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EYR Team

09/05/2022
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Simple Storage Solution Hacks for your Setting

As we all know, finding storage can be a recurring nightmare for many early years’ settings. From classrooms and nurseries to childminder and pack-away settings, there is always the issue of where to store the never-ending supply of resources for little ones. In this blog, we will discuss a variety of creative storage solution hacks for both indoor and outdoor resources. This will include some repurposed and upcycled solutions designed to provide you with more functional space without breaking the bank. Factors to Consider It is important to consider a... Read More

02/05/2022
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Sand and Water Themed Tuff Tray Inspiration

Due to its amazing versatility, one of our favourite resources is our Tuff Tray. Whether you are using our Mini Tuff Tray or the standard size there are no limits to the amount of activities they can be used in! To give you some inspiration, here are our top 5 favourite ways to incorporate your Tuff Tray into sand and water activities. 1. Create a beach Everyone loves a trip to the beach and by using some sand, water and accessories you can create your very own beach for your... Read More

The 2 year health check: what to expect 25/04/2022
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The Two Year Health Check – What to Expect

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 website or follow her on Instagram. The two year check up – a real milestone for many little ones, and often a source of anxiety for parents. Feeling nervous about your child being checked over by a health professional is completely natural! Being well informed is a simple remedy to this! In this blog we’ll... Read More

19/04/2022
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5 upcycling ideas for your garden

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 combining these upcycling ideas with what you already have you can create an exciting garden for any setting! What is upcycling? Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or seemingly useless products into new products which have a different use. For example, old tyres can be turned into planters, or even used... Read More

11/04/2022
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8 Ways to Use your Tuff Tray Outdoors

We all know about the importance of getting outside. However, it can be difficult to think of new and exciting activities that keep little ones engaged without using a lot of costly resources. In this blog we bring you 8 different activities to try with your little ones using only a tuff tray outdoors. Read on for more! 1. Sorting Sorting is a great early maths activity and can be done with any resources! Use our Tuff Tray Paper Pad or our new Tuff Tray Whiteboard to draw out sections... Read More

04/04/2022
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How To Spend Your Primary PE and Sport Premium Effectively

Primary PE and Sport Premium  This post was last updated in March 2022. Are you spending your Primary PE and Sport Premium effectively? The Department for Education has announced that they will fund the Primary PE and Sport Premium for the 2021/22 academic year. Making a total of £320 million available to Primary Schools to improve the quality of their PE and sport. It is therefore crucial to ensure that you are making the best use out of your funding! Offering a broad range of PE activities in your school... Read More

03/03/2022

3 ways to set up a Dinosaur Tuff Tray to teach EYFS

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 colors, shapes, numbers, and letters, to manners and more! Setting up a dinosaur tuff tray is a great way of teaching children about ancient creatures, fossils, and archaeology. Dinosaurs are a favorite subject of children and adults alike. From the Jurassic period to the Cretaceous period, these creatures have always fascinated people with their... Read More

21/02/2022
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Covid safe classroom: 3 tips for keeping a safe classroom as Covid-19 restrictions ease

As Covid-19 restrictions ease around the UK, we know that teachers and parents are nervous about the implications for the classroom. A recent LinkedIn poll revealed the biggest challenge for teachers was keeping a Covid safe classroom. It is not hard to understand why… The latest data indicates that 3.9% of early years pupils were absent for Covid related reasons in February compared to 5.1% in January. Despite this, Covid is still very much a part of our daily lives. With this in mind, the government and Department of Education... Read More

14/02/2022

5 fun science experiments you can do at home

British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths, featuring entertaining and engaging events and science experiment activities across the UK for people of all ages. The theme this year is all about growth. To celebrate, we put together 5 fun science experiments you can do at home: Play Foam clouds This is a fabulous science experiment for learning about the weather, and so easy to do at home! You will need: A glass Pipettes Play foam Blue food coloring 1 cup Water Fill a glass... Read More

31/01/2022
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The Importance of Stories for Children with EAL

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 could refer to students who were born in, or have lived in the UK for a long time, but who speak another language at home and may not be as fluent in English which may affect their literacy levels. It may also refer to bi-lingual children. Irrespective of the child’s proficiency in English, the Department of... Read More