

Early Excellence Podcast
Early Excellence
Join us as we discuss a diverse range of EYFS and KS1 best practice and provision, resourcing your Early Years environment and keep you up to date news and reviews from Ofsted & the DfE
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 11, 2022 • 13min
The Classroom Environment – Riot of Colour vs Peace and Neutrality
How is colour used within your classroom? In this week’s Podcast Episode, Andy explores the use of colour and poses some key questions to consider including whether it is really needed to keep children engaged or if it is distracting to the learning. There are also lots of top tips for alternatives to move forward.Explore our FREE Room Planning serviceTake a 3D Virtual Tour of our CentreRead the Blog

Feb 4, 2022 • 18min
Mathematical Musings
It’s essential that your team understand how young children develop maths expertise, especially when choosing, using and evaluating set schemes or programmes. In this week’s Podcast Andy welcomes back Jude Twani who provides her insight and tips on approaching maths in the EYFS.
Access the Exploring Subitising: Developing Children's Understanding of Number Recorded Webinar
Join our Exploring Shape, Space and Measure: Developing Young Mathematicians Webinar
Order Jude Twani & Michael Jones’ publication - Let’s Talk About Maths
Read the Blog

Jan 28, 2022 • 17min
Maximising Learning in Continuous Provision – The Water Area
Exploring and experimenting with water is a key fascination for many children and if you have it available continuously, you may even find that some children go back to it a lot! This week’s Podcast explores how the Water Area can be packed with a wealth of opportunities for scientific and mathematical thinking as well as opportunities for storying and developing narrative.
Attend Professor Julie Fisher’s Interacting or Interfering: Developing Powerful Learning Partnerships in the EYFS course
Take a Virtual Tour of our National Centre to see this area and more
Watch our FREE training video: Get Set for Outdoor Learning
Read the Blog

Jan 21, 2022 • 16min
Exploring Block Play Alongside Small World
Well organised and well planned provision areas, alongside effective adult interactions, enable children to develop sustained play, practise new skills and extend their ideas over time. Some areas of provision work particularly well together like Block Play and Small World, and this week Andy looks at these in more detail.Explore our Structures & Spaces: Inspiring Young Architects Through Block Play webinar recordingJoin our upcoming It’s a Small World: Inspiring Children’s Storytelling Through Small World Play webinarOrder our Guides to Continuous ProvisionRead the Blog

Jan 14, 2022 • 22min
Exploring Different Approaches in the Early Years
Have you ever wondered what it is like to work overseas? In this week’s fascinating Podcast, Andy interviews Rachael Stevens from Panyaden International School in Thailand about their unique approach. As well as taking a tour of their natural environment, they chat about all kinds of things including behaviour management, risk and challenge.Take a 3D Virtual Tour of our CentreView Andy's Photos of Panyaden School:Photo 1Photo 2Photo 3

Jan 7, 2022 • 17min
The Characteristics of Effective Learning
Welcome back to the start of a new term and a new year! Join us this week as we explore the importance of the Characteristics of Effective Learning, and consider how they are used as part of our everyday practice.
Explore our FREE Room Planning service
Order our Guides to Continuous Provision
Read the Blog

Dec 10, 2021 • 26min
Catching Up and Lessons From The Dancefloor
In this week's Podcast, hear Andy Burt and Jude Twani discuss the “Catch Up Agenda” following the months of disrupted education and Jude utilises her new love of dancing to help us reflect on how children can learn and adapt.
Take a Virtual Tour of our Centre
Join Jude’s most recent twilight training session: Exploring Subitising: The Power of Knowing How Many There Are!
Read the Blog

Dec 3, 2021 • 17min
Effective Tidy Up Times in the EYFS
In this week’s Podcast we give tips and advice to make tidying the classroom run smoothly and become a meaningful way of teaching, learning and embedding a range of skills and concepts.
Watch the FREE Planning your Environment Webinar
Take a Virtual Tour of our Centre
Read the Blog

Nov 26, 2021 • 13min
Storming it Outdoors, the Fantastic Possibilities of Cold, Wet and Windy Weather
Get your big coat and wellies on, this week’s Podcast is about getting back outside whatever the weather! Explore the key things and ideas to ensure effective learning continues throughout this time of yearExplore the Power of Outdoor Learning ProgrammeOrder our Guide to Outdoor ProvisionView our Outdoor ResourcesRead the Blog

Nov 19, 2021 • 20min
Building on Children’s Interests in the EYFS
In this week’s Podcast, we build on message of consistency in the learning environment by exploring the key features of practice which seek to encourage, value, celebrate and build on the ideas and interests of young learners.Explore our FREE Room Planning ServiceOrder our Guide to Continuous ProvisionRead the Blog