Speaking and Listening in the Early Years contains 70 practical activities for developing speaking and listening skills in children aged 2-5 years old. The activities are linked to all the prime and specific areas of the Statutory Framework for EYFS and will enable practitioners to support children's development throughout the foundation stage and to assess and monitor their progress. These enjoyable and productive play activities help children to develop the skills needed to listen, understand, express themselves and enjoy language. When children learn to express themselves clearly and to listen to others, they benefit from improved social skills and a greater self-confidence. The vital communication skills covered in this book will not only provide children with the language skills they will need to succeed at school, they will also enable them to develop friendships and the ability to work cooperatively.

Drama Activities for the Foundation Stage contains 80 clearly laid out and ready-to-use practical drama activities, relating to every area of the curriculum, to enable any practitioner to lead and develop dramatic work with confidence and enthusiasm. The book explains the theories and values behind the activities and how to harness children's natural abilities and enthusiasm, so that practitioners with no previous drama experience may confidently create enjoyable and productive learning experiences from the beginning, while confident drama leaders will find new ideas and inspiration. A topic index links the activities to popular early years themes and children's interests, making it easy to plan drama sessions or to find a suitable activity for any occasion. In order to develop vital self-confidence and social skills, children need frequent, regular opportunities to work in groups and to express themselves through drama. This book makes providing these opportunities easy and enjoyable and encourages practitioners and children to create wonderful experiences and memories together.

Creating Communities in Early Years Settings encourages and supports all early years practitioners who work with children and their families within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Offering advice, ideas and strategies for developing an early learning community, this book provides clear guidance and real world examples that show how practitioners can provide an excellent, inclusive service to meet the needs of young children and their families and help them to thrive. Debbie Chalmers presents innovative and practical ideas to promote progress, development and inclusion, while outlining potential pitfalls and explaining how to identify and cater for individual needs. Chapters cover key topics such as: the legal responsibilities of a setting inclusion parental participation and parent managed settings roles and duties of different staff within a setting effective and sensitive communication with colleagues and caregivers and managing transitions. Creating Communities in Early Years Settings is designed to support early years practitioners, teachers, teaching assistants, nannies and childminders working with babies and children within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The book will also be of interest to students on early years childcare and education courses from level 2 upwards.

Would you like to offer constructive, creative and exciting new dramatic learning experiences to the children in your setting?

The importance of using drama to promote active and creative learning in the early years is widely recognised, and this fully updated second edition of "Drama 3-5" will guide and inspire practitioners in all settings, allowing them to lead drama with confidence and enthusiasm. Young children participating in well planned drama activities learn to express themselves clearly and develop strong social skills, more self-confidence and a greater understanding of co-operation and team-work."

Drama 3-5" contains a wide range of accessible activities and sample session plans, drawn from the author s many years of extensive experience, which have all been fully and successfully tried and tested with children from 3-5 years. The book also explains the theory and value of all of the activities, as well as possible extensions and the ways in which they contribute to the learning objectives and goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage, allowing practitioners to encourage and assess children s progress. Key chapters include:

This book offers the tools and understanding needed for confident dramatic play and learning, making it an ideal companion to support every practitioner who wants to explore, develop and enjoy drama and have fun with their children. "

Would you like to offer constructive, creative and exciting new dramatic learning experiences to the children in your setting?

The importance of using drama to promote active and creative learning in the early years is widely recognised, and this fully updated second edition of "Drama 3-5" will guide and inspire practitioners in all settings, allowing them to lead drama with confidence and enthusiasm. Young children participating in well planned drama activities learn to express themselves clearly and develop strong social skills, more self-confidence and a greater understanding of co-operation and team-work."

