9 top tips for a stress free family Christmas

Claire Burgess, Head of Research, Consultancy & Training

Twitter: @belles28

Katie Crouch, Early Years Consultant

Twitter: @crunchiekatie

Christmas Day is the one day of the year which can be the most exciting day but also one of the most stressful. We all want the festive period to be one of fun, happiness and just like we see in the movies… however it doesn’t always turn out that way! In the same way that we are writing lists to make sure that we don’t forget anything and to help us to be fully prepared, we need to think about how we are preparing our children. We often think that children will just accept the changes and surprises (which can actually translate into shock for children) that the festive period can bring, but, very often, it can have the opposite effect to what we had planned.

The connection of communication

Katie Crouch, Early Years Consultant

Twitter: @crunchiekatie

Learning language and communication is an exciting journey, which children first embark upon whilst still in the womb. Through sounds, in our environment and our spoken words, children slowly begin to absorb the meanings of noises and verbal communications. Communication is a fundamental life skill, which we all need to connect us to our social world. We use connections to build relationships with others and in order to carry out tasks. Early childhood is widely seen as a critical period for forming language and communication strategies, and is therefore, a golden time for us to get to know our children and their developing personalities.

7 top tips for preparing you and your child(ren) for starting school

Claire Burgess, Head of Research, Consultancy & Training

Twitter: @belles28

Katie Crouch, Early Years Consultant

Twitter: @crunchiekatie

Traditionally, the first day of school tends to start with pictures of the little one(s) standing proudly, and nervously, in their brand new and immaculately pressed school uniform by the front door. These pictures help to form special memories and also mark a moment of reflection for the parent. For many, this moment can cause a flourish of memories of your past four, or five, years with your child(ren). Recollections flash by from pregnancy scans, first smiles, magical first steps to bumped knees. All of these emotions can be overwhelming and therefore makes it completely understandable that you and your child(ren) may be apprehensive about starting school. 

My first year at Norland is over

My first year at Norland is over

Author: Abi Kohen, Set 40

My first year at Norland College has come to a close. Despite the deadlines, learning to live independently and several cooking and sewing disasters later, I have to say it is a year I would happily relive all over again. I always knew the first year was going to be a huge and exciting learning curve, but nothing can compare to the invaluable knowledge and experience I have gained. 

Things to do during the Summer with 1-'2'-5 year-olds

Throughout 2017, our 125th anniversary year, we asked Norlanders, Norland students and staff to suggest activities for 1-'2'-5 year-olds. Here are their suggestions for things to do during the Summer months.

53. Go on a bug hunt, take a magnifying glass, turn over a log and see what you discover. This will encourage children to explore and investigate their world and a conversation about the needs of living creatures will further enhance their learning.

54. Take a trip to the seaside and explore the smells, sounds and sights. Collect pebbles along the way. Children learn by using their senses and the seaside is a wonderful place to stimulate that learning - especially when you add in ice cream! Sarah, Set 25

55. Practice pouring skills with sand, jugs and cups. Discuss full and empty. A simple fun activity which is easy to sweep up and good for fine and gross motor skills. Maria, Set 22

56. Number one... JUMP... Number seven... JUMP! Use coloured chalks to draw numbers onto a patio space. The caregiver shouts out a number and the child has to jump to that number as quickly as possible. Great for number recognition and physical development. Bliss, Set 32

57. Make a miniature fairy garden in a container using a mixture of items found out and about, such as tiny pebbles, fir cones, homemade clay, toadstools, miniature fairy tepees and washing lines. Great to stimulate a discussion about environments and to encourage role play and imagination. Louisa, Set 24

58. Make a lavender bag in the summer. Use the bag to prompt recall and discuss the scent. Lucy, Set 35

59. Prepare homemade lemonade on a warm summer's day. Helps children to understand the provenance of everyday drinks. Lucy, Set 35

60. Design butterflies from different materials. Creativity and imagination will be prompted. Lucy Draper, Set 35

61. Design a stage with a shoebox and narrate a story with toys. Perfect activity for storytelling and imagination. Helen, Set 30

62. 'Magic Painting': all you need is an old paint brush and water. Let the children paint outside on the patio and watch the paintings disappear. It's great for reinforcing letter and number formation with the older children and early discussions about evaporation. Quick hint - if a child has spent a while painting a picture make sure you take a photo so they can show the family later! Steph, Set 35 and Mel, Set 25

63. Assemble an aeroplane using cardboard boxes and some imagination. Then fly to your favourite destination around the house. The activity will prompt recall and imagination. Jemima, Set 13

64. Take a couple of pieces of chalk outside on a sunny day and draw each other's shadows. Great to prompt a discussion about the sun and why some shadows look bigger than others. Becky, Set 32 and Mel, Set 25

