early years alliance - Promotion

Nursery marketing should drive registrations, forget the clicks!

Tanya_temp — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:55:01 +0000

Written by Nigel Rolfe, Sales Director for Childcare Marketing and previously owned a group of nurseries. Nigel has worked in the childcare sector for over 20 years. Contact - www.childcaremarketing.co.uk.

With so many marketing options available, choosing the right marketing provider—is critical. The focus should always be on measurable outcomes rather than vanity metrics.

The foundation: marketing that drives action

A successful nursery marketing strategy is not just about visibility—it is about ensuring every parent who shows interest takes the next step. A well-structured marketing approach ensures that:

The website does its job – A good website does not just look nice; it guides parents towards enquiring and makes it easy for them to do so. A slow, confusing, or outdated website will cost nursery registrations.
Social media works for the business – Regular posts are only helpful if they serve a purpose. Thoughtfully planned content should showcase what makes the nursery special and give parents a reason to visit.
Enquiries are captured and converted – Having a steady stream of leads is pointless if they are not followed up properly. Structured enquiry management ensures every potential parent is engaged, nurtured, and encouraged to register.
Results are measured properly – Tracking the number of registrations—not just website visits or ad clicks—provides an accurate picture of marketing success.

Going further: full-service marketing to maximise registrations

A fully managed approach delivers the best results if the goal is to increase occupancy and keep you there! This includes:

Strategic social media management – A managed service ensures that every post, advert, and campaign is aligned to attract and convert parents.
Paid advertising that works – Many nurseries waste money on Google or Facebook Ads without seeing results. A well-managed campaign is targeted at the right parents, in the right location, with the right message to drive registrations.
Seasonal campaigns and events – Well-timed marketing pushes around term start dates, themed events, and special promotions create urgency and fill places faster.
Proactive support – Rather than waiting for occupancy to drop before acting, a good marketing provider works continuously to maintain momentum, ensuring a steady pipeline of new families.
Building Reputation - absolutely key to future success!

The right marketing provider: what really matters?

Many marketing companies promise clicks, but this shows a lack of understanding of the nursery sector. When choosing a provider, nursery owners should look for:

A focus on results – A good provider will prioritise registrations over clicks and traffic.
Industry knowledge – Marketing childcare differs from selling products or running an e-commerce store. The provider must understand the decision-making process of parents which can be highly emotive.
Transparency and reporting – Vanity metrics like "website visits" mean nothing if they do not translate into real enquiries and registrations. The right provider will measure success based on occupancy growth.
A proactive approach – Instead of waiting for the nursery to flag a problem, a good marketing partner will actively suggest improvements and adjust strategies before issues arise.

Focus on what pays the bills

For nurseries, the measure of success is registrations, not clicks. Marketing must be structured, results-driven, and focused on converting interest into registrations. The priority should always be on filling places, not just generating engagement.

Promotion

Beyond the pushchair: rethinking mobility for early educators

Tanya_temp — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 14:50:52 +0000

Early years educators are the unsung heroes of childhood development. They juggle endless responsibilities: nurturing curiosity, ensuring safety, and crafting memorable learning experiences – often while navigating the chaos of outdoor excursions.

We all know how critical the outdoors is for early development. It supports children’s knowledge and skills across the seven areas of learning and development – and in particular, their personal, social and emotional development (PSED) which the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework states is “crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives and is fundamental to their cognitive development”.

And we also know the risks of insufficient time outside, such as poor physical skills(and in particular, gross motor skills and movement, balance and coordination); poor social skills; and problems with emotional and mental wellbeing.

All too often, however, outdoor trips for early years settings involve bulky strollers that leave preschoolers cramped and under-twos disengaged, or the logistical nightmare of hauling multiple pushchairs for children with varying needs. It’s no wonder outings can feel more like a chore than an adventure.

Enter the Petit Wagon Beetle: a game-changing stroller wagon born from real-life trials in the bustling parks of Edinburgh. Meadows Park, the testing ground for Petit Wagon, is where educators, parents, and children have shaped a solution that truly meets their needs.

Meadows Park, Edinburgh, serves as the home base of The Petit Wagon Company, where the Beetle wagon is designed and tested.

