Nursery World - Nursery Management: Specialist teachers

Bringing creative and sports experts into early years settings
requires much thought and business planning, but the benefits for the
children and staff alike can be enormous, as Nicole Weinstein
discovers.

Zumba, yoga, baby ballet, mini mudder assault courses - while settings have always sought opportunities for children to express themselves, there are now a raft of specialist activities available. Some settings bring this expertise in-house with dedicated dance teachers and artists in residence. Access to experts in fields such as dance, drama, art, sport and music might be a huge selling point, but it's also a financial commitment that needs careful planning.

Jo Baranek, lead early years advisor at National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), says any activity needs to be inclusive for everyone - including children with special educational needs or disabilities, or those for whom English is a second language. 'In terms of funding external specialists, we think it would be preferable to build it into everyday costs,' she says. 'Surcharging could further disadvantage any child whose parents would struggle to cover the extra fee.'

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