AN HONOURED EYP
I have just experienced the most wonderful occasion that I will probably never forget for the rest of my life.
I was invited, along with three university peers and my tutor, to attend the Early Years Professional celebration ceremony in London. This was organised by the CWDC to celebrate the achievements of the Early Years Professionals who have completed the first long-haul EPD pathway and the first Full pathway.
After passing the foundation degree in Early Years Care and Education, I decided to continue my professional development by attending the University of Portsmouth for a further 15 months to 'top up' my degree and attain EYP status.
It was a hard slog, but no more than I was used to after three years of foundation degree work.
If there are practitioners out there who are pondering whether to brave it and further their knowledge, then pluck up the courage. Preferably, find an enthusiastic colleague from your setting or from training courses you have attended and make enquiries at your nearest university. Your mind will be opened to new horizons and you'll never look back. Once you have delved into academic books, attended lectures and been part of 'bigger picture' discussion in the classroom, you will not be able to stop reflecting and thinking about what you have just said to a child, parent or colleague or how you could improve your daily working practice.
After nearly five years at university I now take time to reflect, mull over ideas that have arisen in training and take bits that interest me or that I think may be of interest to our setting and the humans it may impact upon. Sharing these ideas with my team of practitioners, students, volunteers and parents helps me to put them into perspective.
I would like to acknowledge the hard work and tireless support of my tutor, Helga, and the selfless joy on her face as my peers Becky, Cathy and Joanne and I were announced and received by Sally Gunnell OBE and the CWDC chief executive Jane Haywood in the roll of honour. After a fine dinner in Mayfair we spent the night in a wonderful hotel where we were treated like royalty. Early years practitioners do not often get the recognition we so desperately deserve, but the CWDC excelled itself on this occasion and left me feeling pampered and rejuvenated. Thank you to everyone who made this event so special.
- Melanie Lacey, supervisor, Sunbeams Pre-school, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight
Letter of the Week wins £30 worth of books
BUGGED AT BUGGIES
We agree with Robin Balbernie (To the Point, 5 June) that British buggies face the wrong way. There are some models that will face the pusher, but they tend to be expensive.
Talk To Your Baby has been lobbying buggy manufacturers for more affordable sociable buggies for some years now, with only limited success. We hope that some forthcoming research into the stress levels of babies in forward-facing buggies will shame the manufacturers and retailers into taking this issue seriously so that all parents can afford a buggy with the baby or toddler facing them.
Then we need to help parents to understand why this is important for their child's communication skills as well as their social and emotional development.
- Liz Attenborough, manager, Talk To Your Baby, National Literacy Trust
ENCIRCLED BABIES
I was pleased to read about children's independent learning and access to high-quality materials in 'All by myself' (29 May). However, I did wonder whether the structure of the session supported this important goal. The article makes it appear that babies experience circle time and 'sit happily in their chairs, for about half an hour, eating their fruit'. Subsequently the children have a 'designated hour of outdoor play'.
I wonder, is circle time appropriate for babies and toddlers, and does such a structured programme really allow the opportunity for making choices which is fundamental to independent learning?
- Carole Warden, children's centre governor, London
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