A new year represents a new start for many people – a chance to reflect on the last 12 months and to look forward to the next year. So, how can you best cash in on this new beginning to make 2025 the best year ever in your early years setting?
Top 10 Tips To Help Get You Started In The New Year
- Start early before the new year
Give yourself time to prepare for the new year properly. The run up to Christmas is often very hectic with festivities, plays, reports and end of year things, so it can be difficult to find time to clear your head and think about the coming months, but it is important that you do this so that you can metaphorically ‘hit the ground running’ in January. Set aside some time as a manager and as a setting to plan properly and you will thank yourself in January. - Reflect on the last year
As early years professional, we should constantly reflect on what works well, and think about how we can improve. Even the most outstanding nurseries, in fact, ALL the most outstanding nurseries, constantly seek to improve what they do, and they do this as a matter of course. Ask for feedback from parents/carers and staff to create a list of what they feel has gone well and ideas for things that could be improved. This way, you will be capitalising on the valuable resources and ideas you have from your invested stakeholders. Don’t forget to involve the children in your reflections too, they can be a great source of ideas that you might never have thought of. - Refresh your curriculum
You will no doubt already have developed curriculum plans for the academic year that started in September 2024, and you may have all the resources and events already planned for the next term, but remember that the world is ever-changing and there may be opportunities to update and review your curriculum map to keep things fresh and relevant. Make sure you keep up-to-date with current affairs nationally, internationally and locally as this can have an impact on what you want to teach the children. For example, if there is a pressing local issue that has arisen in the last few months in your area, you might want/need to address this within your curriculum. - Set goals and write them down for the new year
Establish some clear, achievable goals for the year. This can include educational outcomes, professional development targets for staff, and/or improvements to your physical environment. Some of the goals may just be an idea to start with but putting them down on paper increases the likelihood that you will act on them and bring them to fruition. Remember that you can also write down your own personal goals and encourage your staff to do this too.Half Way There, Keep Reading To Find Out The Rest
- Organise the environment and your resources
The autumn term can leave practitioners exhausted and needing a break, but it is important to give you and your staff time to reset the environment, take down Christmas decorations, put up new displays and generally check that you have all the budget and resources you need for the following term. Prepare the learning spaces to be welcoming and stimulating, especially if you have a new intake of children starting in January. Make an inventory of all your resources and materials to see what needs replenishing or replacing. Declutter old or shabby-looking displays and fix any toys or play equipment that need mending. Order any new equipment you need in plenty of time, remembering that there are usually some delivery delays around the Christmas period. - Prepare for and welcome new children
If you have new children (or staff) joining after the Christmas holidays, make sure you have gone through your usual protocols and procedures in the run up to them starting. This can include sending out welcome packs, home visits or trial days to smooth the transition. Take time to get to know the new children by understanding their needs, backgrounds, and any additional support they might require. Re-establish your routines and boundaries which can be anything from your morning ‘meet and greet’ routine to how you organise your snack and lunch times. Remind existing children of these and introduce them to any new children you have, using buddy systems to help integrate any new children. - Refresh your professional development
Review your CPD and training schedule so that you can incorporate new requirements or requests for training from staff. You may have had an incident occur in your setting that necessitates new training, or you may have a new child with special needs requiring you to upskill staff to meet their needs. There are a lot of short CPD courses available online which can provide you with additional training ideas too. - Re-engage with parents and carers
Take the new term as a time to reconnect and communicate with parents/carers about the upcoming year’s plans. Provide them with information on what to expect and how they can support their child’s learning at home, especially if you have adapted your curriculum. You can do this through regular face-to-face meetings, newsletters, social media and parent/carer groups. Why not create a regular weekly or monthly activity that you can send home for parents/carers for them to do at home with their children, extending the learning into the home environment? - Check you are still compliant for the new year
Review all your policies and procedures to make sure they are still compliant with your country’s relevant laws and statutory guidance. Remember that Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have their own systems and guidance in relation to early years and these can change regularly. Make sure all your health and safety policies are up-to-date so that the setting is safe for all children and staff. This includes checking equipment, updating emergency procedures, and ensuring compliance with regulations such as COSHH. You may need to plan for additional fire drills with an influx of new children or staff. - Reach out to your local community
A new year is a great time to reach out to your local community in innovative ways, be that by organising a litter pick in your local park, or contacting a new community group to visit or help. January is a month when many elderly peop
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