The Early Years Circle Blog
Practical, plain-English articles for UK nursery managers. Ofsted, EYFS, staff CPD, funding and the business of running a setting.
Behaviour Management in Early Years: Supporting Your Team Without Overwhelm
What behaviour management actually means in early years, why 'strategies' alone don't work, and how managers can back their team when a child's behaviour feels overwhelming — without burning anyone out.
SEND in Early Years: A Manager's Guide to Early Identification
Early identification is the single biggest lever your setting has for children with SEND. Here's how to spot the signs, hold the conversation with parents, and start a graduated response — without waiting for a diagnosis.
The Ofsted Call: What to Do in the First 90 Minutes
You've just taken the call. Inspection is tomorrow. Here's the calm, sequenced 90-minute plan that gets your setting ready without panicking the team.
Supervision That Actually Changes Practice (Not Just Ticks a Box)
Most nursery supervisions are 20 minutes of small talk and a signed form. Here's a structure that surfaces safeguarding, workload and CPD in one honest 45-minute conversation.
Occupancy and the Funding Gap: What Nursery Managers Miss
Rolling occupancy above 85% and a clear view of your funded-hours shortfall are the two numbers that determine whether your setting survives 2026. Here's how to run them.
EYFS Ratios in 2026: The Six Things Managers Still Get Wrong
The relaxed 1:5 two-year-old ratio is optional, not a target. Here are the six ratio mistakes that keep coming up in Ofsted actions — and how to avoid them.