The Early Years Staffroom has been created by experts with a shared pedagogy. We believe play provides exciting opportunities for children to acquire the characteristics to be effective learners in the future and provides the best foundations. Teaching works best when it is purposeful and practical. We know children need to be independent, takes risks and work things out for themselves and we want them to develop their collaborative and higher order thinking skills so that they can reach their full potential.
We know that teacher’s vary in their teaching style in the same way children vary in their learning style. There are many approaches to Early Years; some teachers like to follow children’s interests with no forward planning; many use the ‘planning in the moment’ approach to Early Years. Other teachers prefer to use ‘objective led planning’, while others use a mix of adult and child led activities while following children’s interests. Whichever way you teach, we have the plans ready for you.
Whichever your Teaching style, whatever your philosophy, you will be able to find resources on the website to help you save time and reflect on your practice.
Our aim is to help other teachers and practitioners to create learners who develop a lifelong passion and motivation for learning.
Our mission is to create exciting, out of the ordinary practical planning which is play based, includes independent activities with continuous provision and time for play as much as possible from Nursery up to Year 6.
We provide everything you need to work in Early Years; training, resources and planning based around play, purposeful learning and having fun where children can develop the characteristics of effective learning.
Early Years is a specialist area, therefore, it needs people with specialist knowledge of Early Years and expertise to lead development, have a look at our team to see the various backgrounds that have come together to create our planning.
The Early Year’s Staffroom was founded in 2013 by Katherine Houghton. At the time Katherine had struggled to link with likeminded Teachers with a passion and understanding of Early Years, she wanted to reach out to others who shared her passion for play and were open minded about how we should teach in Early Years. She set about creating this special community which has helped so many others working in the sector. The Early Years Staffroom is a virtual staffroom for anyone working in the magical Early Years.
Office & Marketing Manager
“I created this website in 2017 while working as a Teacher, I had no help or support from anywhere and every resource website didn’t understand early years and child development in the way I did. Now we have a team of teachers who have the same pedagogy as me and we make sure all our planning is natural, practical, purposeful, fun and outside where possible. We also create everything requested”.
Katherine is a passionate and experienced Early Years Specialist with a Business background. After eight years of working in the corporate world as a Project Manager, she had her first child which, as the cliché goes; changed her life. She began researching parenting techniques which led her to the amazing book Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn following this she realised she wanted to make a difference in the world of Early Years. Katherine gained a Diploma in Childcare and went onto to do her Early Years PGCE. She now has over 10 years’ experience in Early Years, teaching within schools with highlights including; writing a phonics program for phase 1 which is now published on Amazon and used in many nurseries around the country, setting up a Nursery within a School and writing award winning blogs and articles about Early Years in her website www.earlyyearsstaffroom.com. Katherine currently writes books and runs the Early Years Staffroom. Katherine is dedicated to research in Early Years, to making a difference and evolving the Early Years Curriculum.
Katherine’s time away from work mainly involves looking after her three young children. She enjoys swimming, relaxing at the spa and has a love of good food! A glass of prosecco in the sun never goes amiss either, especially when joined by friends and family.
“I am excited to be working for The Early Years Staffroom so I can continue to be creative and contribute towards making life easier for other practitioners, who are equally passionate about teaching and learning in the Early Years”
Sarah has been teaching in Early Years settings and schools for over 20 years with some management experience along the way. She has also spent time working with a range of children and needs through intervention work. Sarah managed her own childcare business from home when her children were very young. She is a qualified Forest School Leader and is therefore passionate about outdoor learning.
Outside work Sarah enjoys spending time with family and socialising with friends. She takes her dog Archie for walks and likes to keep fit on her son’s VR headset. Sarah has a love for travelling and can’t wait to book in the next holiday.
Resource & Planning Creator
“I love working for The Early Years Staffroom as it is brilliant that I get to share my knowledge and expertise with other professionals who share my passion for Early Years as well as developing this through the resources I create. Thank you for the opportunity to do this”
Billie graduated in 2017 from Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln with a degree in Primary Education (with QTS) and a specialism in ages 3 – 7. She has worked in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 since 2017 and since then has become the Mathematics Leader, Early Years Leader and a member of the school’s Leadership team. As part of these roles she has worked directly with the NCETM and White Rose Maths and supported other schools with their development.
Billie mostly spends her free time at home with her house rabbits (and fiancé)! She loves shopping, being with friends and family, baking, going on holidays and weekends away.
