Early Years Summit

Don’t miss out on the Early Years Summit this spring

for full information click here

Early Years Summit

The 2019 Spring Summit:
Challenge and Risk in the Early Years
29th April 2019 to 5th May 2019
Get Your FREE Ticket for the 2019 Spring Summit »
Or you can buy any of the previous Summit recordings to keep and watch forever here.

Here are just some of the things you’ll learn at the Spring 2019 Summit…

What is meant by Risky Play?
What are the benefits of Risky Play?
How can we create suitable environments?

Stretching and challenging children
Benefits of raising expectations for children
Physical, cognitive and intellectual challenges

Effective policies and procedures
Supporting staff with understanding ‘risks’ including allergies
Teaching staff about suitable challenges
Alice​
Nursery Owner, Canada
This was the easiest, most comfortable, convenient form of education I have ever been involved in! My daughter also participated in the Early Years Summit and introduced this concept to me which I absolutely loved. We have educated and cared for children for over 25 years may I say it was magnificent to meet and hear of others in our field all over the world! Kristal and I have picked up a few ideas from the summit introducing the ideas to our children and families have proved to be most successful and FUN!

Just want to tell you how much I am enjoying the Summit … I have been introduced to some new things … and have already looked into training to be an INPP as a direct result of your summit (I did not know about this role beforehand, and seems to be the missing link that I have been looking for all these years)!

M.G.​
Early Years Professional
Your Host

Kathy Brodie

Your host for the Summit is well known Early Years author and expert, Kathy Brodie.

She’s the author of multiple books on Early Years childcare and is the founder and organiser of the Early Years Summit and Early Years TV – the leading free online CPD resources for Early Years Practitioners and Educators globally.

She’s also created a number of online training courses covering Observation Assessment and Planning, Sustained Shared Thinking and Schematic play, which you can find here.

speakers confirmed already
Alistair Bryce-Clegg

Dr Tim Gill

Kathryn Solly

Helen Little

Dr Diane Kashin

Peter Moorhouse

Dr Mariana Brussoni

Niki Buchan

Sandi Phoenix

Julie Mountain

Rachel Buckler

Chanie Wilschanski

Chris Phoenix

Sid Mohandas

Dr Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter

Churchill Fellowship Update

early childhood woodwork

Researching the rich potential of creative woodwork in early childhood education
Winston Churchill Fellow 2018- update

My research abroad is now almost complete. The final leg will be to Sweden. It has been such a privilege to travel as a Churchill Fellow – and it has certainly opened up many doors. Through my trips I’ve met leading researchers at Harvard University, The mayor of Helsinki, The director of education for Finland, and many leading academics, authors and policy makers in New Zealand, as well as a great many passionate and dedicated teachers.

I have been overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity, with people often dedicating half a day of their time to being interviewed, having in-depth discussions and showing their provision. (But no-one let on just how much time it takes to set up and coordinate all these appointments!)

My research has been looking into the value of woodwork and making in early childhood education, looking at countries that have well-established provision or have innovative practice. There is wealth of rich practice out there ranging from the well-established making in Finland both in early years and primary education. Every primary school has designated technology spaces for woodwork and fabric work and their work is often directly connected to other areas of learning. In the USA the rise of the maker movement has had a phenomenal impact on education with many schools adopting ‘tinkering labs’ or ‘makerspaces’. In New Zealand woodwork is firmly established in early years settings – it was a delight to see the engagement of very young children working on their models with real tools.

Practical work is highly valued in many cultures but in the UK we have very mixed messages. The sad reality is that the majority of UK school children never get to use tools in their entire education – early years, primary or secondary.  Less than half schools in the UK even offer D&T at GCSE level and courses are being cut almost weekly due to funding and EBacc prioritisation marginalising arts and technology. Meanwhile the government is saying we need more students with practical skills and we need to encourage more students to go into manufacturing, engineering and science. In terms of early years we are also dealing with new challenges – for a generation that is learning to swipe before they can walk we desperately need more hands-on experiential learning.

From my research the value of working with tools is clear. Woodwork is a truly cross-curricular activity embracing all areas of learning. Children almost universally seem to enjoy working with tools, with hands and minds working together and we see extraordinary levels of sustained engagement with high levels of persistence. Raised self-esteem and confidence is central and all teachers highlighted just how important woodwork can be for developing children’s creative and critical thinking skills as children express their imagination and problem-solve. The benefits are truly wide ranging: increased physical development, enhanced well-being, increased sense of agency – that can-do spirit, mathematical thinking, scientific knowledge, artistic expression, craft and design thinking and all of these combine to have a profound impact on children’s learning and development. They are becoming the designers, creative thinkers, architects, engineers of tomorrow. Woodwork also provides a wonderful foundation to go on to more technical ‘making’ incorporating electronics and computing.

