News
All the up-to-date news and information for the early years sector
News and policy updates, 30 April 2025Latest issue
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June 2025
Welcome to the June 2025 edition of Under 5 magazine! This month, we talk about inclusion in the early years, taking a closer look at enabling environments and how to make sure your baby and toddler groups is inviting for everyone, and much more...
April 2025
Welcome to April's edition of Under 5 magazine! In this month’s magazine, we’re focusing on the joys and learning opportunities little ones can experience gardening and being in the outdoors.
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
Policy update
We catch up with Early Years Alliance CEO Neil Leitch to find out the latest policy updates as well as what he has been up to over the last few months!
News and policy updates, 30 March 2025
A perfect storm: Alliance analysis on the future of the early entitlement offers
As England’s early years sector faces a raft of policy changes, we asked nurseries, pre-schools and childminders what impact it will have on their provision and the future of the entitlement offers
News and policy updates, 30 March 2025
News
All the up-to-date news and information for the early years sector
News and policy updates, 30 March 2025
News
All the up-to-date news and information for the early years sector
News and policy updates, 28 February 2025Early years practice
Inspiration for every day
The Alliance’s Melanie Pilcher celebrates everyday inspiration in early years and offers some suggestions for going that extra step
Early years practice, 30 April 2025
Reclaiming play in early education
Dr Aaron Bradbury outlines the Play Matters project and advocates for reclaiming play as a cornerstone of early childhood education
Early years practice, 30 April 2025
Gardening galore!
We provide a handy guide for getting your little ones out in the fresh air to get stuck in with gardening. Share this guidance with your families.
Early years practice, 30 March 2025
Vaisakhi – spring harvest festival
We celebrate the Sikh Spring festival Vaisakhi by looking at three fun and interesting picture books that help t teach key concepts, traditions and vocabulary
Early years practice, 30 March 2025
More than just words
The Alliance’s Rebecca Elsom discusses the importance of pre-verbal communication skills
Early years practice, 30 March 2025Baby and toddler groups
Grandparents at groups
The Alliance’s Alison Heseltine talks you through the benefits of having grandparents at groups
Baby and toddler groups, 30 April 2025
Time to celebrate!
The Alliance’s Alison Heseltine shares the fun from the Alliance’s Bradford celebration event
Baby and toddler groups, 30 March 2025
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 2024Law-call
Law-Call: Navigating statutory sick pay
The team at Law-Call, a 24-hour legal helpline available to Alliance members, talk through the key points of statutory sick pay (SSP)
Law-call, 30 April 2025
Recruitment (part 2): next steps?
The team at Law-Call, a 24-hour legal helpline available to Alliance members, walk you through the next steps in the recruitment process
Law-call, 30 March 2025
Recruitment (part 1): dos and don’ts
In the first of two parts, the team at Law-Call – a 24-hour legal helpline available to Alliance members – share recruitment tips, dos and don’ts
Law-call, 28 February 2025
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 2024Family Corner
Staying safe in the sun
With the weather getting warmer and sunnier, we provide a handy guide for families to stay safe in the sun
Family Corner, 30 April 2025Gardening galore!
We provide a handy guide for getting your little ones out in the fresh air to get stuck in with gardening. Share this guidance with your families.
Family Corner, 30 March 2025
Storytelling and the ‘whys’ of reading with your child
We explore the art of storytelling and how engaging in reading with your child can benefit them
Family Corner, 28 February 2025
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
Under 5 magazine
The magazine of the Early Years Alliance