Equality, Diversity and Prevent
Join the celebration – International Women’s Day 2019
On March 8th, millions of people will come together to honour and celebrate the achievements of women around the world on International Women’s Day. People from all walks of life will recognise and pay tribute to the contribution that women make...
Hanukkah – Festival of lights
Hanukkah or sometimes spelled ‘Chanukah’, is known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ and is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem (known as the Second Temple). The United Kingdom is estimated to...
Remembrance Day in Your Setting
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them." From "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon Remembrance Day,...
Celebrating Diwali in your setting
Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions all over the world. Although the date of the festival normally falls in October, this year it will be held on the 7th November. It is India’s most important holiday and can...
International Stammering Awareness Day
October 22nd is International Stammering Awareness Day. It aims to raise awareness about the seventy million people across the globe who suffer with stammering*. It could be on certain words, in certain situations, or in general, but the impact...
October is ADHD Awareness Month
In recent years, there has been an increase in publicity about ADHD and most people have now heard of it at least, although there are still a lot of misconceptions about what it is, and even more about the people who suffer with it. Many...
Wear your pyjamas with pride for Humphrey’s Pyjama Week
Humphrey’s Pyjama Week takes place on the 2nd October. It’s a fun-filled activity week to help raise money for The Children’s Trust, a charity which has teamed up with the popular Humphrey’s Corner brand. The Children’s Trust provides...
Developing friendships in early childhood
When babies are born, they form an attachment with one or two main caregivers. The first few months in a child’s life are the most important time in which to form these good quality attachments. Eye contact, smiles and being held lovingly by...
Mental Well-being and Vulnerability Support
Mental Health is an issue which affects so many people but not everyone lets it show if they are struggling mentally or emotionally; or are in a situation where they feel vulnerable. If you feel that you would benefit from some confidential,...
Setting the record straight: Diabetes Awareness Week
This year, Diabetes Awareness Week is set to take place on the 11th June. It’s an annual event aimed at people coming together and raising awareness of diabetes, as well as sharing their stories. This year’s theme is ‘Setting the record...
Celebrating Deaf Awareness Week
Deaf Awareness Week is an annual event which is promoted by the UK Council on Deafness (UKCoD). It seeks to raise awareness of the difficulties experienced by people who are deaf or hard of hearing and promote social inclusion. This year, it...
Ramadan Mubarak (Happy Ramadan!)
Soon, Muslims around the world will be preparing for the holy month of Ramadan. The date of Ramadan varies each year, but for 2018 it’s predicted to be the 15th May. The reason that the date is only predicted is because it’s determined by the...
6 things you didn’t know about St George
Celebrated every year on the 23rd April, St George’s Day remembers England’s patron saint. Legend has it that he slayed a dragon and, in doing so, saved a princess from being eaten by the ferocious beast. Separating fact from fiction, here are 6...
iPads and online safety in the Early Years
Back in 2010 when iPads and other comparable tablets first appeared, their potential to change the way children were educated was revolutionary. There are three noticeable features which have the potential to make a positive difference to early...
Why do we celebrate Easter with bunny rabbits and eggs?
Easter is a Christian festival and celebrates the belief that Jesus rose after he was crucified, an event which is called the resurrection. According to the Bible, Jesus died on Good Friday and his body was laid in a tomb guarded by a watch of...
Understanding autism
There is no “one size fits all” aspect to autism, therefore those who have the condition may have different stimulatory triggers and resulting responses. Autism is described as a “lifelong condition” because there’s no cure for it and those who...
Happy St Patrick’s Day!
St Patrick’s Day is an annual event which celebrates one of the most prominent patron saints of Ireland. It’s held on the same day every year - 17th March – and is often associated with drunken revellers holding pints of Guinness, wearing green...
Turn the page for World Book Day
World Book Day, which will take place on the 1st March, is a celebration of reading. The event has been running for 21 years now and 100 countries from all over the world take part. World Book Day Ltd is a small charity which aims to encourage...
Celebrating Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day (or Mothering Sunday, as it’s also known) is an annual event for people to show their gratitude and love for their mothers. This day also celebrates the role that other maternal figures, such as mother-in-laws and grandmothers, hold...
Kung Hei Fat Choy (Happy New Year!)
This year, Chinese New Year falls on the 16th February. The date changes year on year as it follows the lunar calendar, so it can range from the 21st January to the 20th February. The Chinese New Year follows a 12-year cycle and each year...
What’s the history of St. Valentine’s Day?
The date is fixed every year: 14th February. We all know it as a time for exchanging cards, chocolates, flowers and other sentimental gifts with our loved ones. But how did Valentine's Day come about and who was St. Valentine? The saint’s crime...
The origin of Pancake Day
Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday, always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday. The date can vary between the 3rd February and the 9th March. This year, it falls on Tuesday 13th February. The tradition dates back to the Anglo-Saxon era...
What is Burns Night?
Burns Night celebrates the life of a famous Scottish poet and lyricist, Robert Burns. He was born in Alloway, Scotland in 1759 and died in Dumfries aged just 37. Notably, his most famous work is Auld Lang Syne, a song which is sung around the...
Celebrating Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is the only Hindu festival to be celebrated on a fixed day of the calendar each year - the 14th January. The word ‘Sankranti’ literally means movement and the festival celebrates the sun’s journey into the Northern Hemisphere....
A short history of the Advent calendar
Advent calendars have become a staple tradition of Christmas, helping us to count down the days from the 1st to the 25th December. Since their invention, they have evolved from having little doors which concealed a picture or a bible verse and...
Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
Hanukkah is an 8-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of a Jewish temple in Jerusalem. This year, the festival will begin on Tuesday 12th December. The origins of Hanukkah date back to over 2,500 years ago, when the Jews battled the...
Remembrance Sunday – Lest we forget
Every year, Remembrance Sunday falls on the second Sunday in November. It commemorates the bravery of British and Commonwealth servicemen and women who lost their lives in the two World Wars and the conflicts which have broken out since....
Remember, remember the fifth of November
On the 5th November every year, bonfires are lit in public parks and gardens around the country. Sparklers are ignited and the night skies are showered with the loud bangs and bright lights of firework displays. But what is the meaning behind...
A short history of Halloween – Ghouls, Ghosts and Ghastliness
The origins of Halloween, known as Samhain, can be traced back to Celtic times. The Celts, who used to live in Ireland, England, Scotland and Northern France, believed that times of transition were associated with magical potency. They believed...
Black History Month
October marks Black History Month in the UK. It recognises and celebrates inspirational individuals and events from within Black and Minority Ethnicity (BME) communities. Throughout the month, important people from the past are remembered, as...