Below you will find the latest educational best practice articles covering . The role of teachers is constantly evolving as new advice, techniques and technology are implemented within schools, making it essential for staff to stay up-to-date with for the benefit of their pupils.

Top 10 tips for... Reception to year 1 transition

When children arrive in reception it is a carefully thought-out process with lots of preparation. But it could be argued that the move from reception to year 1 gets less attention. Suzanne O’Connell gives us 10 suggestions for making it smoother

Reception to year 1: How to support pupil transition

Just because a child has reached a ‘good level of development’ at the end of reception class does not mean they are completely ready for life in year 1. Ben Case discusses transition and how we can support our youngest pupils

Teaching emotional literacy in reception year

The reception year comes in the middle of two key transition points when anxiety and other emotions can threaten to overwhelm some children. Neil Henty discusses the importance of promoting emotional literacy in the reception year

Post-pandemic language recovery in reception year

We know that the pandemic has hit language development and literacy skills among our youngest pupils. In this article, Neil Henty considers post-pandemic language recovery in the reception year

The best learning goes with the flow: The work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Early years learning pioneer Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi passed away last year. Known as the father of ‘flow’, his theories of pupil engagement are crucial. Neil Henty looks at how his work can help us to promote optimal experiences in the classroom

Creating the perfect early years education environment

Since coming back to school, our youngest pupils have been bursting to get going, embracing play and messy learning especially. Carys Henwood considers how we can create a purposeful early years’ education environment

Reception to key stage 1: Achieving transfer of learning

Reception, key stage 1 and beyond – learning transfer is a crucial part of effective education. Juliet Mickelburgh considers the EYFS Characteristics of Effective Learning and how we might transfer this key learning from the early years into primary

The EYFS reforms: Priorities, opportunities and myths

The Development Matters guidance is supporting schools to implement September’s EYFS reforms. Dr Julian Grenier, who led on the writing of Development Matters, looks at the four priorities that are driving the reforms and responds to our recent coverage of the ‘rival’ Birth to Five Matters guidance

Changes to early years education from September: Are you ready?

The early years is changing. From September, we will have a revised Early Years Foundation Stage framework, updated Development Matters guidance, and full implementation of Reception Baseline Assessment. Neil Henty looks at what we need to know

Implementing Development Matters: Six things to do now

The revised Development Matters non-statutory guidance has been produced to support schools in delivering the EYFS reforms from September 2021. Stephen Kilgour identifies six things we can do now to prepare…

Climate action in schools: Ideas to reduce your carbon impact

Reducing your school’s carbon emissions is not as difficult as it may seem. Alex Green from the Let’s Go Zero campaign outlines some inspiring and money-saving ideas to get your school started

Introducing rough and tumble play into Reception

Tug of war, tangling, tickling, leapfrog – rough and tumble play is a normal feature of childhood and part of child development – and yet there are understandable reservations about introducing it as part of Reception provision. Teacher Rachna Joshi and EYFS lead Carla Jones advise

Reception Year: The Birth to Five Matters Guidance

With a revised Early Years Foundation Stage becoming statutory in September, the early years sector has united to produce research-led guidance offering a pedagogically sound method of delivery. Neil Henty looks at its implications for primary schools and Reception year teaching

Home education: Six quick and easy key stage 1 activities

Many of the resources and support being offered for home education focus on key stage 2 and above. Here, Jack Dabell offers six quick activities for younger children in key stage 1

Coronavirus: Home education resources for schools, teachers and parents

A range of resources and education services are being offered to schools and parents to help support the home education of students during the coronavirus crisis. Dorothy Lepkowska looks at some of what is out there, including a number of free-access resources