Walking the Talk It has been wonderful to be back out and about in nursery settings. The last two years have been challenging, and it is vital to draw a line and get back into good habits. There has been so much change that we now need to go back [...]

Four strategies to overcome your team’s Negative Nancy. How to deal with Negative Nancy or Debbie Downer is one of those topics that come up time and time again, especially when talking with Nursery Managers. Apologies in advance if your name is Nancy or Debbie, Claire, or Susan; this [...]

Who are the vulnerable children? Vulnerable children are a subject dear to my heart, which is why I do what I do. Our job is to focus on our vulnerable children every day, not just on inspection day. The list of vulnerable children increases each year, as does the struggle [...]

What’s the difference between the real Ofsted inspection and a ‘mock inspection’? As a nursery manager, receiving the call from Ofsted that they will be with you tomorrow for your inspection conjures up feelings of nausea, utter dread, and anxiety. The question hangs in the air, was it easier when [...]

Are you reading Ofsted reports and feeling saddened and disheartened? If you're anything like me, you're reading Ofsted reports and thinking, oh my goodness! They really are not the grading that you want them to be at the moment. I feel a little bit like, 'why is this happening?' Why [...]

During your Ofsted inspection, I can honestly say that this is one of the most important parts to get right. It is telling your settings story and why you do what you do. It is also the key to a great inspection. There are many different things to think [...]

All we keep hearing at Jigsaw are the words Because of the C word  and this week I have made a stand.. After several cancellations and disappointments within the Early Years sector I am now drawing a line in the sand and don’t want to hear it anymore about Covid.. [...]

WOW - Where has the last 4 months gone? There has been many highs and lows within the last 120 days in Early Years, in the UK and in the World. Did you ever foresee this happening when you were watching from afar.... not me... I was in my own [...]

We are all in a state of shock, of not knowing what comes next. The news every day brings us more sadness, not just here in the UK but across the world. What a strange and unsettled time we are all going through at the moment and who could have [...]

Over the past few months, we have been traveling around the country visiting settings with our quality improvement inspections. There seems to be a common theme coming across the settings. I have seen the most amazing ‘social media’ activities to impress ... what do I mean by this?... activities which [...]