EYR Blog - Page 3 - Early Years Resources

10 Coloured Rice Sensory Play Ideas

Posted by EYR Team on 2nd Oct 2023

Sensory play is one of the best ways to encourage children to get creative, use their imagination and develop their senses! One of the most popular types of sensory play is playing with coloured rice … read more

Budget-Friendly EYFS Maths Activities: How to Teach Maths on a Budget

Posted by EYR Team on 25th Sep 2023

Teaching maths in early years doesn’t need to be expensive. With a little creativity, everyday items and free resources can be transformed into engaging numeracy activities that support EYFS le … read more

How to Dye Rice for Sensory Play

Posted by EYR Team on 18th Sep 2023

Are you looking for an easy-to-set-up activity to engage your children in sensory play? Look no further than coloured rice! With just a few supplies and some creative thinking, you can create a vibra … read more

Messy Play Ideas for Babies

Posted by EYR Team on 4th Sep 2023

Messy play is an open-ended way of exploration that allows babies and children to take the lead and independently explore different textures and materials through various senses. Messy play … read more

Diversity in STEAM: Promoting Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths

Posted by EYR Team on 28th Aug 2023

This blog has been written in collaboration with Pixie Murphy, a non-binary freelance writer based in Manchester. When you imagine a scientist, who do you think of? Chances are, you may thi … read more

How to create an eco-friendly classroom

Posted by EYR Team on 21st Aug 2023

Creating an eco-friendly learning environment is an important step towards a sustainable future. Not only does it promote environmental awareness and conservation among students, but it can also save … read more

How to Use STEAM to Support Children With SEN/D

Posted by EYR Team on 14th Aug 2023

STEAM refers to the educational model that incorporates science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. To learn more about the specifics of STEAM and discover some activity ideas that use this mod … read more

Famous Scientific Discoveries and How to Replicate Them with Children

Posted by EYR Team on 7th Aug 2023

With British Science Week fast approaching we have put together this blog to highlight a select number of famous scientific discoveries. In teaching your little ones about these key achievements, we … read more

STEAM in Early Years - What is it?

Posted by EYR Team on 31st Jul 2023

What is STEAM? STEAM is an acronym that stands for Science Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths. Rather than addressing each of these areas individually, STEAM is an integrated approach th … read more

How to Engage Children in Literacy

Posted by EYR Team on 24th Jul 2023

"Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak and listen in a way that lets us communicate effectively and make sense of the world." - National Literacy Trust Did you know that&n … read more

How to incorporate the King’s coronation into your lesson plans - Activity Ideas

Posted by EYR Team on 6th Mar 2023

Whilst school and nursery classes are not dictated by awareness days in the annual calendar, they can certainly be utilised to make learning a little bit different and raise children’s awarenes … read more

Getting the best start in life: A summary of Ofsted's research review for early years

Posted by EYR Team on 12th Dec 2022

Ofsted recently published part 1 of its "Best start in life: A research review for early years". A series of subject-based curriculum research reviews focused on early years education. In this brief … read more

EYR Budget Friendly Gift Guide for 2022

Posted by EYR Team on 21st Nov 2022

For many people, Christmas is by far the least budget friendly time of the year. This year, with the rising cost of living crisis, getting gifts for your friends and family can seem daunting. To make … read more

Learning for less - 5 ways to learn on a budget

Posted by EYR Team on 14th Nov 2022

This blog was written in collaboration with Samantha (@homeplayexplore) and Danie (@the_little_adventurer), EYR Brand Ambassadors, parents to young children and nature enthusiasts. In this blog they … read more

Teaching Fire Safety to Children in the Early Years

Posted by EYR Team on 31st Oct 2022

Fire safety is a serious matter for any early years setting as the EYFS specifically states: “Providers must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of children, staff and others o … read more

Choosing a Childcare Provider: A guide for Parents

Posted by EYR Team on 24th Oct 2022

This blog has been supplied by EYR's exclusive partner PACEY - the professional association for childcare and early years. In this blog they share their advice on choosing a childcare provider in the … read more

5 More Ways to Make Your Christmas Eco-Friendly

Posted by EYR Team on 10th Oct 2022

Many people are now more conscious about their environmental impact and looking for ways to be more eco-friendly. With these easy steps, we can all do our part in making sure that this year's holiday … read more

