News

Welcome to 2022 with our January issue!

Check out our new series – including an in-depth guide to unlocking best practice outdoors, a management four-parter focused on anti-racist leadership and a managers’ problem page, designed to tackle topical dilemmas head on. Plus all our expert, hands-on activities and the latest poster in our construction series – featuring homes.

Best practice features: 

  • New series – Keys to the outdoors
    Expert Jan White kicks off a new series spanning 12 monthly parts unlocking every aspect of best practice outdoors. In part 1 she examines staff attitudes and suggests how to build their confidence and positivity.
  • Expressive Arts and Design: Focus on painting – with Penny Tassoni. Support children to immerse themselves in the joy of painting and find out how it can link to all areas of the EYFS.
  • Health and nutrition – the Family Hubs network which offers services to children, young people and their families is on course for expansion. Meredith Jones Russell takes a look at what they offer.
  • Take advice from the Early Years Nutrition Partnership – a new monthly column which provides information on nutrition, menus and mealtimes.
  • Anatomy: ‘V’ is for vulva – Caroline Vollans explains why we should teach young children the correct name for all parts of the human body.
  • Intergenerational learning – discover how young and old have renunited in Torbay to celebrate nature and music making outdoors, as part of a new series of intergenerational projects. 

    In our activity section: 
  • V... is for Values, Visits and Watermelons in our ongoing A – Z of activities at the outstanding Rachel Keeling Nursery School; in this month’s SEND feature Georgina Durrant outlines a range of practical activities that support children to analyse a situation and problem solve; tap into ideas and essential resources to support children’s rotation schemes; start 2022 with our brand new Outdoor Calendar for January which features activities linked to communication and language, and making the most of small spaces.

Management: 

  • Special report: Get up to speed on the latest developments in early years training and qualifications, from T Levels to degrees.

Staff health and wellbeing

  • Charlotte Goddard investigates the importance of respecting all aspects of personal identity and considers issues around intersectionality.

Anti-racist leadership

Managers’ problem page –new series


News, analysis and opinion includes –

  • Analysis – what will 2022 bring?
    Find out about the hopes and dreams of a diverse range of individuals in the sector.

  • Health inequalities
    With health inequalities between disadvantaged and advantaged children increasing, according to new research, we look at why new resources are urgently needed.

Opinion

  • Michael Pettavel, nursery school headteacher: How we can change our view of the world from fitting in to belonging.
  • Rachael White, the RSPB: Why it’s important to get involved with the annual Big Schools’ Birdwatch


Interview

 

Early Years Educator

Munich (Landkreis), Bayern (DE)

Deputy Manager

Streatham Hill, London (Greater)

Deputy Manager

Play Out Nursery in Ipswich