I have been in the fortunate position that I get to present regularly at national and regional conferences as well as deliver regular training to teachers so in that way I have almost immediately been able to share findings from my research trips and hopefully these inspire others and already start to have an impact on provision here in the UK. I am now in the process of establishing the Early Childhood Woodwork Association in the UK and The Big Bang Project to further research woodwork and promote woodwork both here in the UK and overseas. I’m looking forward to the final phase in Sweden and then working out just how I can best use this knowledge, how to best make waves in the media and how to really have the greatest impact on provision here in the UK.

Creativity Conference in Northern Ireland

Creativity Unwrapped – understanding and encouraging creativity in early childhood education

Friday 29 March 2019

Cost

Early bird rate: £70 members, £90 non-members – available until 15th February 2019
Standard rate: £90 members, £110 non-members – if booked after 15th February 2019

Programme

This regional conference looks to demystify and unpack the concept of creativity, looking at what it means in practice, and its value for those working with children. It will explore ways to help extend children’s thinking and learning, maximising their creative exploration of resources and the world around them, and examine the vital role of the adult in supporting this process within delegates’ professional contexts. Through a series of keynotes and workshops, this conference will engage with both the theory and practical elements surrounding creativity, to help encourage best practice in early education and raise outcomes for children.

9.30 Registration opens

10.00 Welcome and introductions

10.15 What do we mean by creativity?
Pete Moorhouse 

In this keynote, Pete will explore what we mean by the term ‘creativity’, exploring the elements that contribute to its key characteristics as a concept. He will focus on ways in which we can observe and extend young children’s creative and critical thinking, highlighting the importance of these skills for providing a solid foundation for lifelong learning. Pete will outline how creativity is vital for responding to life’s challenges and opportunities, for well-being, and for an enriched cultural life. He will also emphasise the importance of monitoring progression in children’s creative development, particularly in relation to disadvantaged children, and then offer ways to identify and enhance this within your practice.

10.45 How to nurture creativity 
Anni McTavish

The creative process is not always comfortable. It takes self-belief, confidence and determination. Both adults and children can be heard to exclaim, “Oh, I’m not creative!” or “No, I can’t do that”.  Anni’s presentation will explore how babies and children’s creativity and thinking develops, and how adults can nurture this across all areas of learning. She will also explore the benefits of building a creative community, and how this can be fostered within the context of your setting.

11.15 Refreshment break

11.30 21st Century digital creativity
Debi Keyte-Hartland

This presentation explores the possibilities for creativity in the 21st Century focusing on the strong need for visual communication, the expression of ideas, and collaboration within an educational setting. Debi will share opportunities to engage with digital media in transdisciplinary contexts that are rich in creativity and expression, illustrated through educator case studies of recent research in this area, and how this can feed into your daily practice.

12.00 Breakout: Workshop Choice 

Choose between one of the three following workshops:

Thinking outside of the box – with Pete Moorhouse

This workshop will involve getting creative through a couple of practical exercises, before analysing them to become more aware of the contributing thinking skills involved, as well as reinforcing the techniques needed to observe children’s creative and critical thinking. It will also reflect on possible open questions that educators can pose to nurture and extend children’s thinking, to continue to provide opportuntiies for children to develop their learning.

What if…? – with Anni McTavish

This session will expand on some of the ideas outlined in the keynote about growing and nurturing creativity. Participants will have the opportunity to take part in some fun, practical arts-based ideas, and tune into their own creativity. There will also be the chance to hear about the successful Creative Thinking and Learning Project, now available as a free online resource. It will give delegates the opportunity to discuss how they might incorporate some of these ideas and further develop positive interactions to enhance creativity in their settings.

Visual Communication: generating rich contexts of critical and creative thinking – with Debi Keyte-Hartland

In this workshop,  the idea of visual communication and theory drawing will be explored. Participants will be able to engage in a hands-on way with ideas that can be used directly in the classroom that generate rich contexts of critical and creative thinking. The session will conclude with a viewing of a film that captures this transdisciplinary learning experience in action with children, to reveal and demonstrate how visual communication can look when media and subject areas are blended in ways that are conducive to the illumination of children’s thinking.

