Category

Early Years Development

Benefits of learning a foreign language at an early age 07/09/2021
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Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language at an Early Age

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 children continuing to study a language at GCSE level is in a constant decline. However, enrolling children in extra-curricular classes and hiring private tutors in foreign languages has become an increasing trend in recent years. Many parents have made a bid to start their children learning in the Early Years as well, which will not only give them an... Read More

What is Numicon? 19/08/2021
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What Is Numicon and Why is It Important?

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 that children can learn by seeing, feeling and understanding mathematical concepts through play. The idea of Numicon originated from a school-based research project carried out by Ruth Atkinson, Romey Tacon and Dr Tony Wing. The project helped them understand that children had difficulties understanding abstract ideas without pictures to help them. This idea later gave birth to the concept of the ‘Numicon Approach’. An... Read More

18/03/2021
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Promoting Diversity in Your Setting

As we celebrate Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week (15th March – 21st March 2021) now is a great chance to talk about diversity and inclusion and its place in early years and primary school settings – Most importantly sharing ways we can continue to address, promote and embrace it. While we share similarities with each other, we are all unique and it’s important for us to recognise our differences so we can become more accepting of one another. From an early age infants and children will encounter people with varying abilities... Read More

12/02/2021
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Top 6 Children Activity Ideas For World Book Day

World Book Day is just around the corner and it’s the biggest celebration of its kind. We celebrate World Book Day to salute authors, books, illustrators and to give all young children the opportunity to read and explore books of all kinds. From dressing up, face paint and – of course – reading, you can embrace World Book Day in your own creative way, and we want to make sure you have a full day of exciting World Book Day activities, whether you’re at home or in the classroom! Pick... Read More

5 Top Tips to increase Role-Play for toddlers 16/10/2020
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How To Encourage Toddler Role Play

This article has been written by mum of two and youth theatre leader Jen, from Raising2Children, who shares her top tips on how to increase and encourage toddler role play. There are many role-play benefits for children and these benefits are eloquently listed in the ‘importance of imaginative play’ blog post. As I write this article, I am envisaging a 3-year-old. However, every child has different abilities which can be celebrated and validated. So, focusing on ‘stage’ rather than their ‘age’ is key in toddler role-play. 5 Top Tips To... Read More

Outdoor Maths 18/09/2020
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Tips and Tricks on Taking Maths Outside!

During these unprecedented times we are always looking at ways in which we can adapt and switch up the environment we work in. Now more than ever we are looking for new ways that children can learn numeracy in a safe environment. Whether this is in Primary School or Nursery, with your Childminder or Homeschooling, we have the tips and tricks to adapt your usual teaching style to suit your outdoor maths lessons. So why not take the children outdoors and use the endless amount of space to explore how... Read More

how children learn through play and types of learners in early years 20/05/2020
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How Children Learn Through Play

This article has been written by early years consultant, Anne Rodgers from ATR Consultancy, who explains the different ways children learn through play and shares tips for how you can support them. Children have different ways in which they learn through play. By recognising their individual learning styles, we can help them to develop. There are 4 different types of learning styles: Visual Kinaesthetic Auditory Logical Visual Learners: Visual learners learn through seeing. They may like to sit at the front of the classroom at story time so they can... Read More

tray play benefits 11/03/2020
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The Benefits of Tray Play

This article has been written by mother of two and tray play advocate, Rachel Moffatt. How does tray play benefit children? Learning through play is the main focus of the early years foundation stage. It is all about making learning fun. Tray play provides a focused area of play with the contents ‘somewhat contained’. Setting out inviting activities with cognitive and physical challenges has a significant benefit to early childhood development. Tray play gives children the opportunity to explore and discover independently, and fosters their creativity and imagination. There are... Read More

17/01/2020
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Why Don’t They All Learn Well Through Play?

This article has been written by Ellie Collar from Early Years SEN. I am an early years practitioner and I have worked with Flitters. You know the children who play like butterflies, circling the play environment but never really engaging with anything long enough to extend their play or use the language you planned for it to stimulate? Those children who play well if an adult is there to extend and model, but drift away once the adult leaves? Those children who live for the bikes outside and spend much... Read More

14/05/2019
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How to Make a Story Add up

This article has been written by storytelling specialists, Tonya and Natasha, from Little Creative Days. They will be delivering two EYR Workshops on Friday 28th June 2019 ‘Introducing Maths with Stories‘ followed by ‘Taking Stories Outside‘ >> Learn more  When you’re thinking of teaching children about maths how many of you think of reaching for a story? It’s probably not your first thought and I suspect you go for a box of bricks or counters first. But using a story can make learning maths a whole lot of fun and... Read More