A poignant post this week from an early years practitioner who wishes to remain anonymous. Creeping towards 43 years old, with a career in early years that started when I was 16, I recently undertook a role as a nursery teacher in a maintained nursery class. My experience within the early years sector is vast …
Continue reading Professional identity; who am I and how do others see me?
In what ways have you seen LEGO play a part in children’s learning and development, either at home or in their educational settings?
Rebecca Reynolds is an independent early years literacy consultant. This is the second of a series of 3 posts she is writing for us on the subject of children's handwriting. For a child, the ability to write their own name is one of their most noticeable achievements, one which they become very proud of. It …
Another great blog to get us thinking by Dr Paula Stone; let Paula know what you think about this initiative by adding your comments. This week (20 February), the Education Secretary Damian Hinds has announced the roll-out of free access to educational apps to families from disadvantaged backgrounds in a bid to boost early literacy …
This week’s blog is written by Charlotte Hanks a final year Early Childhood Studies student. Recently I have been reading ‘Swallows and Amazons’ by Ransome (1930). I can’t help but think how lovely it is to read about the adventures these children have sailing and camping on an island with no adults around. However, …
Continue reading ‘Get some fresh air’ – The importance of outdoor play
We are both fans of the programme and were interested to find out whether any research has been carried out about it – should parents make time for Teletubbies?
Rebecca Reynolds is an independent early years literacy consultant. Whilst visiting a school recently I was struck by a little girl next to me who had been asked to attempt to write a cursive ‘b’ after a phonics lesson. The teacher explained that whilst in the phonics lesson the letter was shown in print but …
Do you agree with Prof Runciman - should the minimum voting age be lowered to six?
Thank you Dr Paula Stone for another timely post. On Wednesday, I was heartened to hear the news about OfSTED’s plans to issue new guidelines for inspection that will shift the focus towards quality of education rather than purely educational ‘outcomes’ or attainment. It is proposed that this will be the biggest overhaul of the inspection …
Continue reading OfSTED’s proposed new guidelines for inspection. A step in the right direction?
When I taught in a primary school there was a Dr Seuss nonsense song that the children loved to sing with great enthusiasm. It was called The Super-Supper March and began ‘Hungry, hungry, I am hungry, I could eat a pickled plum...’. Do you remember it? Perhaps you sang it too. When I …
Continue reading ‘Hungry, hungry, I am hungry…’; young children and food insecurity.
Contemplating Childhoods 