Early Years Educator

Early Years Educator (EYE) is essential reading for anyone working with children aged from birth to five-years-old.

EYE features everything from the power of storytelling to insights into qualifications and training, from analysis of the latest government policy announcements to promoting sustained shared thinking and co-construction of learning, from attachment and mud kitchens, to schemas and children as researchers, and so much more, but most of all, EYE will help you understand why these matter and how you can use them to improve your provision.

EYE is dedicated to helping all members of the early years team improve their practice, from student to room leader, from manager to consultant, and provides the best possible support for the children in their care. EYE is a vital resource that you and your team can rely on for all of your practical and educational needs in the early years, and that caters for the requirements of the revised Early Years Foundation Stage.

The magazine contains: • Up-to-date guidance on the requirements of the revised Early Years Foundation Stage • Expert articles on professional development, training and best practice • Regular contributions from the leading names in early years education • A special 16-page supplement of inspirational practical activity ideas • Essential information and resources to help you develop your career and provide the best possible outcomes for the children in your care 

2023 has been a year in which early years settings have had to cope with extraordinary amounts of change and development, on top of the wider pressures society is dealing with from the cost of living crisis and the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the year draws to a close, we ask key voices in the early years space what they would like to see in an Early Years Manifesto which would set the direction of the sector from next year; their hopes and aims for the sector, and what they think would help improve the existing crisis.

The Government’s announcement earlier this year of changes to the funding for early years education and care has been widely reported. However, with more complexity coming into the system next year, supporting parents to navigate the new funding entitlements can be challenging. To help settings understand the changes, Louise Jackson, Educational Content writer for Blossom Educational, outlines what funding will be available in 2024 and how to support parents from their initial application through to the reconfirmation of their eligibility.

 

A new report in September from the charity Speech and Language UK found that 1.9 million children – at least one in five - are behind with talking and understanding words. Chief executive Jane Harris explores the report’s implications for the early years sector and Amy Loxley, Lead Speech and Language advisor for the charity, shares how settings can help under-fives develop their language skills.

A recent survey by the National Dental Epidemiology Programme revealed that almost a quarter of five-year-old children in England have experienced tooth decay, and that there is a link between these problems and deprivation. Dr Linda Greenwall, founder of Dental Wellness Trust - a charity promoting children’s oral health through education and intervention programmes, outlines why good dental health is so important in early years and how settings can support children and families to look after baby teeth.

Susan Borland, associate lecturer and ULT, Graham Bell senior lecturer and Philippa Thompson, principal lecturer from Sheffield Hallam University explore the multiple dilemmas for early years practitioners in the digital age. While screen time continues to be a cause for concern for many, there can also be many benefits for creative exploration. How do we find a balance?