Welcome to YOUR Nursery Hub!
Welcome to your comprehensive Nursery Hub, expertly designed to support nursery practitioners and managers across the UK. We understand the dynamic environment of your setting and are dedicated to providing an extensive range of printable resources, innovative ideas, and up-to-date guidance to help you deliver outstanding early years provision.
From navigating EYFS requirements to finding engaging activities and managing your team effectively, our hub is packed with free and paid resources to make your day-to-day simpler and more inspiring.
Quick Links to Key Resources
New Education Inspection Framework | What EYFS Settings Need to Know (November 2025)
Revised 2025 EYFS Statutory Framework for Group & School-Based Providers | What You Need to Know
EYFS Planning & Assessment Templates: Simplify your paperwork and track progress.
Seasonal Themes & Activities: Instantly download fun for every time of year.
Role-Play Area Kits: Transform your space with immersive play scenarios.
Dual Language Posters: Support communication and cultural diversity in your setting.
Special Dates Calendars for the year | Plus Activity Guides for November & Activity Guides for December: Plan ahead for awareness days and celebrations. Once on our Special Dates Calendar page which acts as an overview of the year, please click on our monthly calendars and individual special dates to find out more. Our awareness dates take you to a dedicated Activity Guide page for each date and all others link through to relevant resource pages where you can also scroll down to find more information about the event.
Nursery Setting Organisational Tools: Organise your setting with self-registration & emotional regulation displays, school readiness support, timetable and routine resources, picture communication cards and much more!
EYFS Framework Support Materials: From ‘Teaching and Learning Characteristics’ & ‘Overarching Principles’ materials to ‘Area of Learning Support’ examples, ‘Designated Safeguard Lead’ & ‘Safer Recruitment’ resources, we’ve got you covered!
‘Areas of Learning Hub’ Page: Browse our resources by ‘Area of Learning’ categories. Narrow your search to suit the needs of your individual children.
Outdoor Area Provision: All-year round inspirational ideas and resources for your setting.
Catering for a wide range of ages with wrap-around care? Explore our Themes & Activities perfect for engaging all ages.
Need an activity fast? Quickly grab a Colouring Activity to build those all important fine motor control skills, develop colour recognition and practice mindfulness.
NEW | From Our Blog: Latest Articles & Practical Guides: Includes Nursery School Regulatory Updates. Stay informed on the latest DfE and Ofsted changes.
Highlighted Must-haves for your Nursery Setting
If you are not a member already, become a ‘Free Access’ member here. This will give you access to resources within the ‘Free Sample Resources’ sections at the top of most topic pages and ‘Special Dates Calendars’. Some whole topics are even free! Find out more about all of our membership options here. If you are already a member… thank-you! x
Planning & Organisation: Your Essential Toolkit for Nursery Practitioners
Keeping your nursery setting running smoothly and compliantly is paramount. Our organisational resources are designed to help you streamline your paperwork, meet statutory requirements, and manage your daily routines with ease.
EYFS Planning & Assessment: Access a comprehensive range of printable templates for daily, weekly, and long-term planning, alongside observation sheets and assessment tools to effectively track children’s progress against the Early Learning Goals.
Daily Routines & Timetables: Utilise our visual schedules and routine cards to help children understand the flow of their day, promoting independence and a calm environment.
Record Keeping Essentials: Find printable paperwork, from child record forms and child absence tracking sheets to age 2 progress check templates and changing EYFS settings handover packs, ensuring your documentation is organised and compliant for inspections.
Download Essential Nursery Forms & Paperwork (More coming soon at this link!)
Engaging Activities & Learning Themes for Early Years
Spark joy and foster development with our diverse range of activity ideas and printable packs. We've got you covered for every season, celebration, and learning focus, ensuring children remain captivated and curious.
Popular Themes & Seasonal Fun
Seasonal Activities: Embrace the changing seasons with themed crafts, outdoor challenges, and learning activities tailored for Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.
Festivals & Celebrations: Discover resources for cultural celebrations like Diwali, Eid, Lunar/Chinese New Year, Christmas, and Easter, fostering inclusivity and global awareness in your setting.
Awareness Days & Special Dates: Utilise our comprehensive calendars and blog ideas to plan engaging activities around key awareness events, promoting understanding and discussion. Once on our Special Dates Calendar page which acts as an overview of the year, please click on our monthly calendars and individual special dates to find out more. Our awareness dates take you to a dedicated Activity Guide page for each date and all others link through to relevant resource pages where you can also scroll down to find more information about the event.
November & December Special Date Inspirational Activity Ideas for Nurseries: Read our new Educational & Informative Event Blog Posts. Browse awareness dates below using the arrows and click through to our dedicated blog post pages to read more.
Sweet treats and healthy eats! 🍬🥕 Sugar Awareness Week is an annual campaign in the UK, organised by Action on Sugar, typically held in November. Its primary goal is to raise awareness of…
Let's sprinkle kindness everywhere! 💖 World Kindness Day is an international observance on November 13th, introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. Its core purpose is to…
Let's make a stand together! ❤️ Anti-bullying Week is an annual event in the UK, organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), typically taking place in November. It aims to raise awareness of…
Twinkle, twinkle, little star! ✨ World Nursery Rhyme Week is an annual initiative, typically held in mid-November, created by Music Bugs in 2013. In 2025, the event is being held from the 10th…
Let's explore and discover! 🧪🔬 World Science Day for Peace and Development is an annual event celebrated worldwide on November 10th. Established by UNESCO (United Nations…
She sells seashells by the seashore! 🗣️ International Tongue Twister Day is an informal observance, typically celebrated on the second Sunday in November (In 2025 on November 9th)…
Let's learn outside! 🌳☀️ Outdoor Classroom Day is a global campaign to inspire and celebrate outdoor play and learning, with two designated days each year: one in May and one in November…
Road Safety Week is an annual campaign coordinated by Brake, the national road safety charity. It's a fantastic opportunity to bring the vital message of road safety into your early years setting…
Chirp, chirp, little red breast! ��🔴 National Robin Day is an annual UK observance, typically celebrated on December 21st, coinciding with the shortest day of the year. This day was launched…
Get your festive knitwear on! 🎄👚 Christmas Jumper Day is an annual fundraising campaign organised by Save the Children, typically held in mid-December. In 2025…
Let's celebrate our leafy friends! 🌳✨ Tree Dressing Day is an annual UK observance, typically held on the first weekend of December, though its spirit can be embraced at any time. Initiated by…
Evergreen Themes & Activity Ideas: Key topics and inspirational resources for your setting whatever the season.
