


14 Questions to ask a Nursery in 2023
Choosing a nursery isn’t always the easiest but to help make things a little easier, we’ve put together the top questions to ask a day nursery with a little insight from our team of internal experts.
Choosing a nursery isn’t always the easiest but to help make things a little easier, we’ve put together the top questions to ask a day nursery with a little insight from our team of internal experts.
In this article, Professor Sam Wass lays out some of the neuroscience research into how young brains process the sights and sounds around them that has motivated our decision to design our nurseries in a more pared-down, minimalist way than most other nurseries.
FENNIES BLOG For Parents Home Fennies’ Child Development Expert, Professor Sam Wass, shares his tips on how to start up conversations about books with your
Find out why mark making is so important and discover our top tips for supporting this in the early years.
Buying children’s toys– is it a question of short-term pain versus long-term gain? Sam Wass delves deeper into the toy box.
Our Spanish Specialist, Christina, shares how learning a second language helps children develop an appreciation for different cultures and how this is beneficial to all areas of learning.
Our Child Development Expert Sam Wass explains the science behind your toddler’s tantrums to help you better understand how to navigate them.
Our Academy Lead, Jamie, shares why it’s so important to be a leader in the early years and how you can build your skills to inspire and motivate your nursery team.
Here’s an insight into the world of training with our award-winning Academy Lead, Jamie.
Early years Educator, Emma, shares what happened during her induction week at Fennies.
Autumn offers so many opportunities for learning before the winter months hit, from sensory to STEM activities, here’s our ultimate list of autumn activities for kids!
This blog will explain everything you need to know about the Birth to 5 Matters guidance and how it is used in your child’s nursery.
We recognise starting a nursery is a huge adjustment, not just for your little one, but for the whole family. Here’s what to expect from your settling-in period at Fennies.
Our Wimbledon Nursery Manager, Tatiana, shares the benefits a key person has for children, parents and staff.
Sam Wass analysis some moments from ‘The Secret Life of a 4 and 5-Year-Old’ and explain how children learn to develop their social skills and make friends.
Learn the 14 types of play children engage in, as recognised by theorist Bob Hughes in Playtypes: Speculations and Possibilities along with their benefits and how you can incorporate this into your practice.
Here are our top tips for coping with separation anxiety as your child starts the next stage of their learning journey; school.
Britain’s most successful Paralympian and Fennies partner, Dame Sarah Storey shares her top tips for encouraging under 5s to be active.
Our Spanish Specialist Christina explains how learning a second language supports children’s learning and development before they start school.
In need of some outdoor activity inspiration? We’ve got lots of fun ideas to get your little one to enjoy the fresh air this summer … happy gardening!
Britain’s most successful Paralympian and Fennies partner, Dame Sarah Storey, answers questions about everything from parenting to her career and keeping children active.
As a nursery practitioner, you play a huge role in children’s development every single day. Here’s our tips taken from Dr Emmi Pikler for building positive and respectful interactions.
Fennies Head of EYFS, Rageena Tahir, shares how to create outstanding child-led nursery displays to enhance your early years setting.
Being active is a key part of development. The early years are a prime time to support children to develop a positive attitude to food, nutrition and being active.
Keep the children busy during the summer holidays with these fun and fantastic summer activities for kids.
Sam Wass talks about the psychological and physiological factors that can cause children to refuse food and what can be done at home to support picky eaters.
Join children’s author and illustrator Christie Bounsall as she talks about what inspires her, the importance of rhyme in the early years and how she comes up with quirky characters.
Our Bromley Deputy Manager Jake is excited to share a snippet of what a typical day in the life of a Deputy Manager at Fennies looks like.
Easter brings lots of fun and celebrations for children (and adults too!). Inevitably it also brings chocolate eggs and sweet foods. If you’re concerned about your child overdoing it with chocolate this Easter, I’m here to reassure you that a little bit of what we fancy is perfectly healthy.
Easter themed activities for children of all ages.
We have some exciting opportunities within our education team. Want to find out more?
Discover how to create a language rich environment that encourages communication and develops your child’s vocabulary, whether at home or at nursery.
Discover what it’s like to be a Room Leader at Fennies.
Cardboard tubes, plastic bottles, and an old shoe box could be the key to developing your child’s imagination, teaching them how to solve problems and improve communication skills.
speech and language development is a gateway to other skills – even early learning in maths, for example, tends to rely heavily on language skills. It’s also a gateway to social and personal development, such as emotion regulation as language allows a child to communicate to someone else. Professor Sam Wass explains the importance of language development and your interactions.
