On the FSF this month we have an article about STEM in the early years by Natalie Bent and Denhue Harris, founders of diverse children’s book publishing company and early years hub, Little Scholars Playground. And continuing reflections on how we …
Here on the FSF we have two new articles for you: Sejal Payne shares a second piece, reflecting on how we can support our young EAL learners; and Caroline Vollans begins a three-part series about intergenerational learning, looking at The Together…
This month on the FSF we hear from Alicia Wilkins, who shares her experience of connecting with families and children through her home nursery/childminding business. Alicia opens her article with what it's like for herself as a parent connecting w…
Our Coffee Break on the FSF this month considers the SEND Green Paper, and the deeper need for a shift in mindset - identifying the barriers to education and learning for children with learning differences and disabilities, and what adjustments we…
On the FSF this month, we have an article about the early years ratios debate. Nathan Archer, Director of the International Montessori Institute at Leeds Beckett University, reflects on the arguments against relaxing ratios. You can find out more …
This month on the FSF we have an article from Adam Vasco, who leads on the 3-7 Early Years Post Graduate Route at Liverpool John Moores University. Adam reflects on education through the question ‘decolonise or diversify?’ and includes some resour…
This month we revisit an article by Early Years Practitioner and Tiney home nursery leader, Alicia Wilkins, reflecting on the importance of embedding representation in our practice every moment of every day. And we share the final piece in a three…
On the FSF we have a couple of articles for your late summer reading. Developmental play expert Carly Budd explains the importance of play for babies' brain development; and Caroline Vollans continues her series on intergenerational learning with …
On the FSF this month we have two new articles for you. Education consultant Sejal Payne takes a closer look at the links between oracy and literacy, while Preschool Manager Emma Davis wonders who looks after the leader in early years settings. In…
This month on the FSF we have a new article by Early Years Practitioner and Tiney home nursery leader Alicia Wilkins, who offers advice to families looking for a school for their child based on her experience as a mum, reminding those of us who wo…
Ofsted Inspection Reports for Childminders (Part 2) In this article we look at the quality and standards of the early years provision and outcomes for children.
The Practitioner as an Explorer: Effective Observation Techniques Observation is …
We have published several articles this term. John Blaney (Forest School Pioneer) wrote for us about encouraging 'Street Play' in young children. Michaela Machan wrote us a 'beginners guide to observing children' article. Finleysmaid wrote for us abo…
Child Development: fact or fiction?
Knowledge about child development is an important tool which enables practitioners to make appropriate provision for young children; but if we are not careful it can also be a dangerously limiting illusion that…
After our popular articles covering recent Ofsted reports last year we've brought out a new series, updated after studying over 100 new Ofsted reports from the last three months. We can see certain recurrent themes and in the reports we outl…
Jenny Barber wrote for us this half term 'Shake up! Refresh! How to reflect and move your setting on...'. Jenny's article encourages us to consider how we make changes to our provision that are necessary, understood and consistently implemented by…
In this month's article we have been thinking about the managers who struggle in the first few months of their role. It can be hard to 'manage' colleagues who you have worked alongside as an 'equal' for some time - in her article, Anni McTavish tal…
How do young children learn to make decisions?
Babies and young children are able to make decisions that are relevant to their lives. This article examines what kinds of decisions children can make at different stages of their development and …
Since our last newsletter, we have published articles written by Alistair Bryce Clegg and by Penny Tassoni. Alistair asks us to think about how we prepare and present our setting to ensure that we are encouraging children to be ambitious, inquisit…
This half-term we published David Wright's article Men in childcare, an ongoing debate which discussed the perceptions that people have about men who work in early years. You can comment on the article from here and see David's response to questio…
The Education Team at FSF and Tapestry HQ have been recording more podcasts this month. We have one on Self Regulation, a topic that has been the focus of much discussion since its appearance in the proposed new ELGs. We also have a couple of ligh…
Here at FSF and Tapestry HQ we have been looking outwards in more ways than one!
Earlier in October, Emily and Jules went to Devon to do some training for Ventrus MAT. This was a new experience for us - we don't get out much! Thank you to the …
We have lots of news from FSF and Tapestry HQ this month!
We have recently moved offices - in fact it would be more accurate to say we are now in actual offices! We had a special day to open the new building at the beginning of June and we we…
We have made a couple of changes here at the FSF and Tapestry HQ, and we have had a celebration too!
We are introducing a new Coffee Break item - short and sweet, updated regularly on the home page for you to dip into whenever you have a mome…
Characteristics of Effective Learning: creating and thinking critically
The EYFS describes creating and thinking critically as when ‘children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things’ (Df…
The Role of the Adult in Early Years Settings: Part 2
Part 2 continues the journey of exploring our role in supporting young children’s learning and development. It outlines the five remaining ‘selves’ of the ‘plural practitioner’ framework that …