65. Pick your favourite doll, fill a washing bowl with bubble bath and water and wash with soap. After the doll is clean, dry the doll with a flannel. This activity can help with naming body parts and discussing water safety. Kathryn, Set 11

66. Combine corn flour and conditioner to make homemade playdough. Kathryn, Set 11

67. Mark out a maze with decorative tape. This activity helps with problem solving and concentration. Dorcas, Set 29

68. Revisit holiday photos and draw what you see in the pictures. This activity is great for discussion and concentration skills. Dorcas, Set 29

69. Practice the alphabet by drawing letters in sand trays. This supports children's fine motor skills as well as their letter recognition. Michelle, Set 26

70. Make a tie-dye top. A good activity for creativity and understanding the different effects that can be created. Francesca Thorn

71. Take pictures of butterflies on a walk and identify the different species online or in a book when you get home. Lisa Philpott

72. Plant flower seeds, wait patiently and measure as they grow. Helps children to understand the needs of living things and how to care for them. Susie Somerville

73. Create tissue paper flowers. Take two circular pieces of tissue paper, place one on top of the other using different colours. Screw them into a rose or flower shape. Attach a pipe cleaner to the base (doubled over for strength if needed). You can put them in a vase or tie them like a bouquet. Great alternative to real flowers and last forever! Kate Morgan

74. Practice washing up at the kitchen sink with a tea set. This activity is good for role play and fine and gross motor control.

75. Re-create a drum kit out of metal mixing bowls and wooden spoons. Then drum along to your favourite song. This helps children develop an appreciation for rhythm, as well as the development of gross motor skills.

76. Practice finger painting.

Norland student helps deliver her friend’s baby!

Preparing for birth is a magical time, from decorating the nursery, to preparing the overnight bag. There is one thing however that cannot always be controlled; exactly when the big day is going to arrive.

Norland student, Lauren Sherrin of Set 39 shares her remarkable account of how her invaluable experience at Norland College prepared her to facilitate one of life’s greatest moments.

Things to do during the Spring with 1-'2'-5 year-olds

Throughout 2017, our 125th anniversary year, we asked Norlanders, Norland students and staff to suggest activities for 1-'2'-5 year-olds. Here are their suggestions for things to do during the Spring months.

32. Draw around a hand and decorate with paint, glitter, crayons or even pasta. Go wild and it always looks effective. This activity encourages children's creativity and you can introduce new vocabulary to describe the textures and patterns. Sarah, Set 25

33. Make your own multi-coloured crayon blocks! Take your old crayons, crack them into a muffin tin. Melt in the oven for a few minutes and you have your own crayon block. This will allow for a great discussion about the effects of heat on wax and the change of state it creates. Becky, Set 32

34. Design a pair of tin can stilts. Make a couple of holes either side of two empty tin cans, thread a long piece of string through each can and use them in the garden to try and walk. Helps children to concentrate on their gross motor skills and co-ordination. Anita, Set 30

35. Create artistic characters from paper plates and let your imagination run wild. Lucy, Set 35

36. Once you’ve made the bird feeder, play Eye Spy and draw what you can see - good for the development of phonics but can be adapted for younger children by using colours or shapes as clues. Elizabeth Harvey

37. Celebrate St. David's Day by making daffodil decorated biscuits with a star-shaped pastry cutter. Cooking with children enables such deep learning - quantities, numbers, watching as the liquid becomes a solid, the development of small and gross motor skills - the learning is endless! Sarah, Set 25

38. Print with different objects such as toy bricks, plastic cars, toothbrushes, cotton buds. Be as creative as you like! Kathryn, Set 11

39. Decorate four lollipop sticks, glue corners to make a square, print out a favourite picture and you have your very own photo frame! Becky, Set 32

40. Play alphabet recognition bingo and use stamper markers to keep score. A great game for on the go which helps to develop an awareness of phonics. Dorcas, Set 29

41. Construct junk model musical instruments. Collect tissue boxes and elastic bands to make a guitar. Join a few kitchen roll tubes together to make didgeridoos. Fill cartons with metal bottle tops to make a rattle. Decorate the instruments using paints and see how colourful your band can be. Experiment with different sounds and express yourself through music. Lucy, Set 31

42. Go to the woods and discuss the wildlife and flowers. Talk about the seasons and the buds growing on the trees. Talk about some of the sounds you can hear. Replicate the sounds you hear by rustling leaves and banging sticks to make the wind and the birds. Laura, Set 26

43. Make a mud pie. Francesca Thorn

44. Cut out a flower shape to create a stained glass daffodil picture. Use pieces of torn tissue paper to stick to the underside of the flower shape. Once dry, attach to a window. You can use this activity to explore with children the effects of light passing through the coloured tissue paper. Sarah, Set 25

45. Hide toy figures and statues around the garden and play hide and seek. Helps develop memory and attention. Jenny Peacock

