Welcome to early years expertise
The Ovivio Blog
Early years insights, activities, summaries and more,
written by early years experts.
Pirate Activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)
‘Pirates’ is a fun and imaginative topic in the early years, making it perfect for EYFS activities encouraging creativity, language...
Top 9 biggest myths about nursery software de-bunked
Nursery software is one of the most effective methods to increase parental engagement, reduce administrative strain and maximise the profitability...
What is ‘Communication and Language’ in EYFS?
Did you know that as many as 1 in 5 children in the UK are starting reception with delayed speech...
5 ways to support nursery staff mental health at childcare settings
Time and time again, it has been proven that when staff are overloaded with work it can cause stress, which...
32 Ofsted safeguarding questions and answers for early years
We’ve combined our expert EYFS knowledge, recent Ofsted inspection experience and information from the latest Ofsted inspection information (February 2025)...
How does Ofsted inspect safeguarding in early years?
Under Ofsted’s 2025 framework, safeguarding in early years takes centre stage. It’s the foundation of every inspection and the clearest sign of...
Spending Review 2025: What it means for Early Years and Nurseries
Phase 2 of the 2025 Spending Review was released on the 11th June, 2025. This Spending Review sets out departmental...
Alex Dave: Digital Media Use, Parental Partnership and Online Safety in the Early Years
In the second episode of Season 2 of the Early Bloom Podcast, we’re joined by Alex Dave, a safeguarding education...
The Latest EYFS Food Guidance for September 2025
With a lot of processes set to change in 2025-26 impacting early years, it’s vital to stay up to date...
Forest School Activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Bring the wonders of nature into learning with these Forest School activities for EYFS! Forest Schools offer children the opportunity...
What does good digital media use look like in EYFS?
With digital media becoming increasingly woven into the early years, understanding good tech use is more vital than ever. This...
Children’s Commissioner Report 2025: A summary for nursery managers and owners
In Summary: The Children’s Commissioner Report 2025 is a new census revealing unprecedented data on the state of children’s welfare...
A breakdown of the Ofsted Early Years Inspection Toolkit: Updated for September 2026
In Summary: The Ofsted Early Years Inspection Toolkit was introduced in September 2025 and further updated in June 2026. The toolkit...
Clarity in every invoice – compliant invoice breakdowns to keep everyone happy
The DfE have advised that invoices need to be clearer by January 2026. No ‘hidden’ fees, clear separation of funded...
Katie Taylor: Outdoor Play, Forest Schools and Maximising Learning Outdoors
In the fourth episode of Season 2 of the Early Bloom Podcast, we welcomed Katie Taylor, an EYFS teacher and...
Ofsted Inspection Update September 2025: 14 new changes for early years
Starting in November 2025, Ofsted is introducing 14 changes to its inspection framework. Key updates include a new 5-point grading...
Responding to the Kido data breach: How Ovivio keeps your data secure
Following recent news in the media that the ‘Kido‘ nursery group’s data has been breached and held to ransom, we’ve...
Put the power in your parents’ hands with digital nursery registration forms
Making the path from enquiry to enrolment even smoother, digital registration forms have landed on Ovivio. Keep your parents engaged...
Funky Fingers Activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Funky Fingers activities are all about strengthening fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and finger dexterity in fun and engaging ways....
Lucy Lewin: Courageous Leadership, Positive Safeguarding and Gen Z Educators
In the first episode of Season 2 of the Early Bloom Podcast, we’re welcoming back to the podcast a guest...
The new ‘Giving Every Child the Best Start’ strategy summary 2025
The ‘Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life ‘ strategy was launched on the 7th of July 2025, and...
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt Activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)
Let’s embark on an adventure with We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen! This beloved story is perfect for encouraging...
Why SEND Early Years Tracking Should Be Different
Inclusion in the early years is a national priority. Nurseries across the country are seeing a consistent rise in the...
All About Me Activities for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)
‘All about me’ is a great theme to explore to help children learn more about themselves and the people around them....