Graphic Designer
“I am really excited to work with the Early Years Staffroom team and I look forward to being part of creating resource’s that are beneficial and accessible to those that are at the foundation of the education system”
Haley has a bachelor’s degree in Visual Merchandising and Promotional design (University of central Lancashire). After finishing university, she went on to work in imports of seasonal products which has expanded her skill base with firsthand experience in product design, magazine editorials and product photoshoots. After her nephew was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, Haley began creating emotional wellbeing and personalised worksheets to help him regulate his emotions and to try and keep his interest in his education. Then after Haley had her second child, her eldest was also diagnosed with Autism and ADHD so she decided that although she wanted to stick with design, she wanted to go from designing Christmas signs and Halloween bags to doing something that helps children.
Haley has two children with a ten-year age gap meaning most of her time is spent chasing a toddler around the house or playing computer games with her eldest whilst trying to fit in helping her partner renovate their first home. She enjoys crafting or reading with a glass of Tia Maria and some music in the background.
Resource Creator
“I am so excited to work for the Early Years Staffroom and create resources which I hope will be helpful for many professionals”.
Coralie has always been passionate about teaching and knew she wanted to be a teacher from a young age. Coralie graduated in 2011 from Canterbury Christ Church University with a 1st class honours in Primary Education (with QTS). Coralie began her teaching career in Key Stage Two before discovering a love for Key Stage One. She became a Key Stage One leader and English subject leader across a federation of schools. She also became a SATs moderator for her local council. Coralie then went on to become a Teaching and Learning Advisor. This involved supporting teachers in a range of different ways and working with educators in years R through to 6. Her passion for Early Years truly began when she had her own children and saw first hand just how significant the magical Early Years are.
Coralie spends most of her free time with her husband and three young children. She loves shopping, being with friends, binge watching a TV series and going for walks in the woods or countryside with her family.
Planning And Resource Creator
“I love working for the Early Years Staffroom! It’s a fantastic website with excellent resources and I am passionate about creating high quality resources for Early Years professionals”
Hollie graduated from The University of Brighton in 2015 with a degree in Primary Education (5-11 years with QTS). Since then she has taught in Reception, Year 1, Year 3 and Year 4. She has a passion for the Early Years and creating memorable learning experiences for the children in her care.
In her spare time, Hollie enjoys spending time with her family and walking her dogs. She loves nothing more than a walk in the countryside and a pub roast!
Adviser and Resource Developer
“I am delighted to be part of this very exciting opportunity to support the Early Years Staffroom and to help other Early Years Teachers to develop their practise!”
Ann has a Bachelor of Science with and Advanced Major in Psychology (University of Kings College) and Bachelor of Primary Education (St. Francis Xavier University) and also QTS in England! She came to teach in the UK 12 years ago and has since become a truly converted Early Years Teacher! Ann has had some amazing experiences in her Early Years teaching career that include representing the British Council on a research trip to Japan, her provision being published in Kirstine Beeley’s amazing EYFS books, and opening a brand new school as the Early Years Phase Leader 6 years ago. Currently, she has just been designated as a Specialist Leader in Education for Early Years and Phonics. Ann is passionate about everything EYFS, especially phonics, open-ended play and loose parts!
When not working, Ann enjoys playing football, traveling to and from Canada (and elsewhere)spending time outside with her husband Paul, 3-year-old son, George and chocolate Labrador, Major Paws. She can often be found with her nose in a book and has a vast collection of children’s books. Her favourite at the moment is ‘The Darkest Dark’ by Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield.
Website Development
“I really enjoy working with the team at EYS, it is great to work with a team so focused on developing a website that considers their users as the number one priority. The work is varied and at times challenging, which is always a positive for someone that enjoys getting into the detail with the end game of making the user experience better”.
Dan Williams created YostratO Ltd around the vision of simplifying the process of implementing website solutions, SEO, Website Analytics and Paid For Advertising for start-up businesses and SMEs. From a previous role, Dan and his team offer over 15 years industry experience implementing successful solutions for clients looking to improve and grow their online presence and helping them win more business. The essence of YostratO is the business journey with the intent is to simplify your success by providing cost-effective websites and digital marketing strategies that work for their clients.
Outside of work Dan enjoys socialising with friends and family, festivals and live music and travelling – especially when it involves snow and snowboarding. To keep fit, he is a keen mountain biker and runs. A new venture to get outdoors more is taking on a small piece of land to grow organically grown fruit and vegetables.
£58.00 now for one licence which gives you membership for 1 year. Your subscription for the second and subsequent years will be £4.80 per month. Join now before the price increases along with our new benefits.
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