Blog

Keep up to date with the latest news and views in the YPO Blog

We'll be blogging every few days about various topics, so come back soon to see more!

How to create a sensory garden

03 September 2024 By The YPO Team

A sensory garden is a versatile space designed to appeal to each of the five key senses (sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste). It features a myriad of beautiful flowers, plants, landscaping, and other materials that can be arranged in various ways to create a positive sensory experience for its visitors. What you include in a sensory garden depends on the effect you want to achieve. It can be designed to stimulate the senses or create a calming atmosphere, giving you the creative freedom to design a space that suits your needs.
Read more
Play trays in the great outdoors

07 August 2024 By The YPO Team

A staple in early years settings – the magnificent play tray. A versatile, open ended resource that you can use to create many different opportunities for your little learners to explore and interact with the world around them.
Read more
The urban forest school

19 July 2024 By Beeches Park Childrens Day Nursery

Forest school experiences aren't just for those of us in the countryside. Even in built up cities and towns, nature is all around. This is where urban forest schools come in!
Read more
Messy and sensory play in early years

15 July 2024 By Cosy Direct

Mud, glorious mud! Nothing beats messy play and sensory play in an early years setting. We love outdoor play at Cosy and want to share that love through some easy to set up, exciting activities for your little ones. Without further ado, let's get messy!
Read more
Embracing outdoor learning with limited space

10 July 2024 By Millhouse

Outdoor play in early years has many benefits, including developing social skills, connecting with the living environment and promoting physical wellbeing. But how do settings deliver these opportunities and embrace outdoor learning when space is at a premium? It's all about being clever with the space that you have got! Here are five activities that will allow you to embrace the outdoors in your setting without taking up all of your space...
Read more
Ten easy-to-learn Makaton signs

21 June 2024 By Makaton

Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression.
Read more
Inside out art

08 April 2024 By The YPO Team

Taking art outside opens up exciting new possibilities for your little learners to develop their skills and embrace their creativity. It also provides a great opportunity to incorporate nature into activities.
Read more
The importance of reflection in early years

22 March 2024 By Jordan Tully - Founder at Exploring Early Years With Jordan Tully

In this blog, experienced early years professional Jordan Tully shares his insight on being an early years leader and how reflecting and reviewing your leadership experiences can help you continuously improve.
Read more
Five easy to make nature crafts

13 March 2024 By The YPO Team

Readily available and free of charge, what could be better than to spark the imaginations of your little learners than the humble stick? From paintbrushes to mini dens, we have put together a selection of craft activities that make use of this versatile and natural resource. All you need are a few supplies and a lot of imagination!
Read more
Sensational sensory mood tables

07 March 2024 By The YPO Team

From birth to early childhood, children use their five senses to explore and make sense of the world around them. Providing children with opportunities to explore their senses through sensory play is essential for early brain development.
Read more

Don't have an account yet?