Books by Sally Featherstone

It took 6,000 years to create the species-rich grassland for which the UK is globally famous, but since the nineteen thirties over ninety seven percent of these wildflower meadows and other species-rich grasslands have been lost. Fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides have destroyed many of the flowers, birds, insects and animals that used to enrich our countryside. The companion to this book, 'Flora - ten years among the flowers of an endangered landscape' attempts to capture the essence of the flowers that have decorated the traditional meadows of the West Yorkshire pennines.Upland hay meadows are governed by the weather and the seasons, and the process of natural haymaking, where grass is grown without artificial fertilisers or weed killers, and cut just once a year. This allows a unique range of wild plants to thrive among the many species of grasses that flourish in such conditions. 'Flora - the pocket guide' is a companion to the larger book and is intended to facilitate easy recognition of wild flower species of the upland hay meadows in northern England.

Translating research about child neuroscience into practice in education is a daunting prospect for most practitioners. In fact, many see it as fraught with difficulties and risky. However, the importance of this research has never been more important. The context of the early years in the UK, has seen considerable changes within recent years, with a raft of government regulation and guidance, and a national move to free childcare entitlement at increasingly earlier ages. Combined with a mounting pressure for accountability in 'Closing the Gap' between disadvantaged children and those more fortunate, these pressures make it fundamental that those working with young children understand what neuroscience is telling us, and more important, what it is not. Practitioners, teachers managers, and governors in settings and schools will not only be called to account for the attainment of their children, as measured in tests, but in the way children are prepared for lifelong earning, which will support them for the rest of their school lives and beyond. This book is a comprehensive position statement for practitioners that highlights: where we are now; what we know; what we don't know; what research developments mean for practitioners and setting, and how this fits in with the government expectations within the EYFS framework. Sally Featherstone covers the current thinking in educational research and neuroscience, how some of this has been misinterpreted by 'early adopters' or 'over-enthusiastic promoters', and how new information can help practitioners to be more effective in their work with young children.

The 50 Fantastic Ideas series is packed full of fun, original, skills-based activities for Early Years practitioners to use with children aged 0-5. Each activity features step-by-step guidance, a list of resources, and a detailed explanation of the skills children will learn. Creative, simple, and highly effective, this series is a must-have for every Early Years setting.Messy play is at the heart of the early years curriculum, supporting creativity and imagination, and giving children opportunities to experiment with tactile materials. This book offers 50 ideas for using natural resources, simple household items and recycled resources for low cost inspiration. Practitioners and teachers in the early years are always looking for new ideas for messy and 'hands-on' play, and this book will give children many opportunities for exploration and investigation through sensory play.

Give your sand and water sessions a new lease of life with this fully updated Little Book. Split into two sections, it offers a range of activities for sand and water play that link to the early learning goals and which are accompanied by a list of suggested resources, useful vocabulary and related songs and stories to take the theme further.

The 50 Fantastic Ideas series is packed full of fun, original, skills-based activities for Early Years practitioners to use with children aged 0-5. Each activity features step-by-step guidance, a list of resources, and a detailed explanation of the skills children will learn. Creative, simple, and highly effective, this series is a must-have for every Early Years setting.Children love constructing models and other objects, and working with found and recycled materials has a firm and continuing place in the early years, encouraging children to be imaginative and creative as they practice their skills in joining, wrapping, bending and cutting. These materials that are often free or low cost, are available everywhere, waiting for imaginative practitioners to find and use them. This book gives you 50 ideas for using free, cheap and recycled materials in your setting, both for creative and independent play and for specific projects. The resources suggested are all easily available, and the ideas are only starters for the continuing interest children have in this sort of work.

Developing fine motor skills is a key feature in learning to read and write. Many children need additional help to develop these skills in the Early Years Foundation Stage, and The Little Book of Fine Motor Skills gives you lots of ideas for interesting activities focused on hand/eye coordination and refining the movements of arms and hands. Like all the other books in the Little Book series, this book presents appropriate and enjoyable activities in asimple format, which would enable the most inexperienced practitioners to plan and deliver the curriculum against clear objectives.

If Publications develop knowledge and understanding of the world and stimulate creative thinking in role play by asking children 'What If?' Each What If? pack consists of a CD ROM and guidance booklet. The CD contains stunning, high resolution photographs and images which can be printed, projected or used with an interactive white board.

Little Baby Books have been written to give straighforward and practical help in implementing the advice contained in the Birth to Three Matters guidance (DfES/Sure Start, 2003). they are by experts in child development and early learning. All thesuggested activities have been tried and tested with children in the appropriate age group.

Little Baby Books have been written to give straighforward and practical help in implementing the advice contained in the Birth to Three Matters guidance (DfES/Sure Start, 2003). they are by experts in child development and early learning. All thesuggested activities have been tried and tested with children in the appropriate age group.

Little Baby Books have been written to give straighforward and practical help in implementing the advice contained in the Birth to Three Matters guidance (DfES/Sure Start, 2003). they are by experts in child development and early learning. All the suggested activities have been tried and tested with children in the appropriate age group.

The DSCF are pushing for the Letter and Sounds initiative to cover the whole 0-5 age range and this series answers that remit! These four books are differentiated to meet the particular developmental stages of the framework and clearly linked to the developmental statements, so they can be used in all sorts of schools and settings

One of the four principles of the EYFS is the importance of theenvironment in 'supporting and extending children's development andlearning'. Creating the right environment, both inside and out, is keyto the success of any early years setting and this book shows you howto do it!

This book gives ideas for introducing and extending experiences of sound and music for babies and young children. Each page spread contains a range of experiences and a selection of ideas for each of the four developmental stages of the Birth to Three Matters Framework.

A good understanding of phonics is essential for reading but work that is too formal, presented too soon, is not helpful to young children. This book contains ideas for phonic activities for the Early Years Foundation Stage, for use both indoors andout.

This book gives ideas for introducing and extending mark making activities and experiences for babies and young children. Each page spread contains a range of experiences and a selection of ideas for each of the four developmentas stages of the Birth to Three Matters Framework.

This book gives ideas for introducing and extending construction activities and experiences for babies and young children. Each page spread contains a range of experiences and a selection of ideas for each of the four developmental stages of the Birth to Three Matters Framework.

Ideas for making and using puppets you have made yourself with the children or using bought puppets. Ideas and activities for using puppets in stories, circle time, rhythm, phonics etc and story starter ideas.

Traditional and popular stories and simple recipes to go with them. Extend your literacy sessions with simple cooking activities to make and share as you listen again to the story. Linked with the goal for communication, language and literacy.

Little Baby Books have been written to give straighforward and practical help in implementing the advice contained in the Birth to Three Matters guidance (DfES/Sure Start, 2003). they are by experts in child development and early learning. All thesuggested activities have been tried and tested with children in the appropriate age group.