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“Strive to make everyday the best day of your life, because there is no good reason not to.” Hal Elrod

We Work Out Of One Room

Aug 30, 2019

As a result of the Hygge training undertaken, we have taken on board the basic principles of Hygge, despite having previously implemented small elements of the ‘Hygee’ idea and building our ethos upon the idea of creating a cosy, inviting and special environment for the children in our care, we felt as a result of the training and further investigation into the Hygge principles and how this can relate and be implemented into Early Years Settings, we made a conscious decision to plan and create our learning environment around these principles as we believe that creating these ‘special moments’ and inviting, relaxing, cosy environments has incredible benefits on the children in our care in terms of their well-being, mood, behaviour and emotions.

As a setting, we have always tried to limit the amount of plastic on offer, but as a result of this training we decided to make even more of a conscious effort to do so; instead bringing in more loose parts, natural...

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We Inherited Cluttered Provision

Aug 30, 2019

Dottie’s Nursery and Dots and Tots arecurrently taking part in the Hygge in EarlyYears Accreditation to transform theirlearning environments and practice. Look atthis fabulous lunch time transformation!

 

In Norway and Denmark mealtimes are seen as a time to cometogether as a unit over some much-loved home-made food. Yet inEngland I often visit settings and schools where lunch time feelsrushed, noisy and a process rather than an event to celebrate in theday. Not only are young children often fussy eaters but they mightbe worried about opening their yogurt, leaving the comfort of afamiliar room or being with different staff who support lunch timecover. When planning lunch times these factors need to beconsidered;

  • Are the children in a familiar environment?
  • Are the adults familiar to the children and available to supportthem and talk to them?
  • Does the menu offer a variety of choice across the week? Cookedwith seasonal produce.
  • Is the lunch time environment calm? Or is...
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Keeping It Simple: Cosy and Natured Inspired Provision

Aug 30, 2019

Reading this from one of my Hygge in the Early Years Accredited students makes me feel so proud of their journey and all they've achieved.

Nurturing, supporting and allowing my students to flourish is what gives me a warm glow and makes me love my job even more!

"Starting my business back in December 2018 I was approached by a local authority officer who was supporting me with my ofsted registration. Sharon asked me “Laura I’ve never seen a provision like this before it’s wonderful what is your inspiration? What approach do you follow?”
I couldn’t reply I didn’t know myself, the only word I could give was “Hygge” but back then I didn’t truly understand the concept of hygge in the early years I just wanted to create an environment that brought the outdoors indoors, that was cosy and calming. A nature led approach that welcomed new children into my provision with a burst of light and opportunity.

It made me reflect and research, I...

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We Got The Whole Team Involved And Everything Changed

Aug 30, 2019

Reflection is a huge part of Early Years practice – from

the beginning of our training journey we are encouraged

to evolve and develop our own professional identity, by

exploring practice, making mistakes, and learning how to

be more effective in our roles. This principle is something

that truly is at the heart of the Lullabies ethos, and we

have recently embarked on our own journey as a team.

Lullabies Nursery and Pre-School opened in 2016, in the

centre of Glenfield, Leicestershire. The old Georgian

building lends itself perfectly to a nursery environment and

we worked hard to keep some of the original features to

stay true to the character of the building. We have four

classrooms across two floors as well as 3 outdoor areas for

the children to access, including a forest school. As the

nursery enters its third year our nursery Proprietor, Emma

Platnauer and nursery Manager, Chelsie Shaw, were keen

to reflect on the nursery’s journey so far, and our vision for

the...

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4 Ways To Support A Child Starting School or Nursery

Aug 21, 2019

Well hello there!

Many of you were be thinking about going back to work and how you can effectively support the transition into the school or setting for new children. So in this weeks blog I'm going to give you three ideas to try.

1. Create a Sense of Belonging


Here one of my fabulous members of the Hygge in Early Years Accreditation has reflected on ways she can create that sense of belonging during self registration. Look at these individual peg dolls that can be moved to show "I'm here!"

2. Why not recommend to parents reading this wonderful book 'A Kissing Hand for Chester Raccoon.' This is a beautiful story that's sure to help with separation anxiety. Can't wait to get your hands on the book? Head to this You Tube link (Turn the volume on mute) and read the book together. 


