Welcome to early years expertise
The Ovivio Blog
Early years insights, activities, summaries and more,
written by early years experts.
Three layers of support: a practical approach to nursery staff mental health
A box of treats in the staffroom can matter to your team more than you might think. But there's a...
The early years SENCo role: A guide for 2026
Education, childcare and SEND support are in the midst of the largest changes in decades, and the early years SENCo...
Template: Message to parents regarding upcoming Parent App Update
Please note that this has been updated with new information and the release date has changed from the previous 15th...
New Occupancy Export for deeper data dives
Turn your occupancy data into actionable insights and go beyond reports with our latest and long-awaited feature release, Occupancy Exports....
The SEND Reform proposals explained: An early years guide
Alongside the Schools White Paper in February 2026, the government published a 120-page consultation: SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People...
EYFS Easter activities for nursery children and preschoolers
Easter time is nearly upon us again, which means lots of opportunities for Easter crafts and card making in the...
ICO – How to protect your (and your nursery’s) data
Join Helen Simpson and Ceri Hall, two Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) experts, for a webinar on data protection tips and...
Schools White Paper 2026: What it means for early years settings
There are a lot of strategies, policies and system changes afoot. You’ll be keeping a close eye on what’s published...
Spring Activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)
As the frost thaws and the first green shoots emerge, spring offers a wonderful opportunity to bring the outdoors into...
St George’s Day Activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Celebrate England’s patron saint with these creative and engaging St George’s Day activities for EYFS. From dragons and castles to...
The Complete Guide to Nursery Management in 2026
Running a nursery in 2026 is more complex than it's ever been. Between evolving Ofsted frameworks, rising operational costs, recruitment...
Ovivio’s Childcare Sector Survey 2026 – The results
Our survey closed in December 2025, and the results are finally in. 164 respondents have given us their views on...
Nursery invoicing software that’s top of the class
Manually working out funding is a nightmare. Whether your Local Authority (LA) is clear as ice or obscure as fog,...
6 Risk factors for poor mental health in early years children
When it comes to children under five, there's a frustratingly large evidence gap in young children's mental health. The last...
Ovivio Parent App Guide
Taking your child to nursery for the first time can be daunting for parents. However, with the Ovivio Parent app,...
EYFS Ofsted evaluation area curriculum and teaching explained
Your EYFS curriculum covers everything the children learn and experience while they’re with you. The new Ofsted evaluation area of...
19 Communication and Language EYFS Activities for Nurseries
Imagine joining a conversation where everyone is speaking a different language. You want to join in, but without the words,...
Upcoming Parent App Update
We’re getting in touch to share an early announcement on the timing of an upcoming Parent App update. When we...
Road Safety Activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Teaching young children about road safety is essential, and with the right activities, it can be fun, memorable, and developmentally...
8 Ofsted activities to expect during your early years inspection in 2026
The November 2025 update to the Ofsted inspection framework makes it clear that inspectors want to see how nursery leaders’...
Little Red Hen Activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)
The Little Red Hen is a classic tale that offers so many opportunities for EYFS children to explore themes like...
Sophie Allen: Montessori in Practice, Pedagogy and Developing Independence
In this episode we’re joined by Sophie Allen, an early years educator and consultant specialising in the Montessori approach. Sophie...
Preparing for the Ofsted call: A guide and checklist for the early years planning call
No matter how well you know your nursery setting, when you get the Ofsted call, it’s likely you might shrink...
Ofsted early years inspection documents checklist for nurseries (2026)
If you’re a nursery manager in England with an Ofsted inspection on the horizon, this checklist is for you. This...