There’s a particular kind of Wednesday that happens every September for EYFS teachers. Phonics has started. Maths has started. SLT have asked about book looks. And somewhere in the middle of all of it, you catch yourself looking at your continuous provision and thinking: this isn’t working, I need to change it. I know that … Read more
Why September in EYFS Feels Like Teaching Everything– a blog post by @MrsG_EYFS Whenever people ask what we teach in Reception in September, I never quite know where to start. Of course, we’re teaching phonics. We’re teaching maths. We’re teaching communication and language. But honestly, it feels like we’re teaching absolutely everything. In September, nothing … Read more
Creating a cosy and calm EYFS Classroom; A Blog Post by Sophie @MrsG _EYFS For many people, EYFS is seen as chaotic, noisy and perhaps even a little daunting. It’s often the phase that many teachers fear stepping into. But in my classroom, we’re striving for the opposite. As we move towards September, our focus … Read more
Surviving the Final Half Term in EYFS: A Blog Post by Sophie @mrsg_ eyfs There comes a point near the end of every school year when EYFS teachers reach a unique state of being. Your to-do list seems endless. Reports need writing, resources need organising, celebration assemblies need rehearsing, and transitions need planning—not only for … Read more
Two weeks before my first September in EYFS, I sat on the classroom floor surrounded mostly by laminate and good intentions. I’d spent a weekend matching trays to a colour scheme. I’d printed labels for things that didn’t need labels. I’d built a timetable down to five-minute blocks, certain that this was what “being ready” … Read more
The Reality of Being a Reception Teacher in the Summer Term. A blog post by MrsG_Eyfs The summer term is busy for everyone in school—sports days, school plays, assessments. But in Reception, there’s an added layer that often goes unseen. Alongside everything else, you’re already preparing for September: visiting nurseries, meeting parents, liaising with SENDCos—while … Read more
At this time of year, there is suddenly a change in how we talk about EYFS assessment and ELGs, the end of the year creeps into view and the conversation becomes a bit more urgent. With the promise of summer creeping closer, so begins the sharper focus on the Early Learning Goals (ELGs), and before … Read more
Finding Balance: Work- Life Wellbeing in the Early Years. A blog post by MrsG_EYFS. How often do we hear comments like, “You don’t have as much to do because you don’t have all that marking,” or “They’re just playing with toys, so it must be easy to resource”? If only people really knew. I’m fortunate … Read more
What is oracy in EYFS and KS1? If you’ve spent any time in an EYFS or KS1 classroom, you’ll know that children are constantly communicating… even when there are very few words involved. A look across the room, a gesture towards something just out of reach, a half-finished sentence that trails off into action, it … Read more
(A little about me, and the work behind Is it Time to Play) Play has always been at the heart of early years education, yet it is increasingly something that teachers feel they need to explain, justify or defend. In conversations with practitioners working across Nursery, Reception and Key Stage One, I often hear the … Read more
EYFS assessment should help teachers understand children’s development and plan next steps in learning, yet for many practitioners it has become associated with paperwork, tracking systems and unnecessary workload. Assessment in the Early Years is one of those topics that can very quickly start to feel overwhelming. Somewhere between observations, tracking systems, data drops and … Read more
Supporting Families: What Really Matters When Children Start School. A blog post by MrsG_EYFS. Understanding the Transition From Nursery to School The move from nursery to school often catches parents off guard. Even families who’ve felt completely settled and supported in your setting can suddenly feel unsure when Reception starts to appear on the horizon. … Read more