Why face-to-face seating matters more than you think

One of the Beetle’s standout features is its face-to-face seating: a simple design choice with profound implications.

For children, this setup isn’t just about sharing snacks on a tray (although they enjoy the experience!). It’s about:

Building social skills: Eye contact and shared laughter during walks foster empathy and language development.
Encouraging collaboration: Educators report children inventing games and eagerly sharing observations, turning a simple walk into a collaborative exploration of their world. no more “tunnel vision” from forward-facing seats.
Easing separation anxiety: The face-to-face design gives nervous children a predictable circle of familiar faces, creating a safe ‘home base’ from which they can gradually engage with new sights and sounds.

“Children have loved being able to sit more upright and watch what is going on alongside them.”

– Tic Tocs Day Nursery in Preston

August 23, 2024: Children at Kidzrus Nursery in Swinton are having a business meeting while seating face-to-face in the Beetle.

Safety meets flexibility: a win for educators

Let’s tackle the elephant in the room: most group transport solutions, such as toddler prams, traditional pushchairs, or multi seats buggies, focus on fitting multiple kids—but overlook inclusivity and practicality. The Beetle bridges this gap by delivering on both:

True Inclusivity: At 17kg with a 150kg capacity, it easily accommodates mixed-age groups, including older children with SEND needs who might outgrow standard equipment.
Space-saving design: When folded, the Beetle’s slim 40 cm-wide frame slips effortlessly into car boots, nursery storage closets, or tight spaces on trains and buses, making spontaneous adventures and daily commutes stress-free.
Terrain mastery: From cobblestone streets to muddy forest paths, its all-terrain wheels and dual braking systems (including a foot brake for hills) keep adventures rolling safely.
Team-friendly design: Dual handlebars let educators share steering duties while keeping eyes on the group.

“Safety is paramount, and having the extra handle ensures the wagon doesn’t roll away on steep banks. It naturally encourages staff to be at both ends of the wagon, which is good practice for safely transporting the children.”

– Mark Shotton of Tynemouth Nursery

October 30, 2024: Staff at Tynemouth Nursery Group are well-prepared for outings to a local park with steep banks and tight turns

Final thoughts: why this isn’t just another gadget

When outings shift from stressful logistics to joyful exploration, the effects ripple outward. Parents no longer see glassy-eyed children staring blankly at the backs of pushchairs; instead, they witness faces lit up with curiosity, pointing at passing fire trucks or giggling with friends over shared discoveries.

For educators, the difference is equally profound: studies show that when caregivers have tools that work with them (not against them), burnout rates drop and staff retention climbs. Happy educators create thriving learning environments.

By reimagining early years mobility, the Beetle transforms routine walks into adventures where children aren’t just moved from point A to B, but actively participate in the journey. It’s proof that when a product is designed with empathy, we don’t just solve problems; we unlock potential.

“The Petit Wagon is fantastic! We are a day nursery based in the south and we are currently using the wagon to take our under twos on trips and forest school. They love it! It is easy to use, has great features such as the shelf and storage compartments, and is easy to set up and fold down!”

– a Tops Day Nurseries setting

Learn more

To explore the innovative features of the Beetle and discover how Petit Wagon is redefining childcare mobility, visit the website at www.petitwagon.com.

Promotion

Sector-leading early childhood software for less

Tanya_temp — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:44:52 +0000

Julia Rose explains Famly’s offer to EYA members

The new climbing frame or the training course? Replace the aprons or repaint the entrance? Making budgeting decisions (or rather, making the right budgeting decisions) is one of the most important tasks on the minds of leaders in the Early Years.

So, when you’re faced with another possible expenditure, it’s understandable that the default response from managers is, “We can’t afford that.” And we get it. Every. Penny. Counts.

From funding to fees to grants, you have to make your budget stretch as far as it possibly can, by getting the best value for the money you’re spending.

Luckily, we have some good news…

An exclusive discount on Famly for EYA members

If you don’t know Famly, we’re a digital platform for early educators and families to collaborate, share the workload, and nurture children. Send invoices, share photos, receive payments from parents, log observations, and take care of all your admin in one place. More on that below…

Not only is Famly your true one-stop shop for running your setting and collaborating with parents and carers, it saves you time by doing away with all your repetitive physical paperwork.

And if that wasn’t enough, we’re now saving you money too.