Drama 3-5" contains a wide range of accessible activities and sample session plans, drawn from the author s many years of extensive experience, which have all been fully and successfully tried and tested with children from 3-5 years. The book also explains the theory and value of all of the activities, as well as possible extensions and the ways in which they contribute to the learning objectives and goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage, allowing practitioners to encourage and assess children s progress. Key chapters include:

This book offers the tools and understanding needed for confident dramatic play and learning, making it an ideal companion to support every practitioner who wants to explore, develop and enjoy drama and have fun with their children. "

Developing Children's Communication from Birth to Four Years is an encouraging guide for practitioners and students working with young children in the Early Years Foundation Stage, which will also appeal to parents and family carers. Providing a clear outline of children's needs, responses and abilities at each developmental stage, it guides the reader on: * how to recognise and predict children's individual feelings and reactions; * how to talk and listen to children at different stages; * how to be aware of body language and other non-verbal forms of communication; * how to support communication for children with special and additional needs. Offering advice, ideas and strategies for supporting relationships and understanding in diverse settings and at home, this book is an essential guide to developing communication and social skills in the early years.

Creating Communities in Early Years Settings encourages and supports all early years practitioners who work with children and their families within the Early Years Foundation Stage. Offering advice, ideas and strategies for developing an early learning community, this book provides clear guidance and real world examples that show how practitioners can provide an excellent, inclusive service to meet the needs of young children and their families and help them to thrive. Debbie Chalmers presents innovative and practical ideas to promote progress, development and inclusion, while outlining potential pitfalls and explaining how to identify and cater for individual needs. Chapters cover key topics such as: the legal responsibilities of a setting inclusion parental participation and parent managed settings roles and duties of different staff within a setting effective and sensitive communication with colleagues and caregivers and managing transitions. Creating Communities in Early Years Settings is designed to support early years practitioners, teachers, teaching assistants, nannies and childminders working with babies and children within the Early Years Foundation Stage. The book will also be of interest to students on early years childcare and education courses from level 2 upwards.

Developing Children's Communication from Birth to Four Years is an encouraging guide for practitioners and students working with young children in the Early Years Foundation Stage, which will also appeal to parents and family carers. Providing a clear outline of children's needs, responses and abilities at each developmental stage, it guides the reader on: * how to recognise and predict children's individual feelings and reactions; * how to talk and listen to children at different stages; * how to be aware of body language and other non-verbal forms of communication; * how to support communication for children with special and additional needs. Offering advice, ideas and strategies for supporting relationships and understanding in diverse settings and at home, this book is an essential guide to developing communication and social skills in the early years.

Just because there is a new grammar, punctuation and spelling test at the end of KS2 doesn't mean you need to rush for practice test papers. Teaching Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling is a creative solution to the new test. All children need to learn the rules of spelling, punctuation and grammar - but they don't only have to be learned while sitting at a desk. For teachers who are tired of worksheets, exercises and reading schemes, this book offers a new approach to teaching literacy, through movement, speech and drama. There are over 70 clearly described and ready-to-use movement activities, covering each of the rules that children are expected to know and use in the SATs during Year 6. Pupils will gain a firm understanding of language through these innovative movement, speech and drama activities. Extensions and challenges enable the activities to be used and enjoyed throughout Key Stage 2. Through acting out parts of speech, letter strings and punctuation, children will internalize the language and absorb ideas, skills and understanding. They will be able to draw on this stored knowledge and use it wherever they need it in the future - when they are being tested - but, more importantly, in their own writing. The combination of visual, aural and kinaesthetic approaches means that the activities suit all types of learner and can be confidently used with both large and small groups. A wide range of ability levels, and even mixed ages, may be easily taught together and high achievers may be challenged alongside those receiving extra support. In addition to literacy understanding, pupils will also develop skills in problem solving, teamwork and social confidence. Suitable for use with all Key Stage 2 children, but particularly Years 5 and 6.

All children are now expected to have a sound grasp of the 2-12 times tables by the time they leave primary school. This book provides stimulating and imaginative games to make the process of learning the times tables both effective and fun. The first half of the book contains games specifically aimed at teaching the 2, 5 and 10 times tables. The second half contains games appropriate for any of the times tables. These games are subdivided into three groups: 1. Games for learning each table in sequence 2. Games to test pupils' memories and thinking skills as they try to identify the table they are working on 3. Games to teach children the different factors that can make up each answer. The games require minimal preparation and ensure that all children gain a firm understanding of their times tables and will be able to recall themquickly and easily.