Resources
Understanding the needs of children in the care system: part 1
In the last year, there were 2.4 million calls to children’s services because of concerns about a child – a 78% rise over 10 years. More serious investigations (where a child is at risk of significant harm) are up 178% and there are now 75,000 children in care in...
How to improve the wellbeing of your staff
January is the time when our thoughts naturally turn from presents, snow and flying reindeer, to where we are in our life and what we want to achieve in the coming year. Many of us try to shake off the indulgences of the festive season and embark on a new, and...
Dealing with children’s food allergies in your setting
The recent tragic death of teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a baguette, highlights the dangers that people who suffer with severe allergies face on a daily basis. For some, everyday food choices are a ‘life and...
‘Gender-equal play’ needs to be promoted by childcare providers
A new campaign has been created to raise awareness of and promote “gender-equal play” in childcare settings. The Care Inspectorate - which inspects registered childcare providers - stated that the guide was brought in because “childhood and play is becoming more...
Guest Authors
How practitioners can support children’s superhero play
I am currently writing a book on superhero play which I’m finding very enjoyable! Superheroes are a huge part of popular culture. They are instantly recognisable and whatever our viewpoint about them, they find their way into our early childhood settings. Children...
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The ideas of the Behaviourists: are they still relevant?
I recently attended a Halloween party at my grandson’s nursery, which involved all of the children dressing up. To begin with, the children were read a story and then they sat in groups with their nursery staff and family members who had come along for the party. I...
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5 different ways of using visuals in your early years setting to support children with SEN
What are visuals? Visual aids are a set of individual pictures that communicate a meaning to someone through the use of an image. Otherwise known as visual aids or just visuals, it could be a picture of a toilet/ apple/sand tray/story time/a particular emotion –...
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