Our bodies are made up of over 50% water. So it stands to reason that we need to make sure we stay hydrated and keep those levels topped up. In this blog we share with you why staying hydrated is so important, and some top tips on the best drinks for your child.
Whether you’re a level 2 or 3 qualified practitioners (also known as a nursery nurse) looking for a new opportunity, or you’re interested in starting an apprenticeship in childcare, here’s some great tips and tricks to help make that interview process a little less stressful.
What better time than international women’s day to find out about all the wonderful women that inspire us at Fennies.
We’ve put together our favourite literacy games and activities that will get your little one reading, writing and learning new vocabulary whilst having lots of fun along the way!
Currently working towards a qualification in childcare, Epsom Apprentice Leah shares some insight into what it’s like being an apprentice at Fennies.
EYNP Nutritionist Catherine shares 5 ways you can support your child’s mental health with food.
With so much focus on moving towards more plant-based eating, it is no surprise that parents are wondering whether it might be the right thing to do for their families. So what is the best plant-based alternative to milk to give?
FENNIES BLOG Nutrition Home Fennies are proud to be accredited by the Early Years Nutrition Partnership (EYNP) for our menus and contribution to supporting good
FENNIES BLOG Early Years Practice Home Navigating numerous job boards, prepping for interviews, and polishing your CV can be a daunting task, but with tips
Healthy bones and teeth are formed in early childhood and during our teenage years. Calcium and vitamin D are both vital ingredients to support healthy bone development, and we know that children who get enough calcium and vitamin D during childhood are most likely to reach adulthood with the strongest bones possible.
Some studies have identified that parental modelling is related to lower levels of fussiness and higher levels of food enjoyment in their children. When put like this, role modelling seems like a no brainer! In this blog, weexplore what role modelling is and how it can influence your child’s feeding behaviours.
Our Head of Recruitment Caroline Horsley explores the important role of an early years practitioner at a day nursery or pre school.
It’s clear that there is a movement towards more plant-based eating. Whilst there are clear health benefits from reducing certain animal foods, and increasing plant-based foods, the nutritional impact must be considered.
Kerri Savage, our Oxted manager gives us a little peek inside the flow of a day inside a Fennies nursery.
What we choose for breakfast is vital because it really does help to set us up for the day and provides a great opportunity to get a wide range of important energy and nutrients into our children.
Move and groove your way through our favourite children’s games that incorporate music, movement and sound!
There are many benefits of learning a second language before the age of 5. Here are some of the reasons learning a language in the early years will give your child a great advantage for development.
Children of all ages can benefit from a regular and consistent routine. It helps to create familiarity and can enable your child to understand and anticipate what comes next in their day.
Watching your little one begin exploring the world around them and using their new skills to surpass milestones is one of the most exciting things about child development. Refining these skills from an early age is an important part of this and can lay the groundwork for lots of future activities like standing on one foot, balance, coordination and walking without support.
From September 2021, these changes will be introduced to all early year’s settings across the country. We know this is a big change in a year when there’s been lots of changes, so we’d like to share some information about what this will mean for you and your nursery.
Fennies are proud to be accredited by the Early Years Nutrition Partnership (EYNP) for our menus and contribution to supporting good nutrition in the early years.
This months’ topic: Eating Alfresco with children
Amongst the hussle and bustle of nursery life, I often get asked what the role as a Nursery Manager actually involves. The Chef cooks, the practitioners care for the children, the maintenance team fix things but what about the Nursery Manager? Well, let me give you a little insight!
we’ve put together a list of our favourite meditation for kids for you to listen to at home. These guided meditations are perfect for bedtime, relaxation, and easing your child’s anxiety.
Fennies are proud to be accredited by the Early Years Nutrition Partnership (EYNP) for our menus and contribution to supporting good nutrition in the early years.
Choosing a nursery isn’t always the easiest but to help make things a little easier, we’ve put together the top questions to ask a day nursery with a little insight from our team of internal experts.
FENNIES BLOG Nutrition Fennies are proud to be accredited by the Early Years Nutrition Partnership (EYNP) for our menus and contribution to supporting good nutrition
FENNIES BLOG Nutrition Fennies are proud to be accredited by the Early Years Nutrition Partnership (EYNP) for our menus and contribution to supporting good nutrition
we are delighted to bring you regular nutrition updates and evidence-based articles written by our Registered Nutrition Professionals from EYNP, Janet Aylott, and Catherine Lippe.
This months’ topic: Can sugar be part of a balanced diet?
