get growing: Early years gardening activity
The focus for National Gardening Week (24 May – 1 June) is on new and beginner gardeners. Develop children’s curiosity and wonder for planting and gardening with our early years gardening activity. Early years gardening activity learning aims This early years activity will help children to: • Develop fine motor skills• Practice mathematical language, comparisons,… Continue reading Let’s get growing: Early years gardening activity
Effective teaching in early years
Find out what makes effective teaching in early years. Early years practitioners teach children every day. Teaching includes the many different ways in which adults help children to learn. There are many different ways practitioners help children learn. This could be in a large group, a small group or on a one to one basis.… Continue reading Effective teaching in early years
Top tips: Developing gross motor skills outside
Supporting young children’s gross motor development is a vital part of early years practice, and the outdoor environment offers the perfect space for movement, exploration, and physical challenge. These tips are designed to help you lead, inspire and equip your teams to confidently provide opportunities for children to develop these skills. Top tips for developing… Continue reading Top tips: Developing gross motor skills outside
Early years activity: Big brush outdoor art
This activity invites children to explore painting in a playful and physical way. Using a variety of tools and coloured paints, children can experiment with different movements and techniques, as they dip, swipe, stamp, and splatter, to build coordination, strengthen muscles and express themselves creatively. Learning aims Resources Big brush outdoor art activity guide Set… Continue reading Early years activity: Big brush outdoor art
Contemplating the sale of your nursery business? Here’s what you need to consider.
By Courteney Donaldson, Managing Director – Childcare & Education, Christie & Co Owning and operating a day nursery business can be incredibly rewarding. Equally, though, there are times when it can be challenging, and you may wish to sell. In this article, Courteney Donaldson, Managing Director – Childcare & Education at Christie & Co, shares… Continue reading Contemplating the sale of your nursery business? Here’s what you need to consider.
Supporting staff well-being in early years settings
Educating and caring for young children is one of the most rewarding jobs there is. However, it can also be challenging and tiring for practitioners in the sector. In the same way we show care and kindness to the children in our setting, we can take care of our staff and support their overall well-being… Continue reading Supporting staff well-being in early years settings
Nurturing children’s emotional well-being
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
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