How Outdoor Play Can Be Beneficial for Children with Special Educational Needs
Emma Homan is an Educational Copywriter for Pentagon Play, who specialise in creating outdoor learning environments for schools and children with special educational needs. In this blog Emma shares some of the top reasons why access to outdoor play is important for children with special educational needs, and how it can be particularly beneficial […]
Q&A – Robert Goodwill, minister of state for children and families
Under 5 Magazine Editor Rachel Lawler catches up with minister of state for children and families, Robert Goodwill. This article originally appeared in the Alliance’s Under 5 membership magazine. How do you feel about your new role as minister for children and families? I’m delighted with the role and I’ve enjoyed my first few months at […]
The Big Birdwatch
The RSPB is inviting early years settings to join its Big Schools’ Birdwatch – here’s how you can get involved. This article originally appeared in the Alliance’s Under 5 membership magazine. Birdwatching is one of the easiest ways to explore nature with children in your setting. You don’t need any special equipment and just a […]
Q&A – Tracy Brabin, shadow minister for the early years
Under 5 Magazine Editor Rachel Lawler catches up with shadow minister for the early years and MP for Batley & Spen, Tracy Brabin. This article originally appeared in the Alliance’s Under 5 membership magazine. Are you excited to be Labour’s new shadow early years minister? I’m really enjoying life as the minister. The sector has been incredibly welcoming […]
Breaking the mould – challenging gender stereotypes
Olivia Dickinson, campaigner for Let Toys Be Toys, explains how you can expand children’s play choices in your setting by challenging stereotypes. This article originally appeared in the Alliance’s Under 5 membership magazine. In November 2012, a discussion on the Mumsnet parenting website about the prominence of pink and blue in the toy aisles galvanised a […]
Hello, ‘big school’ – managing transitions
Alliance quality and standards manager, Melanie Pilcher, shares ideas for getting children ready for moving up to school. This article originally appeared in the Alliance’s Under 5 membership magazine. Starting school is a major transition in a child’s life involving separation from familiar adults and children. By the time they are ready to […]
Case study – An award-winning apprentice
Velda Bartholomew, quality improvement officer at the Alliance, introduces the tailored apprenticeship programme that lies behind Ellie Lloyd’s selection as Apprentice of the Year at the NMT Awards 2016.
The Alliance Volunteer Awards – a surprising experience!
In 2016, Nessa Rackham won the Alliance’s coveted Volunteer of the Year Award for her work in creating and running the Daisychains support group for parents. Here she tells us all about the experience – what it was like to be nominated, attending the awards ceremony at our Annual Conference in London – and taking home the trophy!
Research Study – share your views on the professional identities of early years educators
Nathan Archer is a Doctoral Researcher in Education at the University of Sheffield who is conducting a research project to collect the views and experiences of professionals from across the early years sector, on the subject of professional identities in early childhood education in England. Read more about the research project in this blog, and find out how […]
Why partnerships with parents are vital in the fight for better funding
Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch blogs about why working in partnership with parents is crucial if the early years sector is to secure fair funding now, and in the years to come.
Reporting back to the bad old days
Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch shares his thoughts on the recent ‘Bold Beginnings’ report from Ofsted, as well as the negative sector response to that report, and the discussions it sparked around the ‘schoolification’ of the early years. This article originally appeared in Early Years Educator magazine. Last month, Ofsted released its first […]
Managing early childhood conflicts and behaviours — free book extract
This free extract from the Alliance publication Behaviour Matters: Supporting children’s social and emotional development in the early years, looks at some of the common early childhood behaviours adults find most difficult to understand, and how conflicts can be best managed to encourage and support each child’s social and emotional development in the most appropriate way. This […]