3. Ask your children to bring in a family photo or drawing that you can display in a frame or on the wall.

4. Why not record a video of you and your team telling the children how excited you are...

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Guest Post: Year 1 Provision

Jul 11, 2019

 

This week we have the fabulous Hollie (also known as Bags of Beans!) who will be giving us a wonderful insight into how she's created calm in her year 1 classroom. I'm sure you will see that there are many hygge elements to this as well!

 

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My obsession with classroom environments began when I first visited St John’s C of E Primary School. From the moment I walked in I was struck by the calm atmosphere and serenity it brought to their children. My colleague and I whispered to each other is disbelief “it’s just so calm”. Upon walking back into my own classroom I was smacked in the face with bright colours and loud noises! Everything felt over stimulating and busy by comparison; as if there were balls of high energy bouncing around the walls! From then onwards I was hooked into finding ways of calming my classroom and moulding the environment to generate the same serene feeling I’d experienced at St John’s.

 

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I began with the...

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Guest Blog Post: Transition

Jul 09, 2019

This guest blog has been written by Colette Hearity a mixed EYFS KS1 teacher. Colette completed her PGCE at Edge Hill University and has worked across key stages throughout her teaching career, although her true passion is within the Early Years Foundation Stage.  
She recently completed the NaSENCO Award and currently leads Early years SEND, Science, History and Spanish in her school.
You can follow her @eyfsearlyyearsideas

The Truth behind Transition

As us teachers are dragging ourselves through the final few weeks of term the thought of transitions should be at the forefront of all our minds.

It is vital that we make this time in children’s academic journey as smooth as possible, especially as lots of children find the step up from Early Years into Key Stage 1 so daunting.

But why is this?

Whether it’s due to the jump in expectations, the more formalised learning or just no longer believing they are, ‘playing all day’ children’s wellbeing after...

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Love Based Leadership in Action

Jul 04, 2019

I feel very fortunate to do the job that I do; work with a range of early educators and support them in their reflections to move practice forward. It’s great to see the transformation a setting has had after working so hard on areas of their practice.

 

Today I had the chance to visit one of the wonderful local nurseries I’ve been working with for the last year. This was a chance to hear and see the progress they’ve made in not only their ethos but how this has translated into their learning environment.

 

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Emma is an inspirational leader who also leads with a love-based leadership style. Making sure she invests time in getting to know each member of her team and giving them opportunities to lead in areas that are their strength. At the same time, she also understands the importance of supporting staff and has a clear system in place for professional development. Over the last year the team have worked hard on creating a shared and consistent...

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A Reggio Art Studio

Jun 27, 2019
I had the absolute pleasure this week of visiting one of my local Reggio inspired nursery settings and having a tour of the outdoor art studio.
 
The outdoor studio is set up in a wooden cabin on the beautiful forest school grounds of the nursery. I was greeted by their artist in residence which is known as a atelierista. An Atelierista is a teacher that traces a child’s discoveries through artwork, and working together they document and reflect on what is learnt. The cabin has a lovely light and airy feel to it with doors leading out into a decked area.
 
Twice a week the children in preschool (3-4 year olds) will have the opportunity (If they choose) to come and work in the studio.
 
There is space in the centre of room for collaboration and large scale projects. While around the room the different stations allow for creative freedom. With a station dedicated to still life drawings and painting (with many natural stimuli from outside), a...
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Team Building

Jun 27, 2019
Do you feel as though your team are always falling out and could do with some team building activities?
 
This was a question that was asked in the community group set up on Facebook for those that are studying my Hygge in Early Years Accreditation. (Find out more here)
 
When I worked as a leader I would hold 15 minute daily team meetings before the children came in. During this time we would run through the day, discuss health and safety/ safeguarding and share the current interests and fascinations. I really felt that having this daily meeting was important to help everyone understand how the day would pan out and allow us to have communication around it. It also meant that if any issues or difficulties were brought up by the team then these could be discussed there and then. Instead of building up over a series of days.
 
 
We would also finish our daily meetings by spending the last 5 minutes running through a guided meditation. We would use...
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