Meditation is a practice that we usually associate with adults, but it can have great benefits for young children too. Emotional literacy and self-regulation are a focus in the early years; helping children understand emotions, how they feel and what they can do to manage intense emotions.
As a parent, you receive an overwhelming amount of advice from the internet, television, and family members about your child’s nutrition. To help you navigate this a little easier, we’ve spoken to Nutritionist Janet Aylott your most commonly asked questions.
At Fennies, most of our furniture and resources are created by Community PlayThings, who design and manufacture wooden equipment for primary schools and early years settings in the UK We took a visit to their factory to see first-hand how our children’s toys are made.
We’ve put together some of our favourite sensory tray inspiration, water play ideas, STEM activities, and creative play ideas for babies so now is the time to embrace it and get messy!
Teaching children about recycling isn’t always the easiest thing but it’s more important than ever to educate children about environmental issues. We’ve put together some ways you can make recycling fun at home and ideas about how you can speak to your children about the 3 Rs!
Fennies speaks to the author of the fantastic children’s books ‘Daddy, Papa, and me’ and ‘Sparkle Boy’ about the importance of introducing diverse books in the early years.
Did you know storytelling is a great way to enrich children’s imagination, develop crucial language skills, and introduce an appreciation for different cultures?
A child’s nursery helps shape their experiences and build on how they view the world around them. A setting that incorporates equality, diversity, and inclusion can benefit children’s social and emotional development as well as a cultural appreciation of others. Practitioners enhance diversity in the early years by supporting young children in understanding how we’re all wonderfully different!
Imagine unlocking a world overspilling with sensory exploration. Discover how the Fennies Sensory Experience can help your child develop and learn.
We’ve compiled a list of tips to help you manage stress and anxiety throughout your pregnancy during a pandemic.
Fennies are proud to be accredited by the Early Years Nutrition Partnership (EYNP) for our menus and contribution to supporting good nutrition in the early years. As part of our subscription, we are delighted to bring you regular nutrition updates and evidence-based articles written by our Registered Nutrition Professionals from EYNP, Janet Aylott, and Catherine Lippe. This months’ topic: How to encourage your child to try new foods.
From birth, children are designed to use their senses to explore the world around them. Therefore, sparking their natural curiosity through sensory play in early childhood is essential for development.
we’ve put together the ultimate list of 50 of the best Winter activities, from arts and crafts to science experiments and recipes to get the whole family in the festive spirit!
You may hear about vitamin supplements for children but are they really necessary? In this article, EYNP (Early Years Nutrition Partnership) Registered Nutrition Professional Catherine Lippe tells us everything we need to know about vitamin supplements for the under 5’s.
Bonfire Night is always an exciting event for children, but how do you remember remember to stay safe through all the celebrations? Here’s some top tips to make sure it’s just the fireworks that go off with a bang.
We have put together our favourite 5th of November activities which you and your little one will love– we flame to please!
Engaging in creative activities within art, music, and movement provide your child with opportunities to explore interests and express themselves. This post shares some Fennies favourite activities that you can recreate at home, which are not only important for development but lots of fun!
Exercise is great for our body brain and emotions and Fennies PE Coordinator, Sasha Flynn, wants to share with you some great activities that not only get your child moving but, support their development.
Moving away from a bottle to a cup can be a tricky time for both children and parents. Bottles can often be a comfort, particularly when baby is ready for sleep. Understanding why this transition is so important and being armed with some tips to help will be useful.
Indoors or out, try these 5 physical development activities with your child recommended by our Epsom Nursery Manager.
We are delighted to bring you regular nutrition updates and evidence-based articles written by our Registered Nutrition Professionals from EYNP, Janet Aylott, and Catherine Lippe. This month’s topic is: why is iron so important?
Constructing effective interactions is how we stimulate children’s minds through communication, both at home and in nursery, it is crucial for enhancing learning, building self-esteem, and developing language skills.
As many of us begin returning to our “normal” life post-lockdown, we check in with Psychotherapist of 20 years and Co-Founder of wellbeing website We Are Vega, Catriona Morten.
Discover how Nursery Manager Charlotte Bailey is inspiring practitioners within her team to continue with their career development.
We are delighted to share that Eloise Stenner, Great British and European hockey competitor has been working with our staff and children to develop fun sporting activity sessions across all our nurseries from February to May.
Fennies provides a fully rounded health program teaching children how to implement future healthy lifestyle habits.
Our curriculum has been designed to fully engage children across the seven areas of learning and development.
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