13.00 Lunch and networking

14.00 Breakout: Workshop Choice 

Choose between one of the three following workshops:

Thinking outside of the box – with Pete Moorhouse

What if…? – with Anni McTavish

Visual Communication: generating rich contexts of critical and creative thinking – with Debi Keyte-Hartland

15.00 Panel discussion and plenary

15.30 Close

The programme and timings may be subject to change.

Speaker/s:
Anni McTavish
Debi Keyte-Hartland
Pete Moorhouse
Event type:
Conference
Location:
Belfast
Venue:
Stranmillis University College, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5DY
Date:
Friday, 29 March, 2019
Time:
9.30am registration, Event runs 10am – 3.30pm
Cost:

Early bird rate: £70 members, £90 non-members – available until 15th February 2019
Standard rate: £90 members, £110 non-members – if booked after 15th February 2019

EYFS Woodwork training in Oxfordshire

There are  upcoming woodwork training opportunities in Oxfordshire! This is a two part course with a project in between the two sessions to enable you to feel confident and to successfully introduce woodwork into your school or setting.

Oxfordshire Teaching Schools Alliance
Tutor: Pete Moorhouse

From this course you will:

Understand the value and theory of woodwork.
Learn about the historical context of woodwork
Understand the potential of woodwork for creativity and critical thinking
Learn how to introduce woodwork safely, implementing an effective risk assessment.
Understand the most suitable tools for young children and how to use them.
Be confident to develop a woodworking area.
Know where to buy the most appropriate tools and materials

For more information and to book:

OTSA Professional Development AM sessions

OTSA Professional Development PM sessions

Men in Early Years Conference – Bristol – 10th July

3rd National Men in Early Years Conference, on Tuesday 10th July 2018, City Hall, Bristol.

More info

This is going to be an amazing conference!

Bristol Men in Early Years Network write:

– More info on Bristol Men in Early Years BMIEY

This has been the result of months of hard work behind the scenes with the scope of not only raising awareness of gender issues in the Early Years, but actively seeking to put these ideas into action in our everyday practice with children.

We are pleased to put together a day featuring some of most prominent speakers on gender in the Early Years, and invite you to join us in addressing the key questions:

  • How can we effectively tackle the gender imbalance in the workforce, at just 2% male?
  • What do we need to do remove these restrictive stereotypes we place upon children?
  • Why does society not give the profession the status it deserves?
  • What difference can we make about this in the profession and in wider society?

 

With this, we are proud to announce Professor of Science and Society and Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies at Imperial College London, Lord Robert Winston as one of our keynote speakers.

He will be joined by author of Cleverlands: The Secrets Behind the Success of the World’s Education Superpowers, Lucy Crehan, and star of the BBC2 documentary ‘No More Boys and Girls: Can Our Kids Go Gender Free’’ Graham Andre.

There will be a wealth of knowledge and experience to be shared by our Workshop and Stall Leads and we have invited local Bristol organizations to celebrate the work being carried out across the city to tackle gender inequality.

We are fortunate enough to offer these tickets heavily subsidised. As a Community Interest Company, anything we make will go straight back into the network. Tickets are just £40 and £20 for Standard and Students respectively (plus booking fees). Spaces are limited!

More info

Pete awarded Winston Churchill Fellowship

Pete Moorhouse, an artist educator from Bristol, will be travelling to Finland, New Zealand, Sweden and the USA to research best practice in  woodwork in early childhood education. Pete’s Churchill Fellowship is supported by the Dr Mortimer and Theresa Sackler Foundation.

“Most children in the UK never touch tools in their entire education. A whole generation is missing out on the rich development opportunities that practical work with tools provides.” “I am passionate about the opportunities that woodwork provides for young children. It is a truly cross-curricular activity, encompassing all areas of learning and development, and can really play a central role in education. Woodwork is exceptional for developing children’s creative and critical thinking skills, as they tinker and experiment with the possibilities of wood and tools, and then go on to express ideas and resolve their work” –Pete Moorhouse

Early years teaching

 

“Churchill Fellows search the world for ways to improve their communities and professions.”

Over the next 12 months, they will travel the world and research cutting-edge solutions to important topical issues.

These 150 Fellows include people from all walks of life, researching topics across a broad range of sectors, from housing to nursing, science to education.

More info……

The Project Approach lecture – Dr Sylvia Chard

Dr Sylvia Chard

Project Approach

Extended in-depth learning

19 April 2018

4.oo-5.30

St Werburgh’s Park nursery school, Bristol

We are delighted to have Sylvia Chard talk at St Werburgh’s. The project approach revolves around an extended and in-depth investigation of an area of interest. Children have a strong disposition to explore and discover. The Project Approach builds on natural curiosity, enabling children to interact, question, connect, problem-solve, communicate, reflect, and more. It essentially makes learning the stuff of real life and children active participants in and shapers of their worlds.