Famly is offering exclusive discounts on our Professional, Premium, and Childminder subscription packages for new customers who are EYA members. You’ll receive a whopping 20% off your first year of your annual subscription, 10% off your second year, and 5% off your third year.

Sounds good? Check out the Ts and Cs then sign up at the exclusive Early Years Alliance member link.

Simple!

In fact, even if you’re a current Famly customer, you can still enjoy a 10% discount for the next year if you have active EYA membership and haven’t received an EYA-related discount before.

What are the benefits of taking advantage of the discount?

The exclusive EYA discount applies to both the Professional and the Premium packages, so how do you know which is the right one for you and your setting? I can help you out.

Now, I don’t have room for all of Famly’s features - you’ll have to book a demo to see those, as it would make the article too long - but I’ll break down a few of the key differences below…

Premium

Simple and effective for the smaller or single-site settings

Professional

A great choice for larger settings or leaders managing multiple sites

✔️Automated payments & invoicing of your settings fees

✔️A newsfeed for parents and colleagues, as well as private messaging

✔️A learning journey and a profile for each child

✔️Logs of daily activities and care routines

✔️The ability to sign in and out

✔️A brand new Tax-Free-Childcare integration

✔️Medication & accident forms

✔️Debt, revenue, and occupancy reports

✔️Requests for ad-hoc care

✔️Custom parent permissions

✔️A curriculum builder for your setting’s bespoke curriculum

✔️Xero import & export

All of the features on the Premium package, plus…

✔️Customisable registration forms

✔️Weekly & reoccurring staff rotas, including part-day leave tracking and staff-requested leave

✔️Sidekick writing assistant - corrects spelling, tone, and grammar on observations, assessments, messages, and posts to your newsfeed.

✔️Live, in-app translation of text to more than 130 languages

✔️The customisable Famly Home Screen, where you can get an overview of all the information you need

✔️Advanced reporting

Again, this isn't an exhaustive list, but should just give you a little taste of what Famly can offer you in terms of features.

But it’s not just the platform itself.

As a Famly customer, you also get exclusive access to Village, our online community of Early Years professionals like you, unparalleled support, and the knowledge that your data is safe and secure.

Now that’s good value for money.

Promotion

Do families at your setting know about the HMRC app yet?

Tanya_temp — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 14:48:21 +0000

We know that early years settings play an important role in supporting families: from providing advice on funded entitlement eligibility to guidance applying for tax-free childcare – and much more.

That’s why we at the Early Years Alliance are so pleased to be working with HMRC to spread the word about the HMRC app, which can help families stay on top of their finances and personal tax.

Parents and carers can use this secure, free-to-download app to:

claim and manage Child Benefit payments, including checking when they’ve received payments, reviewing their proof of entitlement and updating bank details
view or download their income and employment history from the past five years, and use tools like the tax calculator to estimate take-home pay
remind themselves of their National Insurance number, and save it to their phone wallet
check their tax code, find out if they’re due any tax back from HMRC and claim a refund if they’re owed one
update HMRC on a change of address or other personal details

… and much more.

How can parents access the HMRC app?

To access the app, families simply need to:

Search ‘HMRC app’ in the App Store or Google Play Store and download the free app
Follow the instructions on screen to complete set up – users will be asked to sign in. If they don't already have an ID and password, this can be created on the same sign-in page.
Once this is all set up, signing into the app can be even faster with a PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition, allowing them to have all their personal tax information at their fingertips.

Want to share this useful information with families at your setting?

HMRC has provided some handy suggested text that you can use in your setting updates, newsletters or social media – plus some free-to-share graphics:

Get in control of your money and tax with the HMRC app. When you’re on it, you’re on it. Download the HMRC app today: bit.ly/EYAHMRCapp
When you’re on it, you’re on it. For information on your money and tax, download the HMRC app today: bit.ly/EYAHMRCapp
Did you know you can claim and manage Child Benefit on the HMRC app? You can even use it to keep personal information such as your address and bank details up to date. Get on it to be in control of your money and tax today. Download the HMRC app: bit.ly/EYAHMRCapp

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Promotion

‘Connect, Learn, Discover: Elevating Early Education’ - Registration Now Open for Childcare & Education Expo London 2024

Tanya_temp — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 12:58:31 +0000

This article was written by Elizabeth Hearn, marketing and events assistant at Childcare & Education Expo.

