New experience-based route to Level 3
Your questions answered about the DfE's new experience-based route to Level 3
News and policy updates, 7 February 2025Latest issue
view more
February 2025
Welcome to February's edition of Under 5 magazine! This month, we look ahead to exciting online Alliance events, CPD For You and the Connect Roadshow, think about the place of fairytales in the modern world, share some tips for sensory learning, look at ways to integrate songs and music successfully into baby and toddler groups, and more!
January 2025
Welcome to the January 2025 issue of Under 5, where we look ahead to an exciting Alliance event, CPD for You, assess research about toddler screen time before bed, hear about five things families with premature babies wish they knew beforehand with Ickle Pickles Children's Charity, and learn about International Day of Education!
November/December 2024
Welcome to the November/December issue of Under 5, where we'll be focusing on safety in settings – whether that's toy safety, guidance for the handling of raw flour, keeping up-to-date with safeguarding guidance, or looking at safeguarding best practice!
October 2024
The weather may well have turned, but there’s lots to look forward to in our Under 5 October edition! This month, we regale you with reptile facts and learning ideas in Inspiration Corner, share book ideas about space in Book Nook, and fill you in on our CPD-certified training and qualifications.
September 2024
In September's edition of the Alliance's monthly Under 5 magazine, we set our sights on all things sustainable! We focus on water conservation in Family Corner, World Clean Up Day in Inspiration Corner, and the Climate Ambassadors programme for early years - as well as much more.
July/August 2024
In the July/August edition of the Alliance's monthly Under 5 magazine, we take a look at the joys of camping for little ones, celebrate the UN’s International Day of Friendship - plus much more!
June 2024
In the June edition of the Alliance's monthly Under 5 magazine, we take a look at ways play can be successfully integrated into practice, transition tips from early years resource producer TTS, suggestions for how to create fun, healthy snacks at baby and toddler groups, and analyse the recruitment and retention crisis in the early years sector - plus much more!
May 2024
In the May edition of the Alliance's monthly magazine, mental health is a wider theme, with information on and support around maternal mental health concerns, guidance on empowering early years leaders with digital wellbeing, and a sneak preview of the seminar topics for the Alliance’s Annual Conference, all of which are focused on positive approaches to supporting wellbeing in the early years. We also talk about much more, such as creativity and treasure baskets
April 2024
In the April edition of the Alliance's monthly magazine, we celebrate International Day of Dance over in Inspiration Corner, while in baby and toddler groups, we share some all-important fire safety tips, and we also look ahead to the Alliance’s annual conference in June around the topic of early years educators’ mental health and wellbeing - as well as much more!
March 2024
In the March edition of the Alliance's monthly magazine, we take a look International Day of Forests in Inspiration Corner, share some ideas for getting out and about in the spring for Baby and Toddler Groups, explore some ideas for building a maths mindset in under-fives, and more!
February 2024
In the February edition of the Alliance's monthly magazine, we take a look International Day of Women and Girls in Science, share some ideas for tactile playdough play in baby and toddler groups, explore some ideas for Valentine’s Day that promote familial and self-love for children's wellbeing, and more!
January 2024
In the January edition of the Alliance's monthly magazine, we take a look at inspiring woodland walks, the benefits of beach school learning, children's emotional wellbeing and the upcoming Alliance Connect Roadshow in March, as well as ways to celebrate National Puzzle Day and more!
November/December 2023
In the November/December edition of the Alliance's monthly magazine, we take a look at emotion coaching and coregulation for little ones, upcoming updates to the EYFS Framework, and analyse the impact of a recent holiday-pay ruling with Law-Call, and more!
October 2023
The October issue of the Alliance's monthly magazine, including an introduction into the Alliance’s Nutrition Support Programme, key updates on the government’s Prevent strategy, a look at World Prematurity Month, and more!
September 2023
The September issue of the Alliance's monthly magazine, including an exploration of SEND provision, the need for gender diversity in the early years workforce, how to support baby and toddler group volunteers, and more!
July/August 2023
The July/August 2023 issue of Under 5 including a summary of our annual conference, a look at the revised safeguarding guidance, and a detailed overview of the new consultation on the Early Years Foundation Stage.
June 2023
The June 2023 issue of Under 5 including a look back at our first Alliance Connect Roadshow, details about this year's National Week of Play, and advice on digital safety.
May 2023
The May 2023 issue of Under 5 including activity ideas to try this spring, a look at open-ended loose parts play, advice on dealing with staff grievances, and answers to common questions about Tax-Free Childcare.
April 2023
The April 2023 issue of Under 5 including a look at the SEND Improvement Plan, health and safety for baby and toddler groups and what parents need to know about the new early years entitlements announced in the Spring Budget.
March 2023
The March 2023 issue of Under 5 including part II of our guide to disciplinaries, the latest on the Alliance's funding campaign, ideas for exploring the theme of science and more!
