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Exploring the Story: Reflections on Ofsted’s Subject Report on English

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Exploring the Story: Reflections on Ofsted’s Subject Report on English

This month saw the latest edition of Ofsted’s subject report series, this time exploring the quality of teaching English in primary and secondary Schools. The report is designed to be used alongside the Ofsted Research Review into English, which was published in 2022. Titled, “Telling the Story”, and already generating much conversation, there are a...

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Enquiry Based Learning

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Enquiry Based Learning

So much more than ‘Go find out….’ ‘Inquiry is not a ‘subject’ but rather a stance and a mindset for both educators and learners.’ Kath Murdoch Enquiry (or Inquiry) is often seen as an approach that distracts from teaching, something superficial. It can bring to mind free- choice ‘Projects’; children choosing an area of focus,...

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Curriculum Design in EYFS/KS1: Progression, Planning & Practicalities

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Curriculum Design in EYFS/KS1: Progression, Planning & Practicalities

Are you currently reviewing your Early Years curriculum? Wondering if it is progressive? Perhaps you’re even in a spin with where to start!...

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Exploring the Fantastic Possibilities of Maths Outdoors

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Exploring the Fantastic Possibilities of Maths Outdoors

When it comes to teaching and learning outdoors, this quote from the Professor Tina Bruce always comes to mind: “Frequent lack of attention to the external environment must come from some bizarre assumption that knowledge acquired indoors is superior to that gained outside.” Tina Bruce, Early Childhood Education There’s more than an element of truth...

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The Outdoor Curriculum in all its Glory

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The Outdoor Curriculum in all its Glory

What does your outdoor curriculum look like? Is it simply a replication of the indoors, or does it provide additional and unique experiences as it should? Being clear about the learning taking place in your outdoor environment is critical and it is important to be able to articulate exactly what you have planned for your...

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EYFS Updates January 2024: Changes and News

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EYFS Updates January 2024: Changes and News

January 4th 2024, saw a significant change with the EYFS. There are now two distinct versions of the EYFS framework: one tailored specifically for childminders, and the other designed for group and school-based providers, with both versions also integrating the amendments introduced in the September 2023 update. In light of this division into separation of...

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Change Isn’t Always for the Better

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Change Isn’t Always for the Better

One thing that always puzzles me about Early Years education is how quick we are to change things in our classrooms and settings. We plan out our room at the start of the year and stand back proudly admiring our work. “This is it” we say to our colleagues, “I’ve got my room just how...

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Storming It Outdoors! The Fantastic Possibilities of Cold, Wet & Windy Weather

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Storming It Outdoors! The Fantastic Possibilities of Cold, Wet & Windy Weather

Outdoor Learning – Big Coat Weather There’s no getting away from it. After weeks of wet and windy weather bringing squelchy mud, the outdoor learning in the Summer is fast becoming a distant memory. Not only that, if one thing is for certain, it’s that the cold, wet and windy weather is here to stay...

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What is Continuous Provision?

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What is Continuous Provision?

What is Continuous Provision? Early years education is special and unique with its focus on child development, effective learning characteristics and holistic approaches. It’s this breadth that can sometimes be baffling to those who view early years practice from afar. In fact, the early years is so unique that it has its own terminology: terms...

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Navigating the Sea of Talk

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Navigating the Sea of Talk

Alongside the release of Ofsted’s new research review of the prime areas of learning, which aims to provide support for practitioners, we reflect upon our current cohort of children within our Early Years settings. We know that there is a concern from teachers and practitioners around the development of language and communication. Therefore, helping children...

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Providing a Language Rich Curriculum in the EYFS

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Providing a Language Rich Curriculum in the EYFS

Moreso than ever, language and talk has become the new hot topic of conversation in settings everywhere. Talk is a key aspect in building strong relationships, developing communication and language skills, and challenging thinking. Practice which values talk needs to be carefully planned and requires skilful adult interaction Juliet Clark, Assistant Headteacher and EYFS Leader...

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EYFS Updates October 2023: Changes and News

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The end of October 2023 saw the publication of two key DfE documents focusing on the EYFS. Regulatory Changes   On October 27th the DfE published its response to the consultation on proposed regulatory changes. It is anticipated that a revised version of the EYFS will be published in January 2024 to reflect these changes....

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Top Tips for Effective Tidy-Up Times in the EYFS

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Top Tips for Effective Tidy-Up Times in the EYFS

How is tidy up time viewed at your school or setting? Is it seen as a race, rushing to finish tidying so that the learning can continue, or do you have a different approach? Being effective at tidy up time isn’t about speed (well, not always!) – at Early Excellence we believe it’s more about...

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The Benefits of a Permanent Dough Area in Indoor Continuous Provision

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The Benefits of a Permanent Dough Area in Indoor Continuous Provision

In the Early Years, creating a stimulating and engaging learning environment is crucial for young children’s development. From experience, one of the most popular things to do in the EYFS classroom is to explore with dough. The dough area is often a hive of activity. Children love the tactile sensations that dough offers, the creativity...

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Planning Ahead: Building on Children’s Starting Points in the EYFS

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Planning Ahead: Building on Children’s Starting Points in the EYFS

It’s that busy time of year again where you’ve received a brand new cohort of children and have undoubtedly spent most of your time getting to know them as individuals and building those positive relationships with the children in your class. You will have been observing and understanding the children as learners: their starting points,...

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The Importance of the Sand Area in Indoor Continuous Provision

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The Importance of the Sand Area in Indoor Continuous Provision

When thinking about equipping your classroom to facilitate high-quality play, the starting point for most practitioners is to plan out their classroom and carefully consider where each area of continuous provision will go. At this point, you are often faced with the age-old dilemma of a lack of space, and naturally, you begin to consider...

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Incidental Learning in KS1: Ways to Revisit and Embed Learning Throughout the Day

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Incidental Learning in KS1: Ways to Revisit and Embed Learning Throughout the Day

Working in Key Stage One, it can sometimes feel as if the Curriculum is weighing us down – looming over every decision we make. It can feel unmanageable and ‘too big’. To help reduce that load we need to find ways to build some key aspects of learning into our routines and the day-to-day life...

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Reflections on Ofsted’s, Best start in life: a research review for early years – Part 2

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Reflections on Ofsted’s, Best start in life: a research review for early years – Part 2

Early this month, Ofsted published the second in series of Early Years Reviews. As expected, this new instalment focuses on the Prime Areas, and builds on the previous reviews’ comments relating to pedagogy and curriculum. So, is there anything new? The core messages, highlighted below, echo much of the recent conversation surrounding the EYFS Statutory Framework,...

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Block Play Alongside Small World Resources

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Block Play Alongside Small World Resources

As you settle into the start of the school year, you have probably spent time reviewing your provision, thinking about the starting points of your children and how your provision will support the fundamental foundations of learning and the prime areas such as communication and language. Decisions you make about how you organise and arrange...

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How to Secure Curriculum Progression Right from the Start

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How to Secure Curriculum Progression Right from the Start

For many years schools have sought ways to create a more linked learning journey for their children as they move between different phases of education; reviewing transition processes, reflecting on what their children really need and adapting practice accordingly.  However, with the key message from Ofsted that schools need to fully recognise that their curriculum...

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