A mother's diary of her daughter Clemmie's development from birth to her first birthday. These snippets of Clemmie's learning and development were first published a few years ago as "Clemmie's Column". We republish them here as two articles for thos…

All About Clemmie: Part 2

by Juliet Mickelburgh on October 4, 2011

Continuing Juliet Mickelburgh's diary of her daughter Clemmie's learning and development from her first birthday to her second.

Applying for a job in Early Years? Interview preparation

by Helen Edwards on January 24, 2011

Getting through interviews successfully is all about preparation. This article guides the interviewee through the process, recommending strategies for impressing your interviewer.

Aspects of Art

by Juliet Mickelburgh on June 8, 2012

Art is a rich and magical area of learning. It can open children’s eyes to the world around them and offer them new and exciting ways of seeing, thinking and doing. But this doesn’t just happen; presenting children with the opportunity to use clay, p…

Aspects of Art: Drawing

by Juliet Mickelburgh on September 13, 2012

This is the second in a series of articles about the different aspects of art in the early years. Here we look at ways to approach drawing with young children.

Aspects of Art: Painting

by Juliet Mickelburgh on November 8, 2012

Paint is such a versatile and energetic medium for children to explore. It can be thick or runny, pale or bright. It can be layered up with other things and it can be dabbed, spread, brushed, flicked or squelched. This article is the third in a serie…

Aspects of Art: Printing

by Juliet Mickelburgh on February 13, 2013

We continue our series on Art in the early years with a closer look at printing.

Aspects of Art: Sculpture

by Juliet Mickelburgh on September 4, 2013

Here is the final article in the Aspects of Art series, looking at how children can be creative in 3D through sculpture. Working in three dimensions gives children the opportunity to practise skills such as planning and problem solving, fixing and j…

Aspects of Art: Textiles

by Juliet Mickelburgh on April 25, 2013

Here is the fourth in our series on Art in the Early Years. This time the focus is on Textiles. Fabric is a big part of children’s lives. They wear it, they sleep under it and they sit on it. The familiarity of textiles is what makes them so much fun…

Assessment for Learning in the EYFS

by Jonathan Glazzard and Jane Stokoe on March 3, 2011

Jonathan Glazzard, from the University of Huddersfield, provides a broad overview of the key principles of assessment for learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage. He outlines the purposes of assessment and describes key approaches for collecting…

Assessment, Progression and Attainment in the EYFS

by Kate Cahill on December 15, 2010

Life on the Foundation Stage Forum takes on its own seasonal phases and autumn is no exception. As the new academic year commences there are always queries, particularly from school-based practitioners, on how to gather and interpret the progress dat…

Attachment Theory and the Key Person Approach

by Juliet Mickelburgh on January 21, 2011

The Key Person Approach is now a fundamental part of developing secure relationships between staff and children in early years settings. Why is it so important and what is the theory behind it?

Beatrice Merrick's Keynote speech for TEC 2: A sector response to chan…

by Jack Dabell on December 17, 2019

We were very happy to have Beatrice Merrick, Chief Executive of Early Education, give a Keynote speech at our second Tapestry Education Conference in November. Jack has written this summary of her talk, followed by a link so you can also watch Bea…

Becoming a Nursery of Sanctuary: reflecting on an ongoing journey

by Sarah Ottewell on February 11, 2020

Sarah Ottewell describes her setting's journey to becoming a Nursery of Sanctuary.

Becoming an EYP: key issues raised in research conducted by staff

by Helen MacIntyre and Jen Colwell on December 15, 2010

A commissioned piece of research into the factors which help or hinder early years graduates in successfully undertaking EYPS.

Beginning with Books

by Juliet Mickelburgh on January 18, 2011

This article introduces a new series of planning ideas that use a big book as the starting point for a variety of experiences within the Areas of Learning and Development. 'Beginning with Books' examines early reading skills and attitudes towards how…

Being a childminder - FSF Tim shares his experience

by FSF Tim on December 3, 2018

Tim is a childminder who also works at FSF HQ. In this Q+A he talks to FSF Rebecca about how he came from an IT background to be an Early Years Teacher, running his own childminding setting.

Biscuit Box Banter

by Martine Horvath on January 21, 2010

Martine Horvath presents some fun ideas to get children talking, and to help them develop their speech and language skills.

Brain-based Learning

by Juliet Mickelburgh on December 15, 2010

This is the second in a series of articles looking at recent research into how young children learn. Here we examine how a better understanding of brain development can enrich early years practice.

Building an accurate picture: Evidencing the Early Years Foundation St…

by Kate Cahill on March 8, 2012

Q: How much evidence do I need? It’s a perennial question and one that is asked on an almost daily basis as moderation visits are underway.Assessment in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFSP) is based very firmly on the use of observation. Watching…

Challenging Mathematics in the Early Years

by Anne D. Cockburn on June 27, 2011

A common perception among the general public is that it is easy to teach young children mathematics. In this article, Professor Anne Cockburn, from the School of Education & Lifelong Learning at the University of East Anglia, discusses some of the p…

Characteristics of Effective Learning: Active Learning

by Martine Horvath on July 3, 2012

What is "Active Learning"? The High Scope approach defines it helpfully as ‘having direct and immediate experiences and deriving meaning from them through reflection’. In this way children can better make sense of their world. It’s in the doing th…

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