Recruiting Now: Early Years Maths Learning Lead
Advance Your Career and Shape Early Years Maths Are you an experienced Early Years Leader or...
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Author: Ali
A Phonics for Mathematics? by Robin Taylor
In this blog post by Robin Taylor, Associate Head of St Pauls Nursery School and Specialist Leader in Early Mathematics, he explores what really underpins children’s mathematical development. Drawing on research from the Centre for Early Mathematics Learning and the Erikson Early Math Collaborative, Robin unpicks the foundational concepts, spatial reasoning and mathematical language that help children learn to count, and asks what a rich, playful “palette of provision” looks like in practice.
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Mini INSET Session: Black History Month
In this staff meeting template, explore how to plan and celebrate Black History Month meaningfully through three practical activities, including reflection on your current approach, worked examples and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk on the danger of a single story. Designed to fit into 1 to 2 hours, it supports your team to move beyond tokenism and consider what will remain in your everyday practice once October is over.
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Early Years Spotlight – Screen Use
In this Early Years Spotlight, we’re looking at resources around screen use. Nearly 98% of two-year-olds watch content on screens daily, and the early years are a critical period of rapid brain development, so settings play a vital role in supporting healthy habits. Explore policy guidance, provider support, campaign resources for families, and practical alternatives that keep children engaged.
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Mini INSET Session: Lets Think About Books, Belonging and Representation
In this staff meeting template, explore books, belonging and representation through five practical activities, including a ranking exercise, a book area audit, a case study and a team commitment. Designed to fit into 1 to 2 hours, it supports your team to reflect on whose experiences are visible in your book collection and whether children choose and connect with the books you provide.
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Case Study – Tuning into Two-Year-Olds
In this case study, Tawanda Tongogara, Early Years Practitioner at The Limes Nursery School, shares her experience of the Tuning in to Two-Year-Olds programme. She reflects on moving from the three- and four-year-old room into the twos, learning to slow down and follow children’s lead, and how the Principles of Attunement poster has shaped conversations with her team and with families.
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The Right to Belong: Embedding Inclusion into PSED by Simone Barnes
In this blog post, Simone Barnes explores why belonging sits at the heart of personal, social and emotional development. She looks at representation in the early years workforce and in children’s books, and shares team reflection questions to help settings tell every child: you belong here.
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Launching Bristol & Beyond SPH’s 2026-2027 CPD Programme
The Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub is delighted to launch our 2026 to 2027 programme of fully funded professional development. Almost 100 activities across 12 subject areas, running from September through to August, are now open for booking, and the new brochure is ready to download.
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Case Study – Level 3 Award in Working with Babies and Young Children Under 2 Years (NCFE)
In this case study, Lauren Wilcox, Baby Room Leader at The Learning Tree Nursery, shares her experience of the Level 3 Award in Working with Babies and Young Children Under 2 Years (NCFE). She reflects on brain development research, the first 1001 days, advocating for non-verbal babies, and a visit to St Paul’s Nursery School that brought the theory to life.
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Early Years Spotlight – Potty Training
In this Early Years Spotlight, we’re looking at resources around potty training. There are 40 different skills a child needs to pull together to become potty trained – and a consistent approach between home and setting makes all the difference. Explore policy templates, practical guides, top tips, and support for children with additional needs.
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Stronger Practice Hubs Joint Summer CPD Offer 2026
Stronger Practice Hubs from across England have pooled their summer offer into one programme. More than twenty fully-funded online sessions running from late July to the end of August, covering babies, communication and language, maths, SEND, nutrition, leadership and childminding. Open to all early years practitioners and childminders.
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Privacy and Safeguarding During Intimate Care by Leila Garau Taylor
Reflective Practice Lead and DSL Leila Garau Taylor explores what the updated EYFS safeguarding requirements around privacy during intimate care mean in practice, reflecting on how we can balance children’s dignity and feelings with safeguarding, and how everyday routines teach children about consent, body autonomy and respectful relationships.
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