Running a Setting
7 tips for nystagmus success in the classroom
Having just released my book “Can I Tell You About Nystagmus?” I jumped at the chance of being able to raise the awareness around the condition, in support of Nystagmus Awareness Day, 20th June 2019. For those who don’t know, nystagmus is an...
Drowning Prevention Week
Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children in the UK, and every year, over 700 people drown in the UK and Ireland; approximately one person every 10 hours. According to the Royal Life Saving Society’s Director of...
Father’s Day stick puppet craft
You will need: White paper A printer Colouring pens/pencils/markers Scissors Lolly sticks Glue 1. Download our free template here: bit.ly/fathersdaytemplate, once downloaded, print it. 2. Colour in the template with pens, pencils or markers, in...
Diabetes Week
What comes to mind when you think of diabetes? Older and more obese people? Insulin injections? Poor eyesight? A life without chocolate?All these things have been associated with diabetes in the past, and some still are today; but is this all...
Learning Disability Week
Can you imagine how your life would be different if you had a learning disability? How would it affect you and the lives of the people you love? Maybe you’d find it more difficult to live independently? Perhaps everyday tasks that we all take...
Encouraging role-play with young children
Children learn by playing. They first observe - listening and watching others; then they copy – imitating the people around them. And when they are able, they experiment. That’s when they learn to ask, and answer, new questions – not “what is...
Deaf Awareness Week
In the UK, it is estimated that 1 in 6 people (approximately 11 million people) are deaf or hard of hearing. Deafness is the third most common disability in the world, but you would be hard-pressed to spot a deaf person in a crowd. Most deaf...
Viral Meningitis Awareness Week
The first full week in May (6th – 12th) is Viral Meningitis Awareness Week. It’s run by the charity, Meningitis Now, as an annual event aimed at “stopping lives being lost through meningitis and to make sure that sufferers and survivors get...
How to teach creative writing to children
The capacity to think creatively - for instance, in creative writing - forms the basis of self-expression. However, many parents and teachers would agree that creative writing for children is one of the many areas that can be neglected in...
The London Marathon and the importance of charity
How do you fancy running 26 miles around the streets of London, dressed as a giant chicken, in whatever the British weather has to throw at you? For thousands of people, that is what they will be doing on Sunday 28th April this year, as the...
Ways to celebrate St George’s Day
On Tuesday 23rd April, England will celebrate their Patron Saint Day and the heroic figure of St George will be remembered up and down the country. Flags bearing the familiar red cross on a white background, will be flown from many a windowsill...
Achieving Ofsted success
Alison Bates, founder of 4 nursery schools in Leicestershire, tells us about her experience and offers advice to others on achieving Ofsted success. How did you start? Childcare is my second career. I spent 20 years in finance until I had my...
Sensory Nature Adventures and Play with the Sensory Trust
written by Madeleine Amos For children with disabilities and their families, going out and being in nature can seem a daunting prospect. In response, Sensory Trust, a charity that creates accessible and engaging outdoor experiences, have...
Write a letter to The Queen
Have you ever thought about writing a letter to The Queen? What would you say? How would you address it? And since The Queen has multiple residences, where would you send it?Every year, The Queen receives tens of thousands of letters, not only...
Easter activities – keeping kids busy
by Laura Anne Sutcliffe The Easter holidays mean some much needed down time in our house and the first significant holiday since Christmas, half term, always goes so quickly! As a teacher, I know I am fortunate to have time off with my children...
National Autism Awareness Month
April is National Autism Awareness Month and the first week, (1–7th), is World Autism Awareness Week. Across the globe, people who have autism, carers, parents, teachers, family and friends will come together to raise money for research and...
Celebrate St Patrick’s Day
Sunday 17th March is St Patrick’s Day – the patron saint of Ireland, but it is not only in the ‘emerald isle’ that this day is cherished and celebrated as it’s reported that St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in more countries than any other...
Tips to encourage young readers
Helping young children discover the joy of reading is one of the great pleasures of being an early years practitioner. Sharing stories, discovering letters and learning the alphabet and phonics are the first steps in helping each child on the...
Pancake Day – healthier options
On Tuesday 5th March, the nation will be reaching for the frying pans to celebrate Shrove Tuesday by cooking and eating some pancakes! In Christian traditions, the 40 days immediately before Easter (known as Lent), are observed to remind...
National Apprenticeship Week
The 12th annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW2019) – which runs from 4th to 8th March 2019 - is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate ‘all things apprenticeships’ and how they benefit not only individuals and employers, but communities and...
Hiring your perfect apprentice
If you are looking to fill a skills gap in your team and are considering taking on an apprentice, but are unsure of all the facts, look no further. The team of recruitment experts at Parenta are on hand to give guidance to early years settings...
7 ways to market your new nursery on a small budget
Once you have committed to the idea of opening a day nursery, marketing your setting to parents in the early stages will become a crucial part of making sure your childcare business is a success. If money is an issue and you only have a very...
Encouraging healthier options to tackle childhood obesity
Childhood obesity rates are rising in the UK leading to potential health problems for these children in later life. Preventing this is now an important public health issue and the Government’s approach has been two-fold: prevention policies, and...
Understanding the needs of children in the care system: part 2
In the second of our series looking at the challenges faced by children in care, we offer some practical advice on how best to meet the needs of these children. Ways to help children in care Communication with the foster family Foster...
Safer Internet Day
Tuesday 5th February 2019 is this year’s “Safer Internet Day” and will be celebrated by hundreds of organisations, schools, colleges and pre-schools around the world. The aim is to raise awareness of the benefits and risks posed by the internet,...
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...
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...
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...
‘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...
Saint Nicholas Day
In many European countries, December 6th is celebrated as the feast day of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. Children celebrate by leaving shoes by the fireplace in the expectation that Saint Nicholas will leave them a small gift....
