Early years explained
A series for primary headteachers and early years leaders exploring the four overarching principles of the early years foundation stage: the unique child, positive relationships, enabling environments, and learning and development. Get clear, practical guidance and expert insight on the areas that matter most.
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Shaping the future from the very start: why the early years matter
Trust CEO Jo Heaton explains why high-quality early years provision is at the heart of her mission to give every child the best possible start in life, and introduces a new blog series to help schools and nurseries make a lasting difference for children who need it most.
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Understanding the unique child: The foundational principle of early years education
Early years expert Corrie Leach explores the principle of the unique child, which is part of the early years foundation stage statutory framework. She discusses why it matters, what it means in practice and how you and your staff can embed it across your early years provision.
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Starting strong: how to value the unique child in early years
How can early years settings put individual children at the heart of their practice? Early years expert practitioners Dixie-Louise Dexter and Nicola Middleton describe how getting to know the unique child and responding to insight on whole-class needs means they can meet children’s needs from the very beginning.
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Four ways early years settings can be more inclusive
How can early years settings create a truly inclusive education environment for every child? Early years expert practitioners Dixie-Louise Dexter and Nicola Middleton explain four approaches their early years team takes to provide tailored support from the very start.
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Understanding the unique child: The characteristics of effective teaching and learning in the early years
Early years expert Corrie Leach explains the characteristics of effective teaching and learning and why they matter for the quality of your early years provision. She explores where these characteristics come from, what they look like in practice, and how understanding them can help you lead confident, curious learners across your school.
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How teaching the characteristics of effective teaching and learning in your early years setting improves learning outcomes for all
Expert early years practitioners Dixie-Louise Dexter and Nicola Middleton explain how they have taught the early years foundation stage statutory framework's characteristics of effective teaching and learning explicitly to support children to become motivated and independent learners.