106 articles in this category

Counting on strong foundations!
by Linda Pound on May 12, 2021
Linda Pound reflects on how children learn about number, and shares how educators can bring imagination, creativity and joy to mathematical development.  
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“On my way to nursery…my teacher walked with me!”
by Sarah Holmes on February 28
Early years educator Sarah Holmes reflects on how we can use 'third spaces' to rethink home visits.
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‘Exercising the imagination’ Big bang! Small hands… Big ideas! Creativ…
by Pete Moorhouse on January 10, 2022
Early years creative consultant and artist educator, Pete Moorhouse, describes the joy of woodwork for young children, and the creative and critical thinking skills and personal development that woodwork offers. 
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Visiting a Nursery
by Juliet Mickelburgh on February 11, 2020
The FSF and Tapestry Education Team are all trained teachers and we like to keep our skills sharp and our knowledge up to date so that we can give the best advice to support Tapestry users and FSF members. For this reason, we occasionally visit sch…
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#SENDAtHome
by Stephen Kilgour on April 2, 2020
  Our SEND Advisor, Stephen Kilgour, reflects on the impact of school closures on families supporting children with additional needs, and offers a place to collect and find resources via #SENDAtHome. 
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Makaton
by Stephen Kilgour on April 20, 2020
Stephen Kilgour, SEND Advisor, takes a closer look at the value of learning Makaton. 
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Pre - Reading Ideas
by Stephen Kilgour on May 28, 2020
In advance of reading first words, there is so much pre-reading learning that needs to take place.  For very young children, or those with additional needs, it’s important that you think about how best to interest your child in the concept of ‘book…
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Reflecting on the EYFS curriculum
by Julian Grenier on June 18, 2020
Julian Grenier considers what makes a valuable and meaningful Early Years curriculum. 
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The 3R' s Re-imagined
by Leslie Patterson on June 29, 2020
Early Years consultant Leslie Patterson shares her re-imagining of a curriculum for our youngest children in the wake of the current pandemic as we await the changes to the EYFS. 
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Spinning a Yarn - fuelling the imagination of our preschoolers
by Stephen Kilgour on July 20, 2020
Stephen Kilgour has some ideas on how to become a teller of stories and how that can support the reading development of preschool children. 
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Before we get to counting...
by Stephen Kilgour on August 12, 2020
SEND Advisor Stephen Kilgour takes a closer look at the very early stages of mathematical development in young children. 
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Looking forward, going back...
by Alistair Bryce-Clegg on September 16, 2020
Alistair Bryce-Clegg takes a look at the adaptations we need to make, and the good practice we need to hold onto, as we welcome a new learning year. 
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How do I talk about race with children in the Early Years setting?
by Liz Pemberton on October 19, 2020
Liz Pemberton asks us to personally equip ourselves to talk about race and to implement practical changes to ensure that the antiracist thread is running all the way through our practice. 
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Putting love at the centre of your practice - being on a journey with …
by Joss Cambridge-Simmons on October 19, 2020
Joss Cambridge-Simmons (founder of Jossy Care) shares his journey, from being a very young man starting out in childcare, to running his own childcare business, and the love that is weaves through it all. 
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Teaching and learning mathematics in the early years: a cognitive load…
by Linda Pound on February 4, 2022
Early years consultant and author, Linda Pound, explores Cognitive Load Theory and how to support young children's Mathematical development. 
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Engaging children in conversations about diversity, discrimination, an…
by Fifi Benham on April 27, 2021
Early Years educator and pre-school Deputy Manager Fifi Benham reflects on why we need to have conversations with young children about diversity, and how looking more closely at ourselves, and the resources in our setting, can support this. 
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Mirrors and Reflections
by Rachna Joshi on January 9, 2022
This month we revisit a previous article by Rachna Joshi exploring children's mirror play and their sense of self.   
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The Brightest Shadow
by Greg Bottrill on June 17, 2021
Greg Bottrill explores the play-full heart, how we need to connect with the magic of childhood and lean into the joy as we learn and play with children. 
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The importance of MOVE-ing
by Stephen Kilgour on June 15, 2021
SEND advisor, Stephen Kilgour, reflects on supporting children with physical disabilities, and how a new initiative from the MOVE Programme can help.  
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Parental engagement: rethinking support for families with children wit…
by Caroline Vollans on July 15, 2021
Caroline Vollans shares the journey of Buttercup Group, a small Stay and Play provision for parents and carers with children with learning differences. 
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Making Birth to 5 Matters work for you
by Nancy Stewart on July 9, 2021
Nancy Stewart, who was Project Lead on Birth to 5 Matters, shares her thoughts on how early years educators can use this guidance in their setting. 
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Writing in the Early Years
by Varinder Kaur Johal on August 10, 2021
Educator Varinder Kaur Johal shares her thoughts and ideas on children's early writing - from the child development that supports writing to creating opportunities to mark make. 
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Challenging gender stereotypes in the Early Years
by Susie Heywood on September 7, 2021
Susie Heywood, co-founder of Gender Friendly Scotland, discusses how early years educators can challenge outdated gender stereotypes and remove the limits those stereotypes impose on children. 
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Five things I’ve taken from working in Early Years to teaching across …
by Varinder Kaur Johal on June 15, 2022
As we approach the end of the school year, when some staff may be moving to new classes and stages, we return to an article by Teacher Varinder Kaur Johal on moving between early years and key stage. 
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Replacing the topic box of stereotypes
by Alicia Wilkins on September 13, 2022
This month we revisit an article by Early Years Practitioner and Tiney home nursery leader, Alicia Wilkins, which asks us to reflect on the diversity and representation that must be embedded in our practice every moment of every day. 
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