Ruth Thomson

Enabling Environments: Scrapstore - To a fine art

For an average of £15 a month, nurseries can access an ‘Aladdins cave’ of donated resources in London.

A Unique Child: information sharing - Pulling together

Best practice in information sharing and the barriers to it are highlighted in new reports by the Task and Finish group

Positive Relationships: Policies - Focus on family

A set of early years briefing papers for political parties ahead of the next general election has ‘parents and families’ among its themes.

Two-year-olds: Working with parents - Welcome!

With only a matter of months before the extended two-year-olds scheme comes fully into force in September, what can nurseries do to accommodate the new families? Ruth Thomson offers some guidance.

Nursery Food: Training - Know your onions

What options are available for nutrition training, and how can practitioners best develop the skills they need? Ruth Thomson investigates.

A Unique Child: Health - A guide to … iodine deficiency

Research shows that iodine deficiency in pregnant women can impair a childs cognitive development. Ruth Thomson examines the impacts of the deficiency and outlines what can be done to prevent it.

Positive Relationships: Working with parents - Let's meet

A project from Bookstart is offering childrens centre staff a way to work more closely with disadvantaged families. Ruth Thomson explains.

Enabling Environments: Equipment - Link to nature

The principles of a leading early years equipment maker are behind bags of natural objects for heuristic play, assembled by school pupils. Ruth Thomson reports.

Nursery Equipment: Construction - Work it out

Construction play is ideal for developing both gross and fine motor skills. Ruth Thomson provides a round-up of the building sets on offer.

The EYFS consultation: at-a-glance guide

We guide you through the EYFS consultation document, its questions and the main points of concern