Beatrice Merrick

Loose parts play

Here are some links to resources to support your play. Loose parts play tookit is such a rich and comprehensive free publication from Inspiring Scotland to support your provision and practice Loose parts outside and intentionality with loose parts blogs by Diane Kashin Loose parts by schema chart by Michelle Thornhill for supporting schematic play with loose parts. This is […]

Listening to children

Having a voice There may be many reasons why young children do not have a voice. Perhaps they There could be many more reasons. Loss of power Children do not possess the power that words have to communicate and make needs known. There is a definite power in being able to speak, to use words […]

Early Career Teachers: core resources

The Early Career Framework has been designed by the Department for Education in England to support newly qualified teachers in England with a structured package of support in the following five areas: behaviour management, pedagogy, curriculum, assessment and professional behaviours.  To complement the framework, which may provide more generic support, this page suggests some reading and resources to […]

Clay

Play with clay Clay is natural, it comes from the earth. It is cool to the touch and soft on our skin. It has a deep earthy smell which invites you in. Clay can be sculpted far more intricately than play dough. Just by covering it over, clay can be returned to day-after-day, added to, […]

COVID-19 and home learning

This page brings together useful resources for supporting families with home-learning while settings and schools are closed during COVID-19 restrictions. See also: Twelve links for supporting home learning: early years and primary External links: Playing and Exploring The Gruffalo website Siren films website has short courses using their video clips from Dr Sue Allingham and Anne O’Connor […]

Creativity

How can I be more creative? Be inspired by our guest bloggers from Rachel Keeling nursery school who shared about their clay and sculpture project.  Have a read of The beauty and chaos of free play blog. I was comforted by the image of a well used and played in space and the quotes of Vivian Gussin Paley and […]

Twelve links for supporting home learning: early years and primary

Here are twelve links with free ideas to support play and learning at home, suitable for early years, nursery, reception and school aged children in lower primary years  Growing and learning together from Highfield Nursery School, Children’s Centre and Daycare is a page with recipes, ideas and their new PDF leaflet “Activities to try at home” […]

Pedagogic pointers for reflection and dialogue

The following extracts from past early years teaching newsletters have a feature which supports your team dialogue around pedagogy and practice dilemmas and reflective practice.  You could use the pedagogic pointers in a staff meeting, self-evaluation exercise or in team meetings. Ideally, use it as an opportunity for evaluation, reflection and then team and setting […]

Reggio Emilia

Last updated Spring 2018. The preschools of the Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy inspire us with their pedagogy and practice in giving children rich encounters with culture and creativity. This page provides a selection of links for you to find out more.   Useful links The Reggio Emilia approach The one hundred languages of children Nursery […]

Nominate a colleague for the Famly Children’s Champion

We’re supporting Famly’s Children’s Champion Award 2021 as an opportunity to recognise the work of early years practitioners who have gone “above and beyond” this year to support children and families. Nominate someone you know and they will be in with a chance to win £5,000, a trophy and a year’s individual membership of Early […]