46. Make your our own beach by setting up a paddling pool and a sandpit. Collect shells from a previous visit to the beach and decorate a sand castle. Bury some costume jewellery in the sandpit and pretend to be a pirate digging for treasure! Use this activity to prompt recall about favourite holidays. Naomi, Set 35

47. Weave bits of old fabric through railings and create patterns to improve fine motor skills. Francesca Thorn

48. Go on a peg hunt indoors or outside. Hide clothes pegs for the children to hunt. Peg them at various heights, on trees, to toys, on curtains, on teddies and anywhere you can think of. Use bright pegs to help the children spot them. Great for visual discrimination. Gemma, Set 16

49. Cover the floor with a messy play mat, squirt with some paint and let children explore the different colours and textures through body painting, printing and drawing. A wonderful sensory experience which can be used to extend creativity and language. Jess, Set 28

50. Construct your own bird feeder. Collect an old kitchen roll tube, spread with peanut butter and roll in seeds. Tie some string through the tube and hang outside on a tree. Watch the birds come along for a snack and discuss wildlife and nature. Becky, Set 32

51. Fill a mist bottle with water and clean all of the leaves in the garden. Great for fine motor skills development. Elizabeth Harvey

52. Re-create Elma from a recycled milk bottle and tissue paper. Use this to prompt recall about the book. Lucy, Set 35

Should we hide our emotions from children?

Claire Burgess, Head of Research, Consultancy & Training

Twitter: @belles28

We all experience a range of emotions each and everyday.  Some can be quite overwhelming, whilst others influence how we approach the people or the environment around us. But what are emotions?  The Oxford Dictionary (2016) defines them as “a strong feeling derived from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others” and “instinctive or intuitive feeling as distinguished from reasoning or knowledge”.

Etihad Airways and Norland celebrate the graduation of the 2,000th Flying Nanny

Etihad Airways has celebrated the graduation of its 2000^th Flying Nanny, continuing its relationship with Norland, the respected UK-based higher education college which specialises in ‘early years’ education.

This Norland approved training ensures that Etihad Airways’ highly trained cabin crew members who transfer to become Flying Nannies, can combine their service and hospitality expertise with an appreciation of the childcare skills required to ensure outstanding service and inflight care for the airline’s younger guests.

A job that can change the world

Mandy Donaldson, Vice Principal, Head of Academic Services and Registrar
@NorlandVP

It’s a bold thing to say, but something I firmly believe in: “When you work with babies and young children, you can change the world!”

Norland Choir returns to the Mid-Somerset Festival

On Saturday 25^th March the Norland choir will be returning for the second consecutive year to perform at the prestigious Guildhall, Bath as part of the Mid-Somerset Festival. This marks the fourth choir performance of the 2016-17 academic year.

What happens when it comes to an end?

Claire Burgess, Head of Research, Consultancy & Training

Twitter: @belles28

We often talk about how to find and interview for a nanny to join your family but we also need to talk about how you handle the situation when the time might come for your nanny to leave.

Norland College celebrates 125th anniversary in 2017

The world famous and prestigious Norland College is celebrating its 125th year of educating and training the very best early years professionals during 2017.

Norland College’s Principal, Dr Janet Rose said that “Norland’s 125^th anniversary year marks an exciting new era for the College in a modern world.”

Norland College extends UCAS application deadline for 2017 entry

Due to extra capacity at the forthcoming new College site, Norland College is pleased to announce the extension of its UCAS deadline for 2017 entry.

Students joining Norland in September 2017 will be among the first to study at our new facility in the Oldfield Park area of Bath. The building, which is being extensively refurbished, allows us to increase our student intake for 2017 due to extra space and teaching facilities being realised.

Things to do during the Winter with 1-'2'-5 year-olds

Throughout 2017, our 125th anniversary year, we asked Norlanders, Norland students and staff to suggest activities for 1-'2'-5 year-olds. Here are their suggestions for things to do during the Winter months.

1. Make frozen hands by filling gloves with water. Once the water is frozen, remove the hand from the glove. As the hands start defrosting, add food colouring and sprinkles of salt for a beautiful melting display. This activity can help you introduce the concepts of freezing and melting. Sarah, Set 25

2. Learn about animals and their environments. Make a home for your favourite animal, we chose a polar bear and penguin. Use cotton wool for the snow and added glitter to create an icy effect. We used feathers as trees and you could even make a little water hole for the penguin and bear to fish in. Bliss, Set 32

3. Bake homemade jam tarts. Cooking with children encourages lots of mathematical and physical development. Lucy, Set 35

4. Practice posting schema with multi-coloured pipes and an upside down colander. This will also encourage fine motor development. Lucy, Set 35

5. Go on a walk, splash in muddy puddles and then make a character from your favourite book using materials collected from outside. Great for language and social development. Charlotte Tasquier