We’re ecstatic to announce that registration is officially open for the education event of the year - Childcare & Education Expo London 2024. Taking place at Olympia London on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd March 2024, the much-awaited event is returning with an exciting new strapline: "Connect, Learn, Discover: Elevating Early Education."

Childcare & Education Expo London has been the leading event for early education since 2009 and 2024 promises to be a pivotal moment for educators, professionals and enthusiasts in the childcare and education sectors.

The newly introduced strapline reflects the event's commitment to fostering a supportive and innovative community that elevates early education to new heights. The event is a safe haven for anyone working in early years, whether you just want to discover new ideas, learn or develop your CPD, meet leading suppliers or reignite your passion for the sector… the event has it all.

Here's a glimpse of what you can expect:

Connect: Find the golden opportunity to join the largest education community, not only from the UK but also from around the world, as you connect through collaborative workshops, discussions and social spaces. Whether you come solo to make new friends or bring your entire team, our one-of-a-kind experience awaits you. We understand the dedication you put into your work and now is the perfect time to unwind and enjoy the experience.

Learn: The event will feature an impressive CPD programme led by world-class speakers. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the latest trends, strategies and best practices in early education, empowering you to excel in your role. You can also join free-to-attend well being workshops, to learn how to support yourself, your colleagues and children’s mental health.

Discover: Reflecting the dynamic landscape of the industry, the vibrant exhibition will showcase over 100 suppliers. Discover innovative solutions, exciting products and supportive services designed to enhance the learning environment. Across the show floor, you will also discover several feature areas promoting new learning ideas and techniques.

There are some incredible announcements on the horizon! A lineup of exceptional speakers and exhibitors, a very special guest attending, new feature areas, a start-up zone to meet smaller independent companies in the sector and Ofsted will be having a bigger presence than ever before.

Join us at the Childcare & Education Expo London 2024, and together, we can "Connect, Learn, Discover" as we elevate early education to new horizons. Click here to register for your free ticket to attend the show.

Click here to find out more about Childcare & Education Expo London 2024.

Promotion

How is technology supporting early years educators with literacy?

Tanya_temp — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 16:57:45 +0000

Famly’s Julia Rose explains how their new feature, Sidekick, is revolutionising the way educators complete written work  

I write for a living, so you might wonder why I’m here talking about utilising technology to support literacy in the early years. With artificial intelligence becoming more and more capable of producing written content, shouldn’t I be worried that Famly will just replace me with a computer programme before I can so much as type out my CV? Well, no. 

Just as Famly’s early childhood platform can’t replace early years educators in settings, I don’t think the robots are coming for my job any time soon, either. However, it’s important to stay curious about how technology can make our work better and more efficient. 

As with tools like Grammarly and Google Docs’ spell check to improve writing, early years educators using Famly can now use our new feature, Sidekick, to help aid theirs. And with 16.4% of adults in the UK scoring at the lowest level of proficiency in literacy, it’s safe to say it’s really common to need some extra help with reading, writing, and spelling.  

Introducing Sidekick 

Essentially, Sidekick is a writing assistant for early years educators. 

Sidekick can be used across the Famly platform in observations, messages, Newsfeed posts, and assessments to check spelling and grammar or even change the tone of your text. You can make text more professional, more polite, more observant, or more conversational – think of it as built-in support for when you’re just not sure something looks or sounds right.    

And that really matters in the early years sector. With the battle to be seen as the qualified educators we are, professionalism is key. Even if you’re the Shakespeare of your setting, Sidekick is a safety net to catch those little mistakes we all make before you share a post or observation.  

And, if you’re short on time (aren't we always, in the early years?) you can even add short notes in draft form and ask Sidekick to turn it into a fully-fledged post for you. A ten-minute job becomes a two-second one. Using Sidekick means educators can get their written work completed efficiently and accurately, so they can get back to actually teaching. 

“Sidekick has been a game changer as it has given staff the confidence to post to parents in more detail. I have two dyslexic staff and they are overwhelmed with the new feature. It has given them the chance to celebrate their professionalism without the worry of spelling and grammar mistakes.”  

