Developing knowledge of Early Years learning
Enhance your EYFS provision and understanding about EYFS
with practical support and guidance
Welcome to Early Years Inside Out
Ethos
At Early Years Inside Out, we believe that children learn best through play. The natural world provides a wealth of learning opportunities to develop and embed the key skills in the EYFS and enhance wellbeing. Continuous provision, both indoors and outdoors, is essential to developing key skills including concentration, hand-eye co-ordination, gross and fine motor skills, mathematical understanding, exploring and using media and materials, scientific enquiry and language development..
Mission
As an experienced teacher and leader in primary education and the Early Years Foundation Stage, I wanted to share some of the knowledge and wisdom I gained over 30 years in education related to child centred learning through play, continuous provision and outdoor learning. My drive and passion is to inspire early years educators and parents by disseminating a wealth of early years knowledge and information through books, articles and social media. Helen Quincey
Early Years Inside Out
Background
I established Early Years Inside Out after many years of creating resources and leading teaching across EYFS and KS1, mentoring Early Career teachers, training EYFS practitioners and advising on Early Years learning, leadership and outdoor learning spaces for EYFS and beyond.
Experience
- Taught across Primary education and EYFS for over 30 years leading EYFS and KS1 teams (worked in 5 schools including 2 large primary schools one with a nursery provision, an Infant school and 2 small schools with mixed aged classes.
- Assistant Head of 2 large Primary schools.
- Advisor for Early Years Education
- EYFS lead, KS1 Lead, SENCo, English Co-ordinator and Reading Lead
- Extensive experience developing outdoor learning, designing outdoor play provision and implementing continuous provision across EYFS and KS1
- Writing on EYFS learning
- Author and illustrator of children’s books
Get Talking with this discussion book !
My new book 'What Can You See ? What Can You Say ?' combines engaging pictures, questions and poems to promote early vocabulary.
Developing spoken language in the early years is so important to future development. Discussing pictures is one way to model spoken words, extend vocabulary and promote understanding and meaning.
This book is a starting point for discussion that can be extended in the home and outdoor environment. It provides opportunities to initiate conversations, name objects and describe features such as colour, quantity, shape, sound and movement.
The picture prompts and questions are a guide to initiating and extending spoken language. These can be used in addition to learning and reciting nursery rhymes and talking in play contexts.
A language rich environment for young children is an important foundation for future reading and writing development.
Booking Creative Workshops
I run training sessions and creative workshops for bookings email earlyyearsinsideout@gmail.com
WEEKLY SESSIONS FOR NORTHANTS AND LEICESTERSHIRE
AT KELMARSH HALL AND GARDENS
Wednesdays commencing 4th March
10.15 am to 11.45 booking with Kelmarsh Hall
£12 (1 adult and 1 child joint ticket)
My drive and passion is to inspire
children and adults to enjoy being creative.
If you are looking to inspire or develop creativity in your setting, or as part of wellbeing in your school or business, then contact to book a Creative Art Sessions.
These include Training Days, Staff Meetings, workshops or Assemblies.
These sessions provide opportunities to explore and create using clay, printing media and there are also opportunities to develop painting skills.
Training
Professional Development
These training courses are designed to enhance early years/Primary curriculum development and to provide art training that supports cross-curricular learning within schools.
Early Years and KS1 Curriculum Development Training
· Foundations of Early Years Practice. A quick review at the start of each session. Each course below is a half day training workshop. Select 2 areas for a full day training session.
· Assessment and Observation in the Early Years and into KS1.
· Developing Continuous Provision within the indoor and outdoor learning environments.
· Developing Sustained Shared Thinking. Documenting learning including the use of Floor books and creative displays.
· Developing Outdoor Learning across EYFS and KS1
· Enhancing Mathematical Understanding working outdoors.
· From Mark Making through to Sentence Writing and beyond.
Embedding Art Skills and Creativity within Cross-Curricular Work
· Integrating Art Skills Across the EYFS and Primary Curriculum. (A practical Staff Meeting with lots of opportunities to develop printing, drawing, painting techniques and/or ‘Play with Clay’)
· Integrating Nature-Based Learning, Art and Growth Mindset strategies into the Creative Curriculum.
· Artists in Residence – a series of workshops to develop art ideas and embed art skills across a year group or key stage.
· Art Skills Progression Day – working from EYFS to Year 6 developing a key art area select from Sculpture (includes paper, card and clay), Drawing, Painting or Printing.
· Making Display Books – learn how to make a display book with a printed cover and sewn pages.
· School Environments – Murals, Creative Displays and whole school creative projects.
These courses can be delivered as stand-alone sessions or as part of a broader professional development programme, tailored to the needs of your staff and the strategic goals of your school.
Early Years Inside Out
Early Years Inside Out was part of this creative collaboration to engage families and schools in the arts, through fun, imaginative, engaging, active and discovery learning experiences. The aim was to develop critical and creative thinking, through play and exploration, enhancing curiosity and wellbeing.
As a qualified teacher with extensive experience teaching and leading within EYFS, Primary education and the arts. I work with schools, families and the community in education and creative development.
Ethos
The aim is to inspire children and adults to enjoy learning through nature and creativity by introducing a range of engaging provocations, to develop awe and wonder, excitement and curios We
Well Being Books
I am the the co-author and co-illustrator of several children’s books - writing and illustrating under the name Clarke Belshaw.
The drive and passion is to inspire children to enjoy reading and equally to enjoy listening to stories being read. Storytime, in schools , libraries , community groups and in the home are some of the most powerful learning opportunities we have. All the characters in the books are based on the principles of wellbeing, including connecting, learning new things, being active, being kind and being present in the moment. The illustrations demonstrate art and creative activities as these are important skills in art education.
‘ Art can give you the present of being present, leading to a sense of wellbeing and calm.’
Library of Resources
Take a look at the Library below for links to books and articles.
Follow on Instagram @earlyyearsinsideout
for EYFS creative ideas.
Articles
Outdoor Art ideas in the Early Years
Read my
'Top 6 Ways to take Art Outdoors'
article for YPO
YPO Little Learners magazine is now published. Sign up for a free copy on the YPO website.
Pod casts with Twinkl and Early Excellence
I was delighted to contribute to the 'Early Years and Subject Leadership' discussion, episode 57, of Twinkl Podcasts, that aired on Instagram Live on May 9th at 7pm.
Use the link below to access the episode.
Pod casts with Early Excellence Episode 179
I was delighted to collaborate with
Early Excellence for the Podcast
TRANSFORMING EDUCATION THROUGH OUTDOOR LEARNING
Through this discussion I shared how I have designed and developed EYFS outdoor learning environments and the impact these had on learning.
Episode 179 September 2025
FAQ
FAQ
Have questions about EYFS planning, resources or provision? Check out our FAQ section for answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. If you don't find
what you're looking for, feel free to contact us directly.
Contact Me
How can I help?
I understand that each Early Years setting is unique. Tell me more about what you're looking for, and I will get back to you soon with some ideas.
Early Years Inside Out
