Equality, Diversity and Prevent
Early Years Safeguarding: A Proven Path to Trust
Discover how early years safeguarding depends on trusted, emotionally safe relationships with children. Read on to explore what this means for practice.
How to Support Children with SEMH in Early Years
Supporting children with SEMH in your early years setting? Discover practical strategies to help your team respond with confidence.
Jewish Festivals in Early Years: A Proven Path to Inclusion
Jewish festivals in early years settings: discover Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur activities and inclusive practice tips. Read on to find out more.
STEM in Early Childhood Education: More Than Activities
More Than Activities: (Re)thinking STEM in Early Childhood Education Conversations about STEM in early childhood education have never been more prominent. Across the world, early years settings are embracing investigations, loose parts,...
STEM in the Early Years: Curiosity, Not Worksheets
STEM in the Early Years Begins with Curiosity, Not Worksheets. What is the first thing a child does when they discover something unexpected? They stop. They look. They point. Then comes the question. “What’s that?” Almost immediately followed...
Can I Really Do This? Thriving as a Neurodivergent Trainee in Early Years (Part Two)
Can I Really Do This? Thriving as a Neurodivergent Trainee in Early Years (Part Two) In part two of Michelle Windridge's article about thriving as a neurodivergent trainee in early years education, the focus shifts to practical strategies and...
Autistic Attention – Listen & Understand
You're Not Listening to Me! Understanding Autistic Attention In each of this series of 12 articles, Dr Jo Grace shares an autistic trait with us, showing how early research pathologised difference as a problem and then giving us insight into...
Autism and Info Dumping – Sharing as Connection
In each of this series of 12 articles, Dr Jo Grace shares an autistic trait with us, showing how early research pathologised difference as a problem and then giving us insight into more contemporary work in which difference is viewed as neutral,...
Beyond Readiness: Creating Environments Where Children Feel They Belong
School readiness matters deeply - but whose readiness are we really measuring? A four-year-old child stands at the classroom door. Around the child, adults are focused on transition plans, routines, assessments and expectations. Everyone wants...
Can I Really Do This? Thriving as a Neurodivergent Trainee in Early Years – Part Two
Introduction Being a neurodivergent trainee in the early years sector comes with its own unique challenges – but also its own extraordinary strengths. In part two of Michelle Windridge’s article, the focus shifts to practical strategies and...
Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month in Your Early Years Setting
South Asian Heritage Month gives early years settings the perfect chance to bring colour, culture and conversation into everyday practice. July is South Asian Heritage Month – and it’s a wonderful opportunity for early years settings to open a...
Child Safety Week: Early Years Best Practices
Child Safety Week - Turning Awareness into Everyday Practice in Early Years Child Safety Week 2026 runs from 1st to 7th June, led by the Child Accident Prevention Trust. For early years professionals, this isn’t simply another awareness campaign...
From Inclusion to Participation: Supporting Neurodivergent Children in Everyday Practice
Supporting Neurodivergent Children in Everyday Practice In many early years’ settings, there is a strong and genuine commitment to inclusion for our children. As practitioners, we work hard to ensure that all children are welcomed,...
Eye contact – Autism
In each of this series of 12 articles, Dr Jo Grace shares autism traits with us, showing how early research pathologised difference as a problem and then giving us insight into more contemporary work in which difference is viewed as...
Keeping your nursery safe from cyber threats
Keeping your nursery safe from cyber threats In today’s early years settings, safeguarding is no longer just about physical safety. Increasingly, it also means protecting the digital information we hold about children, families and...
2026 DBS guide for early years professionals
2026 DBS guide for early years professionals In early years settings, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. One of the key ways we protect children is by ensuring that the adults working with them are suitable, safe, and...
Communication at the Heart of Inclusive Learning
Communication at the heart of inclusive learning Inclusive learning is not simply a strategy or checklist; it is a way of seeing every child as capable of connection, communication, and participation. In early years settings, communication sits...
Can I Really Do This? Thriving as a Neurodivergent Trainee in Early Years
Thriving as a Neurodivergent Trainee in Early Years In the first part of this series, Michelle Windridge explores the reality of training in the early years sector as a neurodivergent individual. She unpacks common doubts, explains what...
Supporting Neurodivergent Colleagues, part 3
Supporting Neurodivergent Colleagues Greetings, fellow travellers, and welcome to my third instalment on how to support neurodivergent colleagues at work. Neurodivergent Timekeeping Time can be a tricky thing to grasp when you have a...
Facial Expressions & Autism: The Truth
Facial Expressions & Autism: The Truth In each of this series of 12 articles Dr Jo Grace shares an autistic trait with us, showing how early research pathologised difference as a problem and then giving us insight into more contemporary work...
Understanding and Addressing Racial Bias in Early Years Settings
Understanding and Addressing Racial Bias in Early Years Settings Racial bias is an uncomfortable but essential topic to address. Early years settings play a powerful role in shaping children’s understanding of themselves and others, beginning...
Celebrating Eid al-Adha in Early Years Settings
Celebrating Eid al-Adha in Early Years Settings A practical guide for inclusive, meaningful practice Eid al-Adha (evening of 26th May to 30th May) is one of the most significant festivals in the Islamic calendar, celebrated by millions of...
Culture as a Constant
Culture as a Constant The one thing that we, as early years professionals, know is that change is constant. Legislation, staff, Ofsted requirements, costings and the changing cohort of children are a moveable feast, and we realise we are...
Supporting Neurodivergent Colleagues, part 2.
Greetings, fellow travellers! Last month, I began offering ways in which neurotypical early years workers can support their neurodivergent colleagues. This advice is particularly aimed at managers (who have the most power to shape the...
Understanding an Autistic Child: 3 Secrets to Double Empathy
Seeing Through an Autistic Child’s Eyes: Understanding the Double Empathy Problem In this series of 12 articles, Dr Joanna Grace shares an autistic trait with us. She shows how early research pathologised difference as a problem. Furthermore,...
Eid 2026 in the Early Years
How to support your team and celebrate with children in meaningful, inclusive ways Eid is one of the most important celebrations in the Muslim calendar and a special time for many families and educators in the early years sector. In 2026,...
The Autistic Experience through the eyes of children (Part two)
Dr Jo Grace discusses understanding the Autistic Experience in Early Years. In 2020, I became the UK’s most obnoxiously proud Mummy when my son became the UK’s youngest published author with his book:"My Mummy is Autistic". He wrote it as he...
UK Disability History Month
Every November, UK Disability History Month (UKDHM) shines a light on the history, achievements and ongoing struggles of disabled people in the UK. Running from 14 November to 14 December 2025, this annual event reminds us of the importance of...
What I Learned Teaching EAL in the Middle East
Discover lessons from teaching EAL learners in the Middle East and how language, emotion, and belonging shape learning in multilingual classrooms.
EAL Support for Young Children
Support young children with EAL through inclusive, language-rich early years practice. Discover strategies that build confidence and communication.