Early Years - the organisation for young children

02/10/2026

🌿 Outdoor Learning Across the Curriculum 🌿

What a fantastic morning at Happy Days Playgroup with practitioners from a range of settings coming together to explore the endless possibilities of outdoor learning.

Through discussion, reflection, and hands-on play with loose parts, we challenged our thinking about what outdoor environments can offer. Together, we explored how outdoor spaces can support the whole curriculum, fostering creativity, curiosity, communication, problem-solving, wellbeing, and inclusion for all children.

A huge thank you to Clare, Theresa, and the Happy Days team for their warm welcome and wonderful hospitality.

💬 Some key takeaways from participants:

🍃 "Use more loose parts outdoors"
🌱 "Create more natural learning spaces"
🔍 "See the outdoors as a place for learning, not just physical play"
💡 "Encourage curiosity, investigation, and creativity"
🤝 "Develop inclusive outdoor environments for all children"

It was inspiring to see such enthusiasm and commitment to giving children rich and meaningful learning experiences outdoors. 🍂🌳

02/10/2026

💷 Finance Management Training for Early Years Settings

Are you responsible for managing finances in your setting? Join us for this practical and informative session designed to help committees, management teams and those with financial responsibilities strengthen their financial processes.

📅 Tuesday 6 October 2026
🕡 6.30pm - 9.00pm

This session will cover:
✅ Financial systems and processes
✅ Budgeting and financial planning
✅ Reviewing income and expenditure
✅ Practical, hands-on advice you can apply in your setting

Suitable for all groups, this course provides a helpful overview and introduction to financial management. Please note that it may be less suitable for staff or committee members who already have extensive finance management experience, such as finance officers.

🔗 Booking link available in the Members Area

01/10/2026

📢 Calling all childcare and early education providers across Northern Ireland

Early Years – The Organisation for Young Children is developing a sector-wide Workforce Vacancy & Skills Pipeline Initiative to support the emerging strategic priorities of early education and childcare providers.

To effectively advocate for the sector, we need to gather real-time information on:
✅ Current vacancies
✅ Hard-to-fill roles
✅ Emerging workforce pressures

Your feedback will help us demonstrate the scale and urgency of workforce shortages and strengthen the case for meaningful support for providers across Northern Ireland.

🕒 The survey takes just 2-3 minutes to complete.

Please take a few moments to share your experiences and help shape future workforce planning for the sector.

🔗 Complete the survey: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/PS1Z77/

Thank you for helping us build a stronger, more sustainable workforce for early education and childcare.

Please take a few minutes to take our survey.

01/10/2026

For eligible parents and carers, NICSS can mean more than a lower monthly bill. Aside from the practical point of saving up to £203 per child per month, how does NICSS help working parents?

🔵 The subsidy may enable greater choice over childcare options
🔵 The subsidy may support the ability to increase care provision, which could open up the option to work additional hours
🔵 The subsidy could facilitate a return to work for a parent considering working again

Visit https://www.early-years.org/nicss to find out more - and share this post with a family who may benefit.

30/09/2026

We are delighted to have recently been successful in achieving Living Wage UK accreditation which further underlines our commitment to our employees across Early Years.

The Living Wage supports employees with a decent standard of living and drives up standards to tackle in-work poverty. Fairer, better work is at the heart of the Living Wage campaign and why businesses and organisations choose to go further than the government minimum. There is also a growing body of evidence demonstrating that it makes good business sense.

With thanks to Advice NI and the team for their support.

29/09/2026

🌟 Supporting Inclusive Practice in Early Years 🌟

It was a pleasure to spend time with the wonderful team at Tannaghmore Gardens Playgroup this week, delivering a bespoke half-day SEN training session as part of our Inclusive Foundations package.

Every early years setting is unique, which is why our training is tailored to the individual needs of each team. Together, we explored practical strategies for supporting children with additional needs, shared experiences, and reflected on ways to strengthen inclusive practice across the setting.

A huge thank you to the staff for their enthusiasm, engagement, and ongoing commitment to ensuring every child feels valued, supported, and able to thrive. 💙

Interested in finding out more about our Inclusive Foundations package or arranging bespoke training for your setting? Get in touch at 📧 [email protected]

28/09/2026

Do you know a family paying for childcare?

They may be eligible for support through the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme - and may not even realise it.
NICSS helps eligible working parents and carers save 15% on childcare costs, up to £203 per child, per month, through participating registered providers.

Some families may simply need to know where to start, including registering for Tax-Free Childcare first.

A quick share could help someone access support they’re currently missing.

Pass this on to a parent or carer who might benefit.

Find out more:
https://www.early-years.org/nicss

28/09/2026

🌷 Summer Born Children to Benefit from the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme

Early Years welcomes today's decision by the Department of Education NI Minister to change the eligibility criteria for the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme (NICSS) so that summer-born children entering Primary 7 can continue to receive childcare support throughout the academic year.

The change will benefit children who turn 11 between 2 July and 31 August and are entering Primary 7.

Early Years will be issuing direct correspondence to eligible parents this afternoon, as well as contacting providers.

For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/mpnn5fkk

28/09/2026