Early Years Circle

One membership, five services

Everything a UK nursery manager needs to run a calmer, Ofsted-ready setting — coaching, compliance, CPD, business tools and wellbeing. Preview a sample of each below.

AI Coach

A coach for every hard conversation

A private AI coach trained on UK EYFS, Ofsted EIF and KCSIE. Ask about safeguarding, complaints, ratios, planning or leadership — get a considered, cited answer in seconds.

  • Threaded conversations you can return to later
  • UK-specific — EYFS 2024, Ofsted EIF, KCSIE
  • Drafts parent letters, policies and staff comms
  • Runs on your phone between rooms
Sample chat
Free sample
You
A parent is threatening to complain to Ofsted about a minor bump. How do I respond?
Coach
Acknowledge their concern first — parents rarely escalate when they feel heard. Share the completed accident form, the immediate first-aid response and any follow-up actions. Under EYFS 3.51, you must inform Ofsted of significant injuries only — a minor bump doesn't meet that bar, but you should keep a full record. Offer a follow-up meeting within 48 hours…
Ofsted & EYFS Toolkit

Inspection-ready, without the panic

Live checklists, self-evaluation prompts and editable policy templates aligned to EYFS 2024 and the Early Years Inspection Handbook. Tick through in the browser or download as PDF packs.

  • SEF template mapped to the four judgement areas
  • Safeguarding & welfare compliance checklist
  • Two-year progress check template
  • Downloadable, brandable PDF packs
Sample checklist — Learning walk (30 mins)
Free sample
  • Safeguarding poster with current DSL photo and name
  • Ofsted certificate visible and in date
  • Ratios met and deployment purposeful
  • Displays show progress, not just decoration
  • Risk-benefit assessment visible / accessible outdoors
  • Full pack: 6 checklists + editable SEF and policy templates — PDF download.
Staff CPD & Supervision

Grow the team, keep the records

Supervision, appraisal and CPD templates that go beyond 'is everything okay?' — with structured induction plans, probation packs and safeguarding refreshers.

  • 1:1 supervision and annual appraisal templates
  • Team CPD tracker with statutory training
  • 4-week induction plan for new starters
  • Short safeguarding refreshers for staff meetings
Sample prompts — 1:1 supervision (45 mins)
Free sample
  • What went well with your key children since we last met?
  • What has been hardest — and what would have helped?
  • Any safeguarding concerns, low-level or otherwise?
  • One thing you'd like to get better at this quarter?
  • Workload — is it sustainable? What would you drop?
  • Full pack: supervision, appraisal, probation, induction and CPD tracker templates.
Business & Funding

Run the numbers, not just the rooms

Fast tools for the questions that keep owners up at night — funding gap, ratios, occupancy and fee-setting. No spreadsheet gymnastics.

  • Funding gap calculator (30 hours, EYPP, DAF)
  • EYFS ratio checker across age bands
  • Occupancy playbook and fee-setting guidance
  • Plain-English explainers for parents
Sample — funding gap at a glance
Free sample
Your true hourly cost
£7.42
Local authority rate
£5.62
Gap per funded hour
£1.80
Annual gap (30 children)
£30,240

Example only. Members enter their own staffing costs, occupancy and rate to see live numbers for their setting.

SEND & SENDCO

Confident SEND practice, without the paperwork spiral

A dedicated toolkit for your SENDCO — Code of Practice checklists, graduated response templates (Assess-Plan-Do-Review), EHCP request packs and parent-partnership scripts. Aligned to the 0–25 SEND Code of Practice and EYFS 2024.

  • SEND Code of Practice (0–25) compliance checklist
  • Assess-Plan-Do-Review templates for SEN Support
  • EHCP needs-assessment request pack with parent-voice section
  • SENDCO induction plan and CPD tracker
  • Reasonable-adjustments and inclusion policy templates
Sample — Assess-Plan-Do-Review (one child)
Free sample
Cycle length
6–8 wks
Parent review
Every cycle
External advice
From cycle 2
EHCP threshold
After 2–3 cycles
  • Assess — baseline against Development Matters + parent voice
  • Plan — 2–3 SMART outcomes, key person and SENDCO named
  • Do — daily strategies embedded in provision, not add-on
  • Review — with parent, evidence of impact, next cycle or escalate

Full pack: SEND policy, APDR templates, EHCP request, SENDCO induction and inclusion audit.

Wellbeing & Self-care

Look after the person running the setting

Short tools you can use between rooms — box breathing, micro-resets — and honest articles written for nursery managers on burnout, boundaries and difficult parents.

  • Guided box-breathing timer
  • One-minute reset prompts
  • Articles on burnout, boundaries and team culture
  • Link to the Education Support 24/7 helpline
Sample article — 60 seconds between rooms
Free sample
Personal practice 3 min read

Nursery days don't have natural pauses. Micro-resets give your nervous system permission to shift down, even for a minute. Pick one and try it for a week:

  • Box breathing — 4 in, 4 hold, 4 out, 4 hold. Two rounds.
  • Cold water on the wrists for 20 seconds.
  • Stand outside for one minute without your phone.

Every service, one membership

Start a 7-day free trial. No card wall on your first look around.