Famly customer Jennie McMahon, Manager, Limes Court Nursery School 

A confidence boosting time saver 

While there is certainly no shame in asking for help and support, many adults feel that way when struggling with literacy; having to rely on a peer or manager to correct written work can feel stressful or embarrassing for early years educators. With Sidekick, educators can review and correct their writing independently and in-the-moment, meaning they don’t have to wait for someone else to check their work – saving much-needed time for other tasks and effectively reducing workload.

After all, isn’t relieving stress and celebrating the professionalism of the early years workforce something that we can all get behind? 

Alliance members get 50% off Famly software!

The Early Years Alliance is proud to work in partnership with leading early years software provider Famly to give our members an exclusive 50% off for the first six months of Famly's Premium or Professionals packages.

Famly is an all-in-one software that significantly reduces workloads and improves daily routines in early years settings.

With Famly, settings can send instant messages, pictures and updates to parents, manage staff, create and send invoices, compile and update learning journals, manage finances and admin, and much more!

Find out more and sign up for a free demo using the link in the Members' Area: portal.eyalliance.org.uk

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Discovering Loose Parts Play

Tanya_temp — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 10:29:05 +0000

Alison Heseltine, early years development manager and Ruth Richardson, early years development officer at the Early Years Alliance, share more about our interactive area at the recent Childcare and Education Expo Midlands event

Following the success of our Joy of Doing area at the Bolton Childcare and Education Expo North, we were delighted to continue sharing the important ‘process over product’ message at the recent Coventry Childcare and Education Expo Midlands. With a complementary, interactive workshop running alongside the popular feature area, our aim was to offer a practical, hands-on session to early years educators, where they as adults could experience what we mean by ‘the joy of doing’: the freedom to set your own play agenda with no fixed outcomes or demands.

After a brief introduction to the theory behind open-ended or loose parts play, educators were quick to accept the challenge of freeing their imaginations. They discussed how even a simple wooden disc could enhance play – suggestions included everything from foods to control buttons on a spaceship, and even part of a unicorn! It’s important that, even though all the wooden discs were identical, each participant connected to them in their own unique way – just like children will if given the opportunity to do so.

Once we were all warmed up, the next activity introduced transient art where either in small groups or as individuals, educators could explore a wide variety of natural materials and develop their own combinations and designs. The possibilities for construction, exploration and experimentation were endless – and it was great to hear adults narrating their play just as we hear children do. People also shared their feelings about how as an adult it can be difficult to let go of constraints and preconceived ideas, and that they had found a moment of calm and creativity in the activity.

Throughout the session, participants shared ideas for how to get started with loose parts play, using real life examples to prompt conversations and discussions. A key topic was how to share the learning with families – how to support them in seeing how loose parts play can benefit their child’s development and understanding. How would you explain the ideas and concept to a parent or carer who had never experienced or didn’t recognise ‘the joy of doing’ in their own play memories?

The workshop also provided an opportunity to address safety issues, particularly around the potential risks associated with small, loose parts alongside the importance of knowing your children and their stage of development to guide choices around resources. Taking a proactive approach to the understanding and benefits of such play with risk management and assessments was seen as an essential part of introducing loose parts/open-ended play into provision.

This then led into the final activity of the session: a chance to recognise that not all loose parts play needs to be ‘small’ – there’s a chance to ‘go large’, too. Fabrics, rope, pegs, sticks, cardboard boxes and tubes allow for being truly surrounded by play and immersed in the world it creates – and the educators at the session truly embraced this!

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Are you ready for World Prematurity Month?

Tanya_temp — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 10:09:52 +0000

The Alliance works with the Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity to raise awareness of babies born too soon

In the UK, one in thirteen babies are born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy). A high percentage of these babies require treatment in a neonatal unit and may need more support in pre-schools, nurseries or childminding settings.

November is World Prematurity Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness of the needs of premature babies and their families worldwide. It’s also a month for celebrating those that have made it through difficult periods with their premature babies and gone on to thrive.

We at Ickle Pickles have made it our mission to give every newborn a chance, functioning as a charity that helps hospitals raise money to buy essential equipment for premature babies nationally. We provide much-needed intensive and special-care equipment, dedicating our time and expertise with families affected by premature birth.

