The way a nursery is set up can profoundly influence the quality of children's experiences there.
In any kind of setting you can provide a way for children to get close to nature while doing their part in its care. Mary Whiting shows how.
Children in one West Sussex school have been getting close to nature thanks to a creative project and the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust free visits programme, says Jordan Chamberlain.
As with the other age groups, the developmental needs and interests of the child provided the starting points for planning the room for two-year-olds.
In addition to Aliens Love Underpants (see right), here are some other great storybooks and texts available about aliens and pants! Remember to use the local library - and encourage everyone to share...
A 'monster' sighting at one nursery sparked a project looking at a range of themes.
Outdoor provision for the early years is set to grow and flourish thanks to funding distributed through local authorities. Annie Davy reports.
In practice, treasure baskets are a tried and tested resource that provide endless fascination for the babies who explore them, but their originator was strict about how they should be made and used....
In the first of a new series on running a Forest School programme, Sarah Blackwell identifies priorities in locating and using the land.
Play involving hands and feet can help develop observation and thinking skills beyond simple recognition of size, shape and pattern. Marianne Sargent suggests some ideas.