6. Paint pasta and then thread it onto a piece of string to make a bracelet or a necklace. You could even stick the pasta on some cardboard and make a photo frame. Great for fine motor skills development and role play. Charlotte Tasquier

7. Sing familiar nursery rhymes and miss off the last word. For example: 'Baa, Baa Black … Have you any wool, Yes sir, yes sir, three bags …' Great for recall and rhyming. Alison Holt (nee Woods)

8. Make a glitter globe. All you need is an old mason jar, some glitter, food colouring and water. Screw on the lid and shake! Helps with motor skills and language development. Becky, Set 32

9. Make your own Dinosaur egg. Fill balloons with water and squeeze a plastic dinosaur inside. Place the balloons in the freezer overnight. In the morning pop the balloon to reveal the dinosaur egg. Sprinkle some salt over the top to help him to emerge and hatch. Katie Crouch

10. Construct a marble run using a cardboard box and kitchen roll tubes. This activity is good for problem solving and dexterity. Dorcas, Set 29

11. Make a winter fairy garden by collecting interesting nature items. You can leave the items natural or you can decorate with paint and glitter. Add in painted bird houses. Hang them all in an area in the garden to create a fairy garden. Good for imagination and creativity. Ellis, Set 37

12. Create a fairy door out of lolly pop sticks and tell a story about the world behind the door. Great to develop a child's imagination and understanding about constructing stories. Francesca Thorn

13. Make an obstacle course out of pillows. Prudence Boalch

14. Construct a cosy den out of bedsheets and chairs. This creates a safe space where children can feel soothed and comfortable. Prudence Boalch

15. Have a bubble wrap race. Cut two squares of bubble wrap and separate children into two teams. The first child or group to pop the bubble wrap by jumping wins! A fun way to encourage physical activity. Ishbel Brown

16. Make an artistic design using a circle of paper in a salad spinner, add a splodge of paint and turn the handle for a painted picture. A lovely, creative activity. Libby Gordon

17. Make hanging snakes from paper plates. A lovely, creative activity. Jenni, Set 22

18. Collect rocks and create individual characters. Then tell a story. Lovely for developing imagination and story-telling. Simone, Set 35

19. Create a weaved pattern. Set up a loom on a piece of cardboard with some wool. Then use bits of wool, string or even leaves to weave with to see what pattern you can make. Helps to support fine motor skills. Anita, Set 30

20. Devise a toothpick constructions using toothpicks and sticky tack to make a structure. The construction can be used to discuss mathematical concepts of size, shape, symmetry etc. Anita, Set 30
21. Go on a glow in the dark egg hunt. Insert glow sticks inside plastic eggs and then hide them in a darkened room for children to find. It makes a nice alternative for children that can't have sugar. Anita, Set 30

22. Play indoor balloon tennis. Stick some craft sticks to some paper plates to make a racket. Blow up a balloon and then play. Great for physical development. Anita, Set 30

23. Cut out paper star shapes and hide them all around the garden each child has to collect 10 stars. Great for outdoor discovery and number skills - e.g. how many? Do I need more or less? How many more? Louenna, Set 28

24. Has there been a frost? Wrap up warm, go outside and find a table. In the frost with gloved fingers, practice your mark making skills. Be rewarded with a cup of hot chocolate when you return to the warm! Elizabeth Harvey

25. When tidying up your toys, take a small bucket and go on a hunt for different coloured toys and objects. Once you have collected the toys you can build a rainbow. Helps with matching and colour recognition. Lorna Farrell

26. Create a coloured sweets rainbow. Place the sweets around the edge of your dish. Add warm water, then wait and watch what happens to the colours. Why not experiment and try three dishes next to each other, one with cold water, one with warm and one with hot water and compare what happens to each. This is a perfect activity for a budding scientist! Don't forget to enjoy the flavours afterwards. Sophie, Sarah and Siobhan, Set 32

27. Shaving foam powder paint and glitter: sprinkle the powder paint over the shaving foam and glitter. Can you make marks in the foam and watch how it mixes the colours and powder. Katie Crouch

28. Practice opening and closing. Fill a basket with various small empty containers and let the child explore. Ensure the child is supervised, as small items may pose a choking hazard. Great for physical and language development. Lucy Morley

29. Put celery in a glass with food colouring and watch the colour travel up the stem. A lovely science experiment. Elizabeth Harvey

30. Sort out socks in pairs and then group the socks into colours. Elizabeth Harvey

31. When it snows, wrap up warm and go outside and collect a bucket of snow. Discuss how does it feels. Is the bucket heavy or light? Bring in the snow and place it in a builder’s tray. Add a little a blue, red and yellow paint and use a variety of paint brushes. The big ones you might use to decorate with will make the biggest marks in the snow. Katie Crouch