How to Support a Child with Dyslexia

Posted by EYR Team on 3rd Oct 2022

What is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is a learning difficulty commonly associated with difficulties in reading and spelling. As well as this, dyslexia can also present several other diffic … read more

5 Ways to Make Your Christmas Eco-Friendly

Posted by EYR Team on 3rd Oct 2022

Christmas is a time for celebration and gift-giving, but it can also be a time of excess, with people buying more than they need. There are many ways that you can make your holiday season as green as … read more

Your Essential Checklist for Outdoor Learning & Play

Posted by EYR Team on 26th Sep 2022

Outdoor learning can be whatever you make of it. You can use a lot of resources or a little, purchased products or nature’s finds. It can be shaped in any which way you want but still offers th … read more

Introducing a Relaxed Forest School: Why all Play Matters

Posted by EYR Team on 19th Sep 2022

What is Forest School? Forest School has become a rapidly expanding pedagogy since being first introduced in the early 90s. It has a strong focus on the importance of child-led play and holi … read more

Tips to Keep Children Engaged on their Return to the Classroom

Posted by EYR Team on 30th Aug 2022

This blog has been written by Matthew Crouch aka Mr C Classroom. An EYFS lead, class teacher and EYR Industry Expert. In this blog he uses his experience and knowledge - particularly as a PSHE subjec … read more

How to support education recovery in Early Years – an Ofsted summary for education providers

Posted by EYR Team on 1st Aug 2022

Ofsted recently published: “Education recovery in early year’s providers: summer 2022", a brief created using results from inspections and conversations with inspectors. In this brief the … read more

Transitions: The big move. Advice for Early Years Practitioners

Posted by EYR Team on 25th Jul 2022

This transitions blog has been supplied by EYR partner PACEY. In this blog, former childminders and PACEY advisors Pat and Anne discuss their experiences of children in their care transitioning to pr … read more

Transition series 3: Getting School Ready - A Parent's Advice

Posted by EYR Team on 19th Jul 2022

This blog has been written by Poppy Stokes, an EYR Brand ambassador and mum of two. In this blog she shares her super simple tips and tricks to help get your little ones "school ready" as she herself … read more

5 Easy Sponge Activities to try at Home

Posted by EYR Team on 11th Jul 2022

Sponges are an inexpensive resource that can be used in a variety of different ways to support early childhood development. In this blog we share 5 ways to use sponges of different sizes and shapes i … read more

How to Encourage Speech, Language and Communication in Young Children

Posted by EYR Team on 4th Jul 2022

As we know, speech, language and communication skills are vital for children’s general development. The ability to speak clearly, process sounds, understand others and express themselves are al … read more

5 Ways to Repurpose your EYR Packaging

Posted by EYR Team on 27th Jun 2022

We are all becoming more and more conscious about being sustainable, looking after our planet and teaching our little ones to do the same. The importance of reducing, reusing and recycling is an impo … read more

Transition series 2: Supporting Positive Transitions

Posted by EYR Team on 20th Jun 2022

This blog series has been written with the help of our EYR Industry experts over at the University of Cambridge, the University of Birmingham and Manchester Metropolitan University. With the input of … read more

EYFS Pirate Activities: 5 Easy Outdoor Play Ideas

Posted by EYR Team on 13th Jun 2022

A-Hoy me hearties! Looking for some new Pirate activities for your little ones to get hooked on? This blog brings you a treasure trove of EYFS pirate activities & ideas using simple outdoor loose … read more

Transition series 1: Understanding Transitions

Posted by EYR Team on 6th Jun 2022

This series has been written with the help of EYR industry experts from the University of Cambridge, University of Birmingham, and Manchester Metropolitan University. With the input of these three ex … read more

Celebrating Father's day with Early Years

Posted by EYR Team on 30th May 2022

Traditional awareness days such as Father’s day can often present issues for carers and early years practitioners. As we know, all families are unique, and sometimes communicating this to child … read more

5 Fine Motor Activities For EYFS

Posted by EYR Team on 16th May 2022

What are fine motor skills? Fine motor skills refer to the coordination of small muscles in the brain and nervous system responsible for controlling precise movements in key areas such as ha … read more

The Two Year Health Check - What to Expect

Posted by EYR Team on 25th Apr 2022

This blog has been written with the help of EYR industry expert Emily Hanson. A qualified EYFS teacher with an M.Ed in Education from the University of Cambridge. To learn more about Emily, visit her … read more

5 upcycling ideas for your garden

Posted by EYR Team on 19th Apr 2022

Many people think that gardening is expensive, and requires a lot of time and effort to maintain. But it doesn't have to be. The truth is that you don't need loads of money to start gardening. By com … read more

Welcome to our Office Garden!

