For children to be successful with their writing and literacy skills, a lot depends on how fluent and confident they are with oral language. Tip of the Tongue offers a wealth of inspiring resources for the development of oral language and vocabulary, of which a few ideas are shared in this blog. Read more

5...4...3...2...1...Blast Off!!! Enable children to follow in Tim Peake’s exciting footsteps and take one ‘giant step’ into your immersive themed space classroom. Why not create your own Space Station and set your little astronauts exciting intergalactic missions? Plenty of writing opportunities there! Follow these quick, easy steps and simple resources to create your own twinkling galaxy with dusty lunar surface to explore. Read more

Outdoor play is a key part to nursery life and is so often undervalued for one reason or another. We have a very well developed outdoor space but found that certain areas were just not used. We are situated in an inner city area so the luxury of woodlands, forest and the like, are not easily accessible to our nursery. With this in mind, we have enhanced our outdoor space by incorporating some trees, tree murals, raised planters and fast growing ferns in planters. Read more

To coincide with Nursery World in Liverpool on 5th May we are giving away one of our fabulous outdoor Teepees worth over £750! Read more

When you started your nursery, did you have in mind, looking after inspiring children, a small team of friends and a dream job? If you came from the care background, all your experience and qualifications are probably in childcare. Few of you will have an MBA or a marketing degree. Did the business side of your nursery come as a bit of a shock? Read more

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition that affects social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour. Approximately 1 in every 100 people in the UK has ASD and more boys are diagnosed than girls. There are many common misconceptions. Do you know which of the following statements are true or false? Read more

Are you unlocking the power of Bar Modelling? Here is an insight into this integral part of Maths Mastery from the White Rose Maths Hub. Read more

The health and wellbeing of children is as fundamentally important to schools as maths and English - if not even more so. Healthy, active children are likely to be happier, more alert, academically engaged and ready to learn. The physical confidence they gain can also build self-esteem. As well as this, children who learn to love moving tend to be more active in adult life. Read more

Appropriate use of technology in the Early Years can be very powerful. It can enrich, expand and improve children's physical and non-directed play. It cannot be ignored, as it will form an important part of children's future learning. Read more

Like school children, school furniture comes in a range of sizes, yet many primary classrooms are furnished on a one-size-fits-all basis. Research, in the United States[1], showed that fewer than 20% of pupils had a desk-chair combination to suit their size. In an English primary classroom this could mean that as many as 24 out of 30 pupils could be using the wrong size of furniture. This post explains some of the problems that can be caused by this. It also offers ways of addressing the issues by highlighting key points to consider when planning lessons and choosing furniture to ensure that pupils have appropriate physical support to carry out their school work in comfort. Read more

St George's day is a day set aside each year to promote English Heritage and patriotism. The 23rd April should be a day when people come together to celebrate our great nation and have fun! Here we share some history and 5 simple dragon crafts. Read more

Launched in 2013/14, the Primary PE & Sport Premium is jointly funded by the Departments for Education, Health and Culture, Media and Sport. The additional funding is allocated directly to school budgets and must be used for PE, Sport and Physical Activity. To help you make the most of your funding, here’s 10 effective ways to spend your School Sports Premium in 2023. Read more

Equipping and arranging your rooms to ensure that they meet all the required elements and your own personal goals can be a daunting challenge. There are so many factors to consider, such as safety, durability, cost, size, space and of course the need to be educationally enriching and appropriate for all children within it. Sometimes settings start with a blank canvas whilst on other occasions they inherit items which can be repurposed, adapted or recycled. Read more

Jars can be magical spaces for creating small world scenes and environments. The BFG's 'dream jars' truly inspired us to create our own. This well-loved story and recent film are fantastic springboards to allow children's imaginations to run wild. Read more

Movement, play and “safe danger” are essential to a child’s development, but there is now evidence to suggest that current busy lifestyles, anxiety and media pressure are contributing to an increase in Flat Head Syndrome and delayed motor milestone development in babies, reduced motor planning in toddlers and “below normal” motor milestone achievement and risk assessment in primary school children. This is also adversely affecting academic attainment. In addition, an increasing number of primary and secondary aged children are now suffering back pain as they are simply not fit enough to cope with the daily demands of life. In addition to the social and moral obligations of giving children the best possible start, these children are our next working generation. Read more

Social Situation Stories are a tried and tested method of helping children understand a social situation and learn how to deal with it in a positive way. Many children who have autistic spectrum disorders or behavioural issues are frequently guided through socially complex situations by means of a story. Read more