February 2023
The February 2023 issue of Under 5 including articles on GDPR for baby & toddler groups, storytime and reading activities, healthy Pancake Day recipes and more!
January 2023
The January 2023 issue of Under 5 includes ideas for creating an almanac, a guide to planning balanced plant-based meals for 'Veganuary', why you should prioritise children's wellbeing and ideas for hosting a Brew Monday event at your early years setting – and more!
November/December 2022
The November/December issue of Under 5 includes ideas for using nursery rhymes, staying healthy during the festive season, a legal guide to negotiating rent increases and more!
October 2022
The October issue of Under 5 includes a guide to checking employees' right to work in the UK, ideas for celebrating Halloween and advice on staying safe during fireworks season.
September 2022
The September issue of Under 5 includes features on holiday entitlement for part-time staff, a guide to hosting an AGM and ideas for exploring the theme of fungi.
July/August 2022
Under 5 July/August 2022 - including a look at the Alliance's annual conference, ideas for inspiring sustainability, ideas for exploring the theme of photography, tips for teaching children about food and nutrition, Forest School and more!
News and policy updates
Policy update
We catch up with Early Years Alliance CEO Neil Leitch to find out what's going on in the sector as well as what he has been up to in the world of early years over the last few months!
News and policy updates, 3 January 2025
Safeguarding in the early years: what’s changing
An overview of the upcoming changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage safeguarding requirements
News and policy updates, 15 November 2024
News
A round up of all the up-to-date news and information for the early years sector
News and policy updates, 13 November 2024
News
A round up of all the up-to-date News and information for the early years sector
News and policy updates, 6 October 2024Early years practice
Once upon A Time
The Alliance’s Melanie Pilcher discusses all things fairy tale – the positives and negatives, links to learning, and how to update them for the modern age
Early years practice, 7 February 2025
Darwin and discovery
This Darwin day, we look at how the ethos of ‘discovery’ can be embedded throughout early years practice
Early years practice, 7 February 2025
Book Nook: World Day of Social Justice
We celebrate World Day of Social Justice by looking at building a social justice mindset in little ones through books and stories
Early years practice, 7 February 2025
Scouting sensory experiences
We dive into the sensory world to discover more about sensory play and learning for under-fives
Early years practice, 5 February 2025
Sponsored: Safeguarding best practice: CURA's guide for early years educators
CURA, a safeguarding management solution for vulnerable children and adults, shares the key elements of safeguarding best practice for the early years
Early years practice, 18 November 2024Baby and toddler groups
Making music meaningful
The Alliance’s Alison Heseltine talks all about ways to make the most of music and song-time at your baby and toddler group
Baby and toddler groups, 7 February 2025
Toy safety
The Alliance’s Alison Heseltine fills us in on the key toy safety standards to be aware of, the symbols to look out for, and the types of toys to watch out for
Baby and toddler groups, 15 November 2024
Prepping policies and procedures
The Alliance’s Alison Heseltine gives us a handy overview of putting together policies and procedures for your baby and toddler group
Baby and toddler groups, 6 October 2024
Being part of a community
The Alliance’s Alison Heseltine shares a selection of organisations to help baby and toddler groups start their own community directory
Baby and toddler groups, 4 September 2024
Staying savvy about snack time
Alliance early years development manager Alison Heseltine shares tips to help baby and toddler groups build in healthy snack time
Baby and toddler groups, 5 June 2024Law-call
Suspensions
The team at Law-Call, a 24-hour legal helpline available to Alliance members, provide key information on employee suspensions
Law-call, 7 February 2025
Dealing with ill health
The team at Law-Call, a 24-hour legal helpline available to Alliance members, look at employee ill health and how to sensitively manage this
Law-call, 15 November 2024
Unpaid fees – what to do
The team at Law-Call, a 24-hour legal helpline available to Alliance members, talk you through the best steps for how to approach unpaid fees
Law-call, 6 October 2024
Law-Call
Law-call, 1 October 2024
Steering the way with volunteers
The team at Law-Call, a 24-hour legal helpline available to Alliance members, explores the benefits and considerations of having volunteers in early years settings
Law-call, 4 September 2024Family Corner
Yoga for you and your little one
We look at some of the benefits of practising yoga with children and offer practical tips for introducing yoga to your home
Family Corner, 7 February 2025
Get buzzing about bees
Share this guidance about bees with your families
Family Corner, 12 November 2024
Friends forever?
Share this guidance with your families
Family Corner, 6 October 2024
Key to camping cool
Decided to holiday in the uk this year? Here are our suggestions to make most of the experience with little ones
Family Corner, 9 July 2024
The wonders of wind
Alliance quality and standards manager Melanie Pilcher shares ideas for making the most of windy days with little ones during spring
Family Corner, 24 April 2024
Under 5 magazine
The magazine of the Early Years Alliance