Every year I watch a new group of five-year-olds walk through the classroom door for the first time. Some skip in without a backwards glance. Others cling tightly to Mum or Dad. Some quietly take it all in before joining the class, while others are ready to explore every corner of the room. Although every child starts school differently, after many years of teaching Year 1 I've noticed something interesting. The children who settle most successfully aren't always the ones who

In those early months with your baby, there’s so much noise – books, advice, routines, comparisons. But sometimes, the most powerful thing you can offer isn’t something you do – it’s how you connect. That’s where baby massage comes in. Baby massage is more than a soothing bedtime ritual or a way to relax your little one (though it’s certainly that too). It’s a gentle, nurturing practice that benefits both baby and parent in deep and lasting ways. So, why try baby massage? 1.

Children can feel anxious about school at any time - not just on the first day. It might be the start of a new year, a new school, after time away, or simply a day when everything feels a bit harder than usual. School nerves are common and normal. With calm reassurance and a few simple strategies, children can be supported to move through these feelings and still head into the classroom feeling safe and capable. Start by acknowledging the feeling Before trying to fix the worr