For World Prematurity Month, we are sharing some tips on how you can help prem babies thrive, because we know how important it is to support vulnerable babies and families who have experienced neonatal care.

While each neonatal journey is different, we want to share one story that particularly touched us.

Charlotte's story

Michelle experienced a frightening and emotional birth via emergency C-section at just 24 weeks pregnant. Beautiful Charlotte was born weighing just 518 grams (1lb 2oz) – the same as a small bag of sugar – and spent the next 16 weeks in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Michelle remembers her time as a NICU parent as challenging: “You feel like you are existing in a bubble while the normal world continues all around you.”

Meeting her new baby for the first time after she’d recovered was this “completely unreal experience” of “seeing this tiny baby attached to so many wires and monitors, in an incubator, completely helpless”. Many NICU parents recall the beeping and humming machines being the soundtrack to their lives in the NICU.

Every day is different and can change quickly. Despite picking up some dangerous infections, baby Charlotte became stronger each week. Each milestone hit gave her parents hope and excitement for the future. Michelle learnt about the importance of blood gases, oxygen requirements and infection control – but she also experienced a range of emotions as their NICU journey continued: fear, sadness, excitement, guilt, disengagement and helplessness. When Charlotte was finally well enough, she was transferred to a more local hospital, which meant her family no longer had to travel 525 miles a week to see her. Thanks to all the care teams, Charlotte was finally discharged just after her due date.

Later, she attended two separate nursery settings where all staff were made aware of Charlotte's early entry into the world. For premature babies, reaching developmental milestones may take a little longer. Charlotte was delayed in hitting some developmental milestones, so nursery staff supported her in the areas she struggled with.

One nursery educator recognised that Charlotte showed signs of delays in some of her gross motor skills and would need physio support. The nursery then referred her to an occupational therapist, who advised on exercises to strengthen her core muscles. The nursery’s proactive approach, alongside the timely support of the occupational therapist, helped to alleviate her parents’ worries.

Thanks to all the excellent care in the NICU and her dedicated nursery staff, Charlotte is now thriving at school.

It’s important to note that while some parents and carers of premature children may feel their child is ready to start school or pre-school in line with their actual birth date, others may feel it would be better for their child to start school a bit later, in line with their projected birth date or corrected age. It’s different for every family’s experience.

World Prematurity Month

The increasing incidence of premature birth and the improving survival rates mean that you might look after a child born prematurely in your setting. A short stay in a neonatal unit can often be overlooked. We hope you will join us this World Prematurity Month to raise awareness of the challenges of premature birth.

Explore some of Ickle Pickles’ World Prematurity Day ideas around how you can show NICU families that they are not alone. The colour purple is seen as most synonymous with World Prematurity Day on Friday 17 November, so wearing something purple is a great way to show your support. You could ask everyone to donate £1 and wear something purple, even if it’s something subtle like a ribbon, scarf, tie or hairband.

Together, we can make a difference and help raise awareness of babies like Charlotte as well as help others during World Prematurity Month.

To get involved and find out more, visit icklepickles.org

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Settling in without settling for less

Tanya.Svilar — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 08:30:30 +0000

Famly’s Julia Rose reflects on settling into settings from both sides

Having worked in the early years myself, I thought that when it came to dropping my own son off for his first day at nursery, I’d be the parent that all educators dream of. I pictured myself with a bag packed with all the correct spare clothes and nursery-appropriate accessories, meticulously labelled, of course. I would stride in proud and prepared, give my son a confident kiss and walk quickly out of the door, while he ran joyfully to play.

But while my son certainly did toddle off without a backward glance… I was a wreck. What if he couldn’t find his comfort toy (a small yellow car that he clutched in his chubby little hands)? What if his teacher didn’t know that “mumum” meant he was hungry but “uunngghh” meant he wanted a drink? What if she didn’t call me immediately if he so much as whimpered?! It was an unthinkable catastrophe.

Later on, when I collected my son, who by some miracle was not only completely intact but happy to boot, I took some time to reflect. All those parents and carers I’d reassured over the years as they dropped off their whole world with me had – just like me – really only wanted to be sure that their child was cared for, safe, and understood.

