Teacher, International Speaker, Consultant,  and Content Creator

Introduction In the early years, play is the beating heart of learning. Yet the role of adults within play can feel like one of the most...

My Fave 5! One of the best forms of CPD isn’t always found in a training course or conference hall.Sometimes it’s in the quiet of a book...

Picture this: a child is knee-deep in a block tower, negotiating with two friends about whether it’s a castle, a car park, or a zoo....

If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I’m a big believer in keeping things simple, playful and practical — especially in early years maths. The best resources are the ones you can grab off the shelf (or out of your pocket) and instantly turn into a rich learning experience. If you’re one of my Mr Mc subscribers, you’ll find an exclusive video tutorial in your members’ area this month where I model using a counting stick for number sense, step by step.

Morning Call - 54321 GO! So. .. I was at the gym! My alarm goes off every moring at 5am and since September 2023, I have tried to keep my...

My Top Tips for a Successful Parent’s Evening Ah, parent’s evening—the biannual event where teachers transform into time-keeping wizards,...

As early years educators, we understand the importance of planning in fostering engaging, purposeful learning experiences for young children

Let’s talk about fine motor skills. I see so many posts in EYFS groups asking, “What should I put on my fine motor table?”  or “How do I...

Ah, half term. That magical time when we finally get to sit down without  a child appearing next to us with a mysterious item in a box......

There’s something magical about a well-placed prop in the early years classroom. A simple object can ignite curiosity, spark...

What if some of the most powerful teaching moments happen when we do less—when we simply pause and wait?

When I thought of journalling before I always imagined it being for people who have large knitted jumpers, maybe a roll neck...

Masking tape: the humble classroom hero you didn’t know you needed!

Welcome to the Untrack Unlocked members area! Thank you for subscribing! I am so excited to have finally launched this area to share all of

Welcome to my corner of the internet! I’m thrilled to reintroduce myself to all of you. I’m Dan McFarland, but feel free to call me Mr. Mc!