Blog

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

Making Continuous Provision Work For You!

Jun 08, 2021

When it comes to organising our Early Years environment setting up high quality continuous provision is crucial. It allows young children to be active learners that are in charge of their own learning while also developing key skills that allow them to flourish as life long learners.

What exactly is continuous provision I hear you ask? It is the every day environment that you create in your setting that's consistently available to the children each and every day and what they can use freely. It's not just about the resources we have available here but it's also about the way we as adults challenge and support the learners through our interactions with the children and the way the daily rhythm is organised. The environment that we create must also be reflective of the cohort of children that we have working with us today and change in response to our observations and knowledge of their needs and interests.

Traditionally we may have waited to make changes to our learning environmen...

3 Signs You Need To Review Your Provision

Mar 04, 2021

In this weeks blog post I wanted to share with you some warning signs that your early years provision isn't working and you may need to review it.

It's good practice to reflect on your learning environment regularly and adapt it as required. I like to take photos of my provision at least once a half term and write a few notes on why the provision has been set up the way it has. I find this a useful tool for your accountability when in meetings with the senior leadership team.

1. Children are wandering around without focus.

Perhaps you have a few children that never seem to stay in an area for very long. They flit from place to place and when using the Leuvan scales of involvement they score low.

2. You're always getting asked questions like, "where are the scissors?" or "I can't find the glue."

These types of questions indicate that the children are not accessing the environment in an independent way. Perhaps you need to look at re-organising your resources

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"My Children Can't Sit On The Carpet"

Oct 08, 2020

Do you find your children struggle to sit on the carpet for group time. Here are some things to consider;

How long are your adult led sessions?
Are you breaking children off in the middle of their play to come and sit with you for group time? This might b for things like assembly times.
How many children are in your group? Could you break up into smaller groups (maybe even groups of 4-5 to start with and slowly increase it.
Do you plan adult led sessions inside and out to show the importance of learning happening everywhere?
Have you had a focus on how we can be a good listener? I like to have visual good sitting supports up, use verbal reminders and use makaton signs and actions.
Are you making your sessions active and irresistible? The use of props, engaging stories, using different voices (e.g quiet whispers at times or showing excitement, action rhymes, creating intrigue and suspense (something discovered in a box)
Have you planned around the children’s interests and what

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.