Early Years Alliance

Latest issue

March 2025

Welcome to March’s edition of Under 5 magazine! In this month’s magazine, we’re focusing particularly on reading in light of World Book Day on 6 March 2025.

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

News

All the up-to-date news and information for the early years sector

News and policy updates, 28 February 2025

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 2025

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

Early years practice

Words in motion

Inspiration Corner - The Alliance’s Melanie Pilcher shares ideas to celebrate World Poetry Day 2025

Early years practice, 28 February 2025

Beyond the tokenistic

Beyond the tokenistic - We look at integrating festivals and celebrations into little ones’ learning in meaningful ways

Early years practice, 28 February 2025

World Book Day

We celebrate World Book Day by sharing a selection of favourite books and some ideas for encouraging reading

Early years practice, 28 February 2025

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

Baby and toddler groups

Splish, splash, splosh!

Baby and toddler groups - The Alliance’s Alison Heseltine celebrates the joy of rainy days and shares ideas on how to make the most of the wet weather

Baby and toddler groups, 28 February 2025

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