Baby room brilliance

entitlement and a growing number of early years providers now offer places for younger children.

The research is clear: the building blocks for lifelong learning are laid down from conception to age two. This is why the quality of education and care that we offer in baby rooms is crucial.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) reminds us that “providers must take all necessary steps to keep children safe and well” and that “children learn best when they are healthy, safe, secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the people caring for them”.

Throughout the EYFS framework, there are standards that must be met regarding space, safer eating, workforce ratios and qualifications, and there have been a number of recent additions specifically relating to the care of babies – most notably, updated sleep guidance will be added as part of broader welfare and safeguarding responsibilities. Although the changes to the EYFS are not due until September 2026, providers are required to meet the safer sleep requirements now.

The education and care provided to babies must be centred on understanding their individuality as well as fostering responsive, secure and trusted attachments. The EYFS sets out four core principles that underpin the Birth to 5 Matters guidance:

• Every child is unique, constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
• Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
  
• Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, with teaching and support from adults who respond to their individual needs and help them to build their learning over time.
  
• Children develop and learn at different rates.

Understanding these principles will allow you to provide babies with opportunities to explore the world, initiating a curious and positive approach to learning that will last a lifetime.

Babies learn and develop more rapidly in their first two years than at any other time, with their experiences and interactions setting the blueprint for future relationships. Educators should look to provide sensory rich, open-ended, baby-led (but adult-supported) play opportunities, such as treasure baskets and heuristic play that support the prime areas of development.

Babies learn and develop more rapidly in their first two years than at any other time...

The key person system is integral to this. As a consistent adult who is there not only for the baby, but the family too, the key person sees opportunities for sensitive, responsive interactions such as eye contact, a smile, a song, a look of encouragement or a soothing cuddle. Working in partnership with families, they see daily care routines not as interruptions but as opportunities for learning, building bonds, sharing the joy of connection and encouraging independent exploration of the world.

The physical and emotional environments that educators create allow babies to explore and take appropriate risks, knowing that they are safe to do so. With careful observations, adaptations and recognising babies’ individual needs, educators can ensure babies avoid overwhelm, build resilience and gain confidence when encountering new experiences.

The typical baby is born wanting to communicate: a skill they are continually developing. Baby room educators can encourage interaction by responding to the baby’s efforts, talking to them with simple repetitive language and by allowing time and opportunities for them to respond. Gestures, facial expressions or babbling are all valued attempts to connect with adults and other babies.

Starting at an early years provision is a significant transition and should be treated as a collaborative process. By establishing a respectful, two-way partnership, providers and families can share vital information that values the unique knowledge held by both parties.

Embracing diverse cultural backgrounds also creates a foundation of trust that benefits the child’s development.

High-quality baby room practice recognises families as babies' first educators. Key messages, such as the importance of prioritising real-life conversation over solo screen time, should be shared with the family to extend learning opportunities into the home.

The education and care of babies in early years settings is rooted in consistent, responsive relationships. When babies experience high-quality care alongside meaningful play, they develop the confidence and curiosity needed to thrive both now and in their future learning.

We know that the first 1001 days, from pregnancy to aged two, are vitally important and have the most impact in influencing lifelong development and learning.

Our Inspirational baby room practice - getting it right from the start Virtual Classroom helps managers and leaders, early years educators and childminding professionals to give every child the best possible start in life.

You can sign up to our next session, which takes place on Wednesday 7 October 2026, at tinyurl.com/U5-babyrooms.

Want to delve even further into quality baby room practice?

Our extensive in-house baby room CPD training package celebrates the uniqueness of under-twos and embraces the role of educators in providing high-quality provision that meets their needs.

You can choose from a range of courses ranging from one hour to four hours long and create a bespoke package that meets the needs of your setting. Packages are available from three hours upwards and can be delivered virtually or face to face in your setting.

Find out more at tinyurl.com/U5-babyroomspackage.