March 2024: Study shows screen time is replacing vital language opportunities for toddlers. Find out more here.
March 2024: “The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky” McMillan 1925. Here is an article that was written in 2016 about outdoor learning and the role of the practitioner.
January 2024: The Early Years Speech and Language Therapy Team in Berkshire have a new advice line. Your child must be registered with a Berkshire GP and have not yet started in reception at school. Further details can be found on the CYPIT website under the 'how to access support' section.
November 2023: It is the month for No Pens Day Wednesday, this year taking place on 29th November. Sign up to take part and access free resources on the Speech and Language UK website
September 2023: Check out this blog on 'Developing Parent Collaboration in SEN Support' by Alistair Bryce-Clegg.
August 2023: Have you seen the learning resources on the Community Playthings website. We love the training resource 'Learning Outdoors'.
July 2023: The CYPIT Occupational Therapy Team from Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have put together some videos to help families and early years practitioners know more about sensory processing. You can find the videos on their website.
March 2023: The NHS Early Years Speech and Language Therapy Team in Berkshire have introduced some online workshops for parents. Find out more on their website.
February 2023: Check this out...50 things to do before you're 5 in West Berkshire
Practitioners can access free training as part of the Early Years SEND Partnership. Find out more here.
January 2023: You can now register your interest for the Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP). The EYPDP aims to give early years practitioners the opportunity to improve their understanding and skills in supporting the development of the most disadvantaged children between the ages of 2 and 4. You can find out more on their website.
November 2022: Speech and Language UK offer a free online course for practitioners who work with children and young people. Find out more on their website.
September 2022: New term reflection - 'Are you observing your learning environment as much as you are observing your children?'
August 2022: Recommended websites for some summer reading
Bilingualism: Myths, Tips and Questions
July 2022: Speech and Language UK( formally known as ICAN), are offering some free webinars for families. There are four sessions to choose from and in each session, a Speech and Language Therapist will share some top tips with you so that you can help your child. Find out more on their website. The webinars run on a rolling programme and more dates are added on a regular basis.
June 2022: Have you seen the 'Time Together' booklet which has been created by the National Literacy Trust? It has lots of suggestions for how a family can support their child's learning at home and it has been translated into 22 different languages. You can download the booklet for free after you have created a free account on the National Literacy Trust website.
April 2022: TED Talk by Molly Wright 'How every child can thrive by five’
March 2022: Great websites for families:
November 2021: The Department for Education have produced a new version of the 'What to expect in the early years foundation stage: A guide for parents'
September 2021: Article - Back to school...five tips for new early years teachers
Policy paper: Language unlocks reading: supporting early language and reading for every child
Thriving Language - Early Years - Podcasts
May 2020: Article ''Skills like oracy will be even more vital after Covid''
April 2020: New sources of information for families...
50 things to do before you are five
Look, Sing, Say, Play - your interactions shape your baby's brain development
BBC Tiny Happy People - your words build their world
December 2019: New websites and advice for families...
Better Health, Start for Life: Activities from newborn to five years of age
April 2019: Inspiration - Illminister Avenue Nursery in Bristol - check out their Facebook page for loads of photos
Nursery in Bristol removes toys to improve creativity
April 2019: Over 300,000 toddlers have never been read a nursery rhyme by their parents a study suggests
January 2019: TES article 'Conversation beats word count in child language development'
November 2018: Article 'How you talk to your child changes their brain'
April 2018: Article 'Children's communication needs as important as fight against obesity'
August 2017: Articles about water play, play through the eyes of a child and classroom environments
October 2016: Article - 'School with guns, knives and fire on the timetable - and Ofsted loves it'
September 2016: Save the children report - 'Boys nearly twice as likely to fall behind girls by the time they start school'
March 2016: Article - 'Early language skills key to later success'
January 2016: Article - 'How free play encourages emotionally stable children in an unstable world'
October 2015: Mindful Transitions - An article about supporting children in the classroom.
May 2014: I've just read this thought provoking blog written by Michael Jones "You've got to get in to get out: or how we can have satisfying conversations with young children"