Practice guides

Nursery World's acclaimed guides to practice in childcare and early years education

 
Learning and Development

School Readiness

The phrase 'school readiness' is taking a high profile in Government reports and policy, but what does it mean, and how should early years practitioners respond? David Whitebread and Sue Bingham look at perspectives that can inform planning for children's learning

Your Guide to the Revised EYFS

Ann Langston examines the proposed changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage, giving an overview of progress so far and focusing on observation, assessment and planning

Supporting Boys

Advice, information and ideas for supporting boys to become confident and competent learners

Physical Development

Freedom of movement is essential for children's developing minds and emotions as well as their bodies. Anne O'Connor and Anna Daly give expert advice on physical development

Transitions

A three-part guide to supporting children to make a successful transition from the Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1, by Julie Fisher

The Developing Brain

How babies learn, both in the womb and after they are born, by one of the UK's most eminent experts in infant cognitive development, Professor Annette Karmiloff-Smith

Schemas

Practitioners from Pen Green Nursery, Corby, share their observations of different children and the schemas that they are exploring

Young children thinking

A guide to understanding how young children think and how best to support their developing skills, by Marion Dowling.

Observation, Assessment and Planning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

An eight-part guide to one of the most challenging aspects of the EYFS framework, by renowned early years consultant Helen Bromley. The pack includes further reading suggestions and discussion points. Themes include enabling environments, planning for achievement, observation, listening to children, record-keeping and reporting and describing progress.

National Strategies

A 12-part exclusive series from the National Strategies team on all aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Child development

A 10-part guide to child development in the early years, covering language, communication, awareness, behaviour, memory, relationships, the brain and physical and emotional development.

Communication

A series by Helen Moylett on communication skills and good early years practice.

Enabling Environments

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Collections

This series aims to help practitioners be more responsive to children's interests and reflect on how thoughtful resourcing can truly broaden and progress their learning. It sets out what to include in a core collection for everyday use, and gives examples of how to build up resources that support children's interests and special play opportunities.

Treasure Baskets and Heuristic Play

Elinor Goldschmied developed treasure baskets for babies who can sit up and the heuristic play approach for toddlers.Her practical ideas are still helping early years practitioners and parents to provide the rich and nurturing environment that babies and young children need if they are to thrive mentally, emotionally and physically.

Outdoor Provision and Play

Ideas, support and information for best practice in outdoor provision and play in the Early Years Foundation Stage. With a wealth of articles on all aspects of the outdoors, including forest schools, gardening and the best early years resources for your setting. An invaluable guide to this vital area of early years practice.

Tried and Tested

Nurseries, schools and childminders test equipment with their children to help you choose the best resources for your early years setting. With a star rating system.

Around the Nursery

What is 'continuous provision', why is it so important and how does it fit into Early Years Foundation Stage practice? A guide to what practitioners need to be providing on a daily basis in every area of the early years setting to ensure they are offering a truly 'enabling environment'.

Continuous Provision

What is meant by continuous provision, and what does it require of early years practitioners? Anne O'Connor explains the key elements in this four-part series.

A Unique Child

Gender

What influences gender differences in the early years, and how can we ensure that gender stereotyping does not limit opportunities for boys or girls?

A to Z of Inclusive Practice

A guide to all aspects of inclusive practice from early years consultant Mary Dickins.

Equality and diversity

An eight-part guide for early years practitioners on successfully implementing anti-bias practice and supporting young children to value equality and diversity, by Anne O'Connor.

Well-being

A four-part series in which Marion Dowling explores aspects of children's personal development that enable them to grow up and lead happy and satisfying lives

Practice in Pictures

Observation and assessment of young children is the starting point for supporting their individual needs and development. Anne O'Connor shows how, with the help of stills from Siren Films' video series

A Doctor's Diary

Dr Raj Thakkar offers expert medical advice for nursery practitioners on a range of common childhood illnesses and conditions

Nutrition: How to make the most of...

Tasty ways to get young children loving common foods.

Positive Relationships

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Challenging behaviour

A series on how to support children who cannot stay in control - the ultimate challenge for practitioners. By Pat Gordon-Smith

Attachment

An understanding of attachment is central to delivering the Positive relationships strand of the Early Years Foundation Stage. A five-part series by early years consultant Anne O'Connor.

Key people

A guide to the concept and practice of the now mandatory key person in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

A Parent's Guide to...

Nursery World's popular series of guides for parents, to everything from tantrums to sleep to tooth brushing.

Curriculum & Activities

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Music

A four-part series on introducing music into the everyday practice of early years settings, with advice and ideas from members of MERYC UK (Music Educators and Researchers of Young Children)

Let's Explore...

Activities inspired by popular early years themes, from Nursery World's Let's Explore series.

Art in the Early Years

Best practice in helping young children to develop their creativity.

Visits and visitors

A guide to best practice in organising groups visits with early years children, by foundation stage teacher Tessa Fenoughty.

Mathematics in the EYFS

An 11-part series on helping children to begin exploring numbers, shapes, measurement and other mathematical ideas, by Sheila Ebbutt and Carole Skinner.

Science in the Early Years

Force, friction, electricity, sound, light and many other things are explored in Linda Thornton and Pat Brunton's series on early years science.