Posted by EYR Team on 28th Mar 2022

With National Gardening Week just around the corner we wanted to shine a spotlight on our very own office garden and give you a tour! Tucked away in a retail park in Stretford, Greater Manch … read more

A DIY Mother’s Day Craft Pack

Posted by EYR Team on 14th Mar 2022

Mother’s Day is the perfect celebration of the hard work that caregivers of all kinds put into raising and caring for their children. However, there can often be a feeling of awkwardness aroun … read more

How to make a minibeast hotel

Posted by EYR Team on 8th Mar 2022

What is a minibeast? A minibeast, creepy crawlies, insects and bugs are quite literally a small animal. They are defined as “invertebrates” which means that they don& … read more

3 Easy Dinosaur Tuff Tray Ideas To Teach EYFS

Posted by EYR Team on 3rd Mar 2022

Tuff trays are a great tool for teaching toddlers about the basics of life. The tuff tray helps children learn through play. It can be used in an infinite number of ways to teach children. From colo … read more

The Importance of Stories for Children with EAL

Posted by EYR Team on 31st Jan 2022

What is EAL? EAL refers to English as an Additional Language. It is a term used to describe the teaching of English to students who have not learned it as their first language. EAL … read more

30 years of Early Years Resources - An Interview with Payman Mostaan

Posted by EYR Team on 17th Jan 2022

This year we celebrate 30 years of Early Years Resources. From a catalogue on two sides of A4, to thirty years and thousands of products later, we are very proud to have reached this point. … read more

Ways you can support children in the transition to New Year

Posted by EYR Team on 31st Dec 2021

New Year brings hope, challenges, and new beginnings. It brings new feelings in not only ourselves but our children. How can we support children as they look forward to, or are fazed by, the uncertai … read more

Activities to Support the EYFS Using Fidget Tubes

Posted by EYR Team on 8th Dec 2021

What is the EYFS? The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is an educational stage for children aged 0-5. It sets the standard for learning and development of children in this age bracket and … read more

How Heuristic Play Can Empower Your Child

Posted by EYR Team on 5th Nov 2021

This blog has been written by EYR Industry expert Emily Hanson, a qualified EYFS teacher with an M.Ed in Education from the University of Cambridge. In this blog, Emily discusses the impo … read more

The Ultimate Children's Christmas Gift Guide for 2022

Posted by EYR Team on 29th Oct 2021

We all love to get ahead when it comes to Christmas shopping and as we know, shopping for little ones can be a bit of a minefield. To help ease some of the seasonal stress and he … read more

How to Use Structured Play to Enhance Children's Cognitive Development

Posted by EYR Team on 6th Oct 2021

This blog has been written by EYR Industry Expert Keya Elie. A Research Scientist with 10 years’ experience in the field of Child and Family Psychology. Her studies focus on parent- … read more

Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language at an Early Age

Posted by EYR Team on 7th Sep 2021

In England, learning a foreign language is statutory from the ages of 7-14. Before this, there is no compulsory requirement for children to learn another language and the uptake of older ch … read more

Back to School Checklist - The Parent Edition

Posted by EYR Team on 1st Sep 2021

It’s that time of year again! Summer is drawing to a close and it’s time to get the children prepped and ready for school. While the start of a new term is exciting, getting r … read more

Back to School Checklist - The Teacher Edition

Posted by EYR Team on 24th Aug 2021

Are you ready for the Big Return to School? As the summer holidays gradually come to a blissful end, it’s time to cast your thoughts back to the classroom! The new school year is qu … read more

What Is Numicon and Why is It Important?

Posted by EYR Team on 19th Aug 2021

The history of Numicon An effective learning tool for helping children visualise numbers, Numicon works by using a multi-sensory approach. The nature of Numicon resources means … read more

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