Welcome to the June PLAYlist ☀️🥳
CLICK HERE For Your Guide To All The New, Exciting Goodies Available This June!
Welcome to June!
Hello lovely PLAYlist Collective,
June can feel like a bit of a turning point in the Early Years. For many settings, it brings transition talk, end-of-year plans, and those bigger questions about what really matters as the academic year begins to wind down.
This month on The PLAYlist, we’re diving into some of those core ideas: relationships, creativity, challenge, and how we prepare children for change without losing sight of what’s developmentally appropriate. There’s a great mix of reflection, inspiration, and practical strategies, whether you’re on the free list or part of our paid subscriber community.
For Free Subscribers
Should We Have Tuff Trays in the Early Years? – By Me! 💭 - CLICK HERE
I’m exploring whether tuff trays still serve the purpose we think they do. If they’re set up with fixed outcomes or adult agendas, are they still offering play? This piece looks at the difference between invitation and instruction, and what makes provision genuinely playful.
Tamsin Grimmer Article – More Than a Feeling: A Loving Pedagogy in Practice ❤️ - CLICK HERE
Tamsin offers a powerful reminder that love can (and should) sit at the heart of our professional practice. She unpacks what a loving pedagogy really looks like, not fluffy, but intentional, warm, and deeply respectful.
Tales Toolkit Giveaway – Win a Year's Membership (Worth £800) 🥳 - CLICK HERE
We’re thrilled to be giving away a year’s Tales Toolkit membership to one lucky setting! It’s a brilliant, story-based approach using four simple symbols (character, setting, problem, solution) to help children develop narrative, language and emotional expression through play. Keep your eyes out for how to enter… It’s a prize worth having!
For Paid Subscribers - All of the above PLUS…
10 Activities – Creative and Critical Thinking 🧐 - CLICK HERE
This month’s activity pack is all about helping children think more deeply. These ideas are open-ended, purposeful, and designed to stretch imagination, communication and problem-solving — all written by brilliant practitioners who know what works.
Tamsin Grimmer Interview – In Conversation with Me! 🎙️ - CLICK HERE
In this thoughtful chat, Tamsin and I dig deeper into the idea of a loving pedagogy, how we build emotionally safe spaces, and why love is more than just being “nice.” A really rich conversation with loads to take back to your team.
Online Training – How to Use a Tuff Tray Effectively (30 mins) 🎨 - CLICK HERE
If tuff trays are going to stay in your setting (and for many, they will), let’s make sure they’re working well. This short training session explores how to shift from theme based setups to real provocations that support curiosity, inquiry, and deeper play.
Top 10 Reasons to Remove Chairs from Your Early Years Classroom 🪑 - CLICK HERE
Chairs are everywhere in most settings, but do we really need them? This article explores what happens when we reduce chair use and why it can improve attention, collaboration, physical development, and learning outcomes.
Booklist – Supporting Transition to Nursery or School 📚 - CLICK HERE
This carefully curated booklist includes stories that help children navigate big feelings around change. From first-day nerves to new friendships, these titles open up gentle, meaningful conversations to support children (and their families) during transition.
As always, thank you for being part of The PLAYlist community. Whether you’re in the thick of transitions or just trying to keep things grounded and joyful as the month unfolds, I hope this month’s content offers you a bit of support and inspiration.
Alistair