 

Dr. Sylvia Chard is Professor Emeritus of Early Childhood Education at the University of Alberta, Canada, She is a prolific author and has presented all over the world.

Free session:       To confirm your place:   rosie.duckett@bristol-schools.uk

Book Launch – Bristol March 15th 4-5pm

Dear EYFS teachers, practitioners, heads, colleagues

Join us to celebrate the publishing of the new book “Learning Through Woodwork: Creative Woodwork in the Early Years” by Pete Moorhouse.

Join us at St Werburghs Nursery, Bristol (BS2 9UX) for tea and cake! There will be opportunity to see the new book and we’ll be sharing examples of woodwork practice at the nursery and providing information about woodwork in EYs education, including demonstrating the most suitable tools to use. This is a free event Thursday 15th March 4 – 5pm. Copies of the book will be available to buy.

We are also running a CPD training day – Introducing creative woodwork in Early Years education on May 22 – contact the school directly to book your place. rosie.duckett@bristol-schools.uk

What other say about the book:

“Every so often a book is written that helps practitioners to develop their work in deep and far reaching ways. This is that sort of book.”
Tina Bruce CBE

“The benefits that working with wood offers young children shine through in this timely and informative book that will become a mainstay of your setting.”
Neil Henty, Early Years Educator Magazine, UK.

‘The Definitive EY Book for Woodwork. Destined to be a classic’
Juliette Robertson Early Years Consultant

Early Years Woodwork Training in Bristol

CPD training: Introducing Creative woodwork in Early Years Education
March 7th and May 22th  – Full day training sessions
Further information:   http://www.stwerburghs.com/teacher-training/
Contact Rosie Duckett to book:   rosie.duckett@bristol-schools.uk

From this course you will:
 Understand the value and theory of woodwork.
 Learn about the historical context of woodwork
 Understand the potential of woodwork for creativity and critical thinking
 Learn how to introduce woodwork safely, implementing an effective risk assessment.
 Understand the most suitable tools for young children and how to use them.
 Be confident to develop a woodworking area.
 Know where to buy the most appropriate tools and materials

CPD Woodwork training with Early Education in Birmingham

Introducing woodwork in early years education

Date:
Tuesday, 26 June, 2018
Location:
Birmingham
Venue:
Allens Croft Children’s Centre, Allens Croft Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B14 6RP

*Price – NB early bird discount is applied automatically if available: for the Member rate, please login to your account.

  • Members £150, or with early bird discount (until 15 May 2018) £120
  • Non-members £180, or with early bird discount (until 15 May 2018) £150

Book three training days at once, or three places on a course, and save £20 on each of them! To take advantage of this offer, add the three events to your basket, and use the coupon code: EEDISCOUNT3 – the discount will automatically be applied at the checkout.Course outline

Woodwork is hugely popular and provides a rich source of enjoyment as well as learning. The impact is profound and long term. Deep levels of engagement and intense concentration are common and the children often remain involved in their explorations for extended periods. Woodworking allows children many opportunities including; expressing their imagination, problem solving and sustained perseverance with challenging tasks. The learning outcomes have been remarkable and encompass all areas of the EYFS.This practical session will look at ways in which woodworking can be safely introduced in your early years settings. We will look at the theory and how woodwork meets many learning and development aspects of the EYFS. We will examine the historical context and look at examples from other countries that have been working successfully with wood for many years. There will be explanations of the most suitable tools for young children and instruction on how best to use them.  We will look at the most suitable woods.  Information on potential suppliers of wood/ tools will be provided. Explanations on how to set up a woodworking area. Suggestions for activities, open-ended explorations and longer term projects. There will be practical elements during the day for practitioners to explore the tools, gain confidence and share the experience of making creations in wood.Aims

From this course you will:

  • Understand the value and theory of woodwork.
  • Learn about the historical context of woodwork
  • Understand the potential of woodwork for creativity and critical thinking
  • Learn how to introduce woodwork safely, implementing an effective risk assessment.
  • Understand the most suitable tools for young children and how to use them.
  • Be confident to develop a woodworking area.
  • Know where to buy the most appropriate tools and materials

The trainer

You can view Pete’s profile on his dedicated Associates page.

Speaker/s:
Pete Moorhouse

Time:

9am Registration, Course runs 9.30am – 3.30pm