NEW: Improve your practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage

ACORN CHILDCARE TRAINING

• Introduction to the Early Years Foundation Stage: six-hour course covering how it can be used in everyday practice and how it links to Every Child Matters.

• An introduction to the early learning goals: one-day course for those new to early years education. Provides an overview of how the EYFS (3-5s) learning goals can be achieved.

• Making the early learning goals work: six half-days of training looking at all the goals within the six areas of learning in the EYFS (3-5s) curriculum.

• Achieving the early learning goals through play: one-day course covering topics such as the balance between child and adult-initiated play and the role of observation.

• - Active learning in the Foundation Stage (3-5s): one-day course exploring active learning, its part in helping children to become independent and the role of the adult in supporting active learning.

• Using the environment as a learning resource in the EYFS: one-day course teaching the importance of the natural environment in helping babies and young children to learn.

BEAM EDUCATION

• Maths outdoors in the Foundation Stage: explores outdoor play as a powerful learning medium for children to develop mathematics, with the potential to develop problem solving, reasoning and numeracy through fun outdoor activities.

CHILDCARE CONSULTANCY

• Delivering the EYFS: course aiming to develop practitioners' practice and link with the EYFS.

CRECHENDO TRAINING

• Curriculum planning workshop relevant to Ofsted inspection: one-day course demonstrating a holistic approach to planning a developmentally appropriate curriculum.

• Early learning goals workshop: one-day course examining the goals across the six areas of learning.

• Early maths workshop: one-day course giving practical ideas on how to make maths fun for children, including designing a maths game.

• Knowledge and understanding of the world: one-day course on stimulating learning opportunities.

• Language and literacy workshop: one-day course exploring how children develop language and literacy skills.

• Inclusive practice in the EYFS: this course will help staff to work positively with parents and be inclusive in their practice.

• Making and playing, talking and listening: one-day course designed for experienced early years practitioners to create firm foundations for early literacy with young children within the EYFS.

• Creativity and critical thinking across the EYFS: one-day course on the importance of working creatively and how to engage children from birth to five in critical thinking.

• Behavioural learning in the EYFS: this course will encourage early years practitioners to think about the 'why?' and 'what can we do?' questions in relation to behaviour, as well as to develop effective strategies to manage challenging behaviour.

EARLY YEARS ORGANISATION

• Introduction to observation and planning for pre-school provision: 12-hour course consisting of five sessions covering the development of short-, mediumand long-term plans, the use of observation to inform planning, and how resources can be used.

• Supporting creativity in the early years - art and design: this 15-hour course enables practitioners to see the creative potential in each child and to explore ways of realising it.

EXPERIENTIAL PLAY

• Cultural diversity - celebrating the global child: this training day will explore a variety of communities, cultures and landscapes to investigate how we can use them as learning tools for our pre-five settings.

THE LONDON EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION (LEYF)

• Art in the child and the child in art: a one-day course providing practical ideas to encourage artistic development within the EYFS. Includes a visit to Tate Britain.

• Effective planning cycles: one-day course exploring how the planning cycle can be used to ensure the developmental needs of children are considered, met and extended.

• How to take the 'problem' out of planning for effective problem solving, reasoning and numeracy (PSRN): helping practitioners plan for evaluating PSRN holistically across the EYFS.

• The great outdoors: how to make the most of outdoor play experiences as part of the EYFS. Aimed at increasing confidence and competence in planning and resourcing a quality outdoor environment, and helping build parents' confidence in engaging their children in the outdoors.

• The schema spotter's guide: how to support schematic behaviours in the nursery.

• From neurons to nursery: providing an overview of neuroscience, with findings from brain studies discussed in relation to key theorists such as John Bowlby, Piaget and Gerhardt.

• Who's normal anyway? aims to develop your confidence and competence in identifying the developmental areas and normative stages in children from birth to five years.

• How to encourage ethical thinking and environmental awareness in young children

• What's the story? encouraging the use of rhyme.

• I love science! engaging children in the early learning environment.

(Check with LEYF for all course dates)

MARIA MONTESSORI INSTITUTE

• The art of storytelling: evening workshop focusing on storytelling to engage children's attention, interest and imagination, with ideas offered to put into immediate use.

MONTESSORI CENTRE INTERNATIONAL

• Early childhood course: for children from two-and-a-half to six years. An overview of important educational philosophies to construct a coherent set of values.

• Special Educational Needs course: an introduction to the theoretical and practical aspects of special needs education. The course looks at physical, sensory, cognitive and emotional/behavioural difficulties, and specific areas such as dyslexia.

OSIRIS EDUCATIONAL

• The Ultimate Early Years Environment: how to improve the outdoor learning and emotional environment and building strategies for developing the environment.

PLAYGROUP NETWORK

For information on EYFS training, contact your local association office (see the Directory).

PRE-SCHOOL LEARNING ALLIANCE (PLA)

The PLA's programme of training ensures that pre-schools and nurseries meet the regulatory requirements and achieve satisfactory or better outcomes in their Ofsted inspections.

• Preparing for the EYFS: an overview of the EYFS; an overview of 'Letters and Sounds'; outside play; child development and observation techniques.

TRAINING DESIGNS

• Early Years Foundation Stage in bite-sized chunks: two to three hour course covering legislation, what the themes, principles and commitments mean for childcare, welfare requirements, balancing out the assessment scales.
• Understanding the EYFS: six hour course breaking down what the EYFS means.
• Taking a close look at observation and assessment.
• Early learning goals explored.

TRAINING PACKAGES

Guides and courses aiming to aid successful Ofsted inspections and implementation of the EYFS, including planning and assessment, inclusion and partnerships with parents.

VISUAL LEARNING FOUNDATION

• In charge of art: developing a creative curriculum for Foundation Stage and KS 1 and 2. Covers using the right materials, how to mount and document the children's work and how to stimulate ideas.