Early Years

Friday

8th Sep 2023

Developing early language skills: 3 key research findings
As Ofsted releases a new research review of the prime areas of learning in EYFS, Julian Grenier draws out the main takeaways on developing early language
Developing early language skills: 3 key research findings

Wednesday

6th Sep 2023

How do we fix the problem of ‘school readiness’?
Research has found that fewer children are starting Reception ‘school ready’. So what can schools do to better communicate the requirements to parents?
How do we fix the problem of ‘school readiness’?

Thursday

6th Jul 2023

4 ways to support early writing through play
With careful planning and resourcing to build writing opportunities into play, early years teachers can help take the fear out of learning to write, says Angela Cogan
4 ways to support early writing through play

Friday

16th Jun 2023

How to get continuous provision right
Teachers may interpret EYFS concepts in different ways, says Helen Pinnington, so it’s important to make sure your team are on the same page for continuous provision
Building blocks

Friday

9th Jun 2023

3 ways to support early language acquisition
Language is the ‘bedrock’ of early learning, yet too many children aren’t meeting the expected standard, says Leyla Gambell, who sets out some steps steps to help
3 ways to support early language acquisition

Friday

19th May 2023

Executive function: what early years teachers need to know
Ofsted has flagged executive function as an area that EYFS teachers need to understand more about. Three researchers draw out four key points from the research
Executive functions: what early years teachers need to know

Thursday

11th May 2023

Why I’m torn about using SSP with my class
Using a systematic synthetic phonics scheme has improved decoding at her school, but are the costs to engagement and reading for pleasure worth it, asks Helen Pinnington
Why I’m torn about using SSP with my class

Thursday

20th Apr 2023

How we’re tackling the rise in speech and language difficulties
With more pupils entering school with lower levels of speech and language, one trust set out to develop a strategy to address the problem
How we’re tackling the rise in speech and language difficulties

Thursday

30th Mar 2023

What does effective play look like?
Play is important for children’s development, but it isn’t always easy to define – or to support. Julian Grenier looks at how early years teachers can cultivate this crucial practice
jigsaw

Friday

24th Mar 2023

EYFS: How to make the most of a small classroom 
From furniture hacks to timetable juggling, EYFS teacher Jess Gosling says that, with careful planning, a small classroom doesn’t have to limit learning
How to make the most of a small classroom

Friday

17th Mar 2023

Adaptive teaching: how does it work in early years?
Differentiation still has a place in the EYFS classroom but adaptive teaching can help us to reset expectations, writes headteacher Julian Grenier
Adaptive teaching: how does it work in early years?

Friday

10th Mar 2023

How one city’s focus on speech and language is transforming early literacy
An intervention aimed at improving children’s speech and language skills is helping to close York’s disadvantage gap, finds Kate Parker
How one city’s focus on speech and language is transforming early literacy