And that’s where a tool like Famly comes into its own. Despite my best efforts, my son’s setting do not yet use Famly, but I truly wish they did. As an educator, I can see how Famly would have made my job better, but as a §parent, I can see how Famly would make my life better.

Take signing up and settling in. Famly’s new custom registration forms mean that all the things I had painstakingly documented in an encyclopedia-sized notebook could all have neatly been entered into my son’s child profile on Famly. His teacher would have had all the information she needed about allergies, dietary restrictions, and our contact information. I would have been confident she knew the essential things about my son, without having to give myself repetitive strain injury handwriting a novel about him.

Not only that, but Famly’s new registration forms also allow you to add your setting’s terms and conditions, or other documents, with the option for parents to sign with a digital signature. So when my son’s setting finally does get Famly, they could use this feature to make me agree to stop using them as an example in all of my articles…

But even after enrolling, my son’s teacher could have sent me photos of him on the Famly newsfeed, throughout his first sessions, to show me that he was fine and happy. And I wouldn’t have had to be shooed away from the window and had my binoculars confiscated. Ultimately, knowing that my son was happy by seeing it for myself would have been so much more reassuring than just a passing confirmation from his teacher at an already rushed pick-up time.

And all of those things would be useful for my son’s teachers too (not least because it would keep me out of their hair). Doing the already complex job of caring for and teaching underfives is exponentially easier when you start with all of the correct information about your little ones, presented clearly, and kept up-to-date by the people who know them best.

An exclusive discount on Famly for EYA members

Not only is Famly your true one-stop shop for running your setting and collaborating with parents and carers, it saves you time by doing away with all your repetitive physical paperwork.

And if that wasn’t enough, we’re now saving you money too.

Sounds good? Check out the Ts and Cs then sign up at the exclusive Early Years Alliance member link.

Simple!

In fact, even if you’re a current Famly customer, you can still enjoy a 10% discount for the next year if you have active EYA membership and haven’t received an EYA-related discount before.

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Removing the barriers to outdoor play

Tanya.Svilar — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 11:02:04 +0000

Outdoor play provides fantastic opportunities for exciting open-ended learning and role play, but we understand that it’s not always easy and there are things you need to prepare for. Here’s some advice on how to tackle common barriers to exploring the great outdoors.

Limited space

If your space is only small, make sure it’s well planned and invest in storage that means you don’t have all of your equipment out at once. Organise activities that play to the strengths of your environment – grass and woodland areas are great for minibeast hunts and paved areas are great for mark making.

Unpredictable weather

Be prepared! Ask parents to bring warm clothes in winter and hats and sun cream in summer. If necessary, you can limit the time spent outside – even short bursts of fresh air can really benefit children. When it’s cold plan activities with lots of movement to keep children feeling warm, and in hot weather incorporate water and ice into your outdoor play.

Safety concerns

It’s hugely important to keep children in your care safe; however this does not mean eliminating all risks. When managed properly, small risks help children to learn. Good planning and training can ensure safety across a huge range of outdoor activities. That said, do ensure to conduct a risk assessment outside and provide training for staff if necessary.

Making a mess

Messy play is fantastic for sensory exploration. To minimise the burden of the big clear up, get the children involved and turn it into a fun activity which can also help a child’s learning and development. Invest in protective clothing to reduce the mess while still enabling children to get stuck in to all activities. Outdoor handwashing stations are also great for cleaning messy hands and promoting good hand hygiene outside.

Costly resources

Purchasing resources for both indoor and outdoor areas can make budgets feel stretched. Don’t overcomplicate the outdoor space – some of the best activities involve only loose parts and other natural materials along with a little imagination. Why not take a look at our blog to see how easy it is to encourage sensory play and development using natural loose parts.

Storage

If your outdoor space is only small, it’s a good idea to invest in space-saving storage for all of your equipment and toys which will also protect them from the elements and help them last longer.

Parental concerns

Communication is key – explain outdoor activities clearly and highlight the benefits. If you have facilities to share photos with parents, ensure that you share some of the children enjoying outdoor spaces.

Staff motivation

Involve staff in planning– the more imaginative the better! If necessary, book training courses to enthuse staff about outdoor learning and provide resources that make it as easy as possible for staff to manage outdoor environment themselves.

Are you looking to maximise your outdoor space? The Cosy Collection at YPO can help you do just that.

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