Running a Setting
Blue monday
January 20th – argh! Christmas is over, you can’t get into your new jeans because you put on a half a stone; you’ve maxed out your credit card; it’s still 10 days till payday, and to top it all, it’s freezing and the trains are cancelled due to...
Wellbeing of staff
Last year, we published an article on “How to improve the wellbeing of your staff”, focusing on ways that you could promote their physical, mental and emotional health. In Ofsted’s recently introduced Education Inspection Framework, the...
Yoga, meditation and mindfulness for toddlers
In a busy world, where time always seems to be ‘of the essence’, we are all straining to be effective parents, productive professionals, and happy to boot, it’s no wonder that sometimes our patience snaps and our tolerance wanes. But who then is...
Reducing single-use plastic in your setting
We hear on the news and via social media (sadly, pretty much on a daily basis) about the growing decline of our planet. We learn that we must strive to be more sustainable: increase our recycling, decrease our carbon footprint and reduce our...
Young Carers Awareness Day
Have you ever thought about what would happen if you or another adult member of your family became seriously ill, had mental health issues that affected their day-to-day life, or developed a disability that affected their sight, hearing or...
An insight into a new EIF Ofsted inspection
© Chris Dorney 123RF.COM The new Education Inspection Framework (EIF) from Ofsted is just about to enter its 4th month and many settings have already had their first inspection under the new changes. Parenta assessor and setting owner, Fiona...
Ethical and sustainable Christmas ideas
Christmas - time for feasting, celebrations, meeting up with family, and remembering what the true meaning is – love, peace and goodwill to all. And then there’s presents, trees, stockings, turkey, stuffing, mince pies, wrapping paper,...
What to do with Christmas leftovers
Once upon a time, if you didn’t buy enough milk before Christmas, and then ran out on December 25th, you’d have to endure Christmas pudding without custard, no eggnog, and black coffee for 3 days until the shops opened again on the 28th!...
Christmas celebrations and traditions
Christmas is coming and families around the world are getting ready to celebrate the Christian festival marking the birth of Jesus, approximately 2,000 years ago. Over the centuries, different Christmas traditions have developed in response to...
Winter activities
It’s winter! The days are drawing in; it takes 15 minutes to scrape a heavy coating of ice off your windscreen in the morning; and you start to wonder if you’ll ever see the sun again! But don’t despair! And don’t let the winter blues get you...
Road Safety Week
Last month, the tragic death of teenager, Harry Dunn, made headlines because of the involvement of the wife of a US diplomat in the incident. Whilst this fact alone elevated the story to one of national interest, the startling statistics are,...
Tips for teaching phonics
The early years foundation stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of all children from birth to 5 years old to try to give them the best start in life. All English schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers...
How to deal with bereavement
The only thing we know that is certain about life, is death. We are all going to die, we just don’t know when. Different people and cultures have different attitudes towards death; some see it as a transition, some see it as a finite end, and...
National blog posting month
November is National Blog Posting Month – and to celebrate this, we are giving you our top tips on how having a blog can boost your ranking on search engines and ultimately increase your occupancy levels!What is a blog? A blog is an online page,...
World Nursery Rhyme Week
If there is anything that people remember about their early childhood, then it surely has to be nursery rhymes. We hear them as babies, learn them as infants and then, if we have children ourselves as adults, we pass them on by singing them to...
Focus on Forest Schools
Many adults over a certain age (about 50, but shh, don’t tell anyone)….fondly remember their childhood as one lived mostly outdoors - making mud pies, climbing trees and being allowed to play in the woods for hours until they were called in for...
Time to think about time
It’s that time of year again when we move the clocks back and everyone gets an extra hour in bed! Forget the fact that we are only reclaiming the hour we’ lost’ in March, when we willingly put the clocks forward, and all is well - we pull the...
Give us a smile: the importance of oral health and World Smile Day®
What does it cost to smile? Nothing! And yet a smile can set the world alight, right? On Friday 4th October, people across the globe will be trying to spread some good cheer, engage in an act of kindness and make each other smile to celebrate...
Learning and laughing together – it’s ‘Family Learning’ month!
Whether you’re a parent or a practitioner, the importance of educating children outside, as well as inside, the classroom, can never be underestimated. Although the traditional ‘nuclear’ family has changed considerably over the years, it doesn’t...
Dyslexia Awareness Week
Richard Branson is one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs: his Virgin brand operates over 60 companies in 35 countries; he has written 8 books and has over 41 million followers on social networks, and his net worth in 2019 was reported at...
Morton Michel Childcare Insurance
Running a nursery is certainly an invigorating experience. 101 decisions to make and 1001 things to think about! But there are also those moments of calm, when the doors close after a long day, or when the children are all asleep for an...
What to expect when working in childcare
Have you ever considered working in childcare but don’t know what to expect? Maybe you’re a parent returning to work, or a school leaver seeking their first apprentice placement, or maybe you just want a change of scene, and childcare appeals....
Black History Month
Why celebrate Black History Month? When we think about British history, most of us remember what we were taught in schools – Roman Britain, the Magna Carta, Henry VIII, the sinking of the Titanic and the impact on Britain of the World Wars. It’s...
Cyber security tips
‘Cyber security’ is the technology, processes, and practices designed and put in place to protect networks, devices, computer programmes and data from attack, damage, or unauthorised access. It can also be referred to as ‘information technology...
National Eye Health Week
What would you do if you lost your sight? How would it affect your lifestyle, your independence and income? And what impact would it have on your dependents, family and friends? Most of us don’t think about this often, but once a year, National...
The importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for your staff
At this time of year, when GCSEs and A levels are finished, results are out and the focus is on recruiting those who have just completed their education, it can be easy to overlook the importance of improving the knowledge of those already...
Roald Dahl Day
Most people know Roald Dahl was a children’s author – but did you know that he was also a “spy, ace fighter pilot, chocolate historian and a medical inventor?” Then read on to discover more about his life and legacy, and join millions of others...
Eczema – nutritional advice and lifestyle tips for your setting
Throughout your career as an early years professional, it is very likely that you will have at least one child in your care that suffers with eczema. It can be distressing for many children, and for some - in severe cases - painful. You and...
Heritage Open Days – celebrating history and culture!
If you have ever walked past an old building or historic house and garden and wondered what history lies behind those doors, or what life might have been like for those that lived there in years gone by, you may be able to find out this month!...
International Talk Like A Pirate Day
Last month, we celebrated National Playday and National Colouring Book Day, and earlier in the year was International Women’s Day and Safer Internet Day. So, I know you’ll all be wondering about this month’s awareness day. There’s lots of fun to...
