Why Setting Culture Matters, Particularly Now by Sarah Ellis (Part 1)
Sarah Ellis, Nursery Manager at Bristol Children’s Playhouse, discusses the significance of setting culture in early years education in her blog series. The first part emphasises the impact of a supportive culture on staff retention and child attendance, highlighting the need for tailored cultural practices that reflect community needs.
Case Study – Unlock the Potential of Every Child (EAL)
Jen Wylie, Manager at Sticky Fish Pre-school in Bristol, participated in the Unlocking the Potential of Every Child programme, aimed at supporting bilingual children. Following the training led by Andrina Flinders, she and her team implemented inclusive strategies, enhancing the sense of belonging for bilingual families in their setting.
Supporting Childminders: Connect, Learn and Grow Together
The Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub offers essential support for childminders facing isolation and challenges. Through networking events, personalized online assistance, and a vibrant Facebook community, childminders can connect with peers and receive practical advice. Additional opportunities include outdoor learning programs and workshops focused on inclusion and parental partnerships, all aimed at enhancing practice and community.
Adventures in Block Play – Part 2 by Robin Taylor
In this blog post by Robin Taylor, Associate Head of St Pauls Nursery School and Specialist Leader in Early Mathematics, discover how block play unlocks deep mathematical thinking in young children. Explore the unique “language” blocks speak through their dimensions, ratios, and properties, and learn how educators can nurture spatial reasoning, comparison skills, and problem-solving through purposeful observation and environment design.
Case Study – Maths Champions
After facilitating an INSET day to introduce the new maths curriculum to the team at Early Bird Nursery in North Somerset, Sarah Dymock-Morgan began to reflect on the conversations that followed. Many educators openly shared their uncertainties about their confidence...
Adventures in Block Play – Part 1 by Robin Taylor
In this blog post by Robin Taylor, Associate Head of St Pauls Nursery School and Specialist Leader in Early Mathematics, discover how block play unlocks deep mathematical thinking in young children. Explore the unique “language” blocks speak through their dimensions, ratios, and properties, and learn how educators can nurture spatial reasoning, comparison skills, and problem-solving through purposeful observation and environment design.
Mini INSET Session: From Routine to Relationship – The Power of Care
This comprehensive 1-hour staff meeting template guides early years practitioners through transforming everyday care routines into meaningful relationship-building opportunities. The resource challenges the perception that physical care tasks interrupt teaching, instead repositioning them as essential educational practices. Teams work through practical activities including a carousel reflection examining eight realistic caring moment scenarios (from nappy changes to mealtimes), analysing respectful interactions through video examples from St Pauls Nursery School, and defining what care means to them. The template emphasises Birth to 5 Matters guidance on respectful caregiving, where practitioners work with children rather than doing things to them, recognising each child as a free and equal human being. Each scenario prompts teams to consider children’s dignity, voice, autonomy, and individual needs within group routines. With references to Carol Garboden Murray’s work and EEF evidence-informed approaches, this resource includes follow-up activities such as observing care practices across the setting, watching videos on promoting self-care, and supervision prompts to embed learning into practice.
Webinar: Music in the Early Years with the Family Music Hub
In this webinar, which took place on October 14th, 2025, Nicola Burke and Katie Neilson from The Family Music Hub led a practical session exploring how EYFS practitioners can feel confident and inspired in their use of music, with songs and ideas to support emotional regulation, enhance play and enrich learning in everyday routines.
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