Nursery Setting Organisational Tools:
Organise your setting with self-registration & emotional regulation displays, quick notes home templates, timetable and routine resources, picture communication cards and much more! Access all of our Little Owls Resources organisational tools at this link or browse sub-topic buttons below (using the arrows):
Core Learning Areas & Developmental Support
Dive into our resources designed to support development across all EYFS Areas of Learning, ensuring a rich and balanced curriculum:
Communication & Language: Encourage vocabulary, listening skills, and confident expression with our story props, speaking prompts, and language-rich activities.
Physical Development: Develop fine and gross motor skills with our engaging activity cards, playdough mats, and movement games.
Alphabet & Initial Sounds: Introduce letters and their sounds with our colourful posters and interactive activity sheets, perfect for early phonics.
Phase 1 Phonics: Fun activities and games to build foundational phonological awareness.
Counting 0-10/20 & Subitising: Engaging printables to build foundational counting skills and quick recognition of quantities.
Shapes & Problem Solving: Explore 2D and 3D shapes and introduce early problem-solving scenarios through interactive activities.
Outdoor Learning & Creative Play
Make the most of your outdoor space and unleash creativity with our inspiring ideas and printables, designed to encourage exploration, physical activity, and imaginative play.
Outdoor Area Ideas & Printables: Tips and resources to enhance your outdoor learning environment, encouraging discovery and sensory experiences.
Role-Play Area Packs: Our popular themed packs (e.g., vet's surgery, post office, fairy tale theatre, construction site, teddy bears’ picnic) provide everything you need to set up exciting imaginary worlds that promote social development and problem-solving.
Playdough & Loose Part Mats: Spark creativity and fine motor skills with open-ended play invitations using our printable mats.
Nursery Rhymes & Songs: Classic nursery rhyme resources and song props, perfect for singing, actions, and supporting early language and memory skills.
SCHOOL Holiday Topics (Ideal to entertain a wide range of ages)
Open over the school holidays? Perhaps you have children of various ages…both Early Years and Primary?…Here are a few topics we have selected which may help to keep a wide range of ages entertained…
NUrsery Insights, Advice & Updates
Stay informed, get expert advice, and find inspiration from our collection of articles and useful external resources, tailored specifically for nurseries.
NEW | From Our Blog: Latest Articles & Practical Guides
We regularly publish in-depth articles to support you with current best practices, regulatory changes, and fresh ideas.
The world of early years education is constantly evolving, and with it, the frameworks that guide and assess our invaluable work. Come November 2025, a significant shift will occur as the new Education Inspection Framework (EIF) comes into effect, bringing with it some crucial changes…
With the new 2025 EYFS Statutory Framework for group and school-based providers coming into effect on 1st September 2025, it's essential to understand the updates to ensure your practice remains compliant, effective…
The Education Secretary is calling on parents to lead by example and make reading a daily habit to help reverse the decline in reading for pleasure, to help give kids the best start in life as part of the…
As we head into summer, it’s especially important that children are prepared with these skills. This year, the Royal Life Saving Society UK's Drowning Prevention Week runs from 14 June to 21…
There are several ways that schools can make changes to keep children safe in hot weather, especially as children are more at risk of becoming ill with heat-related issues than adults…
Useful Organisations & External Resources
Find support and further information from leading organisations in the early years sector.
Ofsted: The official body for regulating and inspecting childcare providers in England, including nurseries.
Department for Education (DfE): Access official government guidance, policies, and frameworks related to early years and childcare, including the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA): A national charity and membership association supporting nurseries, early years settings, and their workforce across the UK. They offer comprehensive support, training, and resources.
Website: https://ndna.org.uk/
Early Years Alliance: The largest and most representative early years membership organisation in England. They provide information, advice, specialist publications, training schemes, and campaign to influence early years policy and practice.
Website: https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/
NSPCC Learning: Essential resources and training on safeguarding and child protection, with specific guidance and tools for early years settings.
Website: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/
British Association for Early Childhood Education (Early Education): A national charity supporting early years practitioners with training, resources, and professional networks, campaigning for quality education for the youngest children.
Website: https://nationalcollege.com/institutions/british-association-for-early-childhood-education (Note: Their direct website is early-education.org.uk, but the National College link provides a good overview of their mission and support for institutions).
PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years): While also supporting childminders, PACEY provides resources, training, and advice that can be beneficial to nursery practitioners.
Website: https://www.pacey.org.uk/
We're constantly adding new resources and articles to support you. Have a suggestion or can't find what you're looking for? [Contact Us!]
Nursery Inspiration Wall
Featured Time Relevant Themes and Engaging Resources for your nursery setting
Hello there! 👋🌍 World Hello Day is an international observance held annually on November 21st. It was founded in 1973 by Brian and Michael McCormack as a direct response to the Yom…