Improve your practice - short courses in the Early Years Foundation Stage

ACORN CHILDCARE TRAINING

- Introduction to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): 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 through an effective curriculum.

- The early learning goals: two-day course providing in-depth information on its aims, the early learning goals and how they can be achieved through an effective curriculum.

- 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, the learning environment, linking key experiences to the early learning goals 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.

BEAM EDUCATION

- Mathematics in the Foundation Stage: explores how the stepping stones can make the Foundation Stage accessible to all children.

- Mathematics in Reception: explores how young children learn, including ideas on mathematical progression, use of apparatus and structuring the environment.

- Creative mathematics across the curriculum in the Foundation Stage: how to implement the early learning goals in the most appealing ways for young children.

CHILDCARE CONSULTANCY

- Delivering the Early Years Foundation Stage: course aiming to develop practitioners' existing practice and to 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.

EARLY EDUCATION TRAINING AND RESOURCES CENTRE

A wide range of courses:

- Meeting the needs of the youngest children in the Early Years Foundation Stage: this course is for all practitioners, managers and trainers, particularly those working with children from birth to around 42 months.

- Documenting children's learning: explore ways in which documentation may be used to inform planning.

- What really matters in the early years - ethos, principles and practice: practitioners will have the opportunity to consider, reflect and share aspects of their particular ethos and review their practice in terms of what it looks and feels like for the children and their parents, families and health or social care colleagues.

- Growing the person - young children's friendships and feelings: practitioners will have the opportunity to consider the critical role of young children's social and emotional development for their well-being and learning, and reflect on relevant messages in the EYFS, and social and emotional aspects of the development documents.

- Planning for quality learning experiences in the Early Years Foundation Stage: consider children's interests and enthusiasms on prior learning.

- Babies and young children as researchers, thinkers and inventors in the Early Years Foundation Stage: how to create an environment for curiosity, creativity and communication.

- Principled and participatory assessment practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage and the AcE Programme: this one-day course will discuss the new legal framework surrounding the statutory outcomes duty and its implications for assessment practice throughout the EYFS, using the approach advocated in the Progress Matters guidance.

EARLY YEARS ORGANISATION

- Curriculum planning and evaluation: 16-hour course covering the development of short-, medium- and long-term plans, the use of observation to inform planning, and how various resources can be collected and used to support children's learning.

- Developing children's creativity - art and design: this 15-hour course aims to enable 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.

MARIA MONTESSORI INSTITUTE

- The art of storytelling: evening workshop focusing on the art of storytelling to engage children's attention, interest and imagination, with plenty of 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 educational values.

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

OSIRIS EDUCATIONAL

- The Ultimate Early Years Environment: delegates on this course will consider how to improve their outdoor learning and emotional environment and learn to build 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 Pre-School Learning Alliance has developed its own programme of training to ensure that pre-schools and nurseries can meet all of the relevant regulatory requirements and achieve satisfactory or better outcomes in their Ofsted inspections. Courses are led by tutors expert in the field of early years, and who understand the particular approach of pre-schools.

- Preparing for the EYFS:

Covering: an overview of the Early Years Foundation Stage; how to ensure EYFS operates across your setting; an overview of 'Letters and Sounds'; outside play in the EYFS; child development and observation techniques

STEPPING STONES TRAINING

A range of courses looking at the environment, planning and observation.

TRAINING PACKAGES

Guides and courses aiming to aid successful Ofsted inspections and implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage, including planning and assessment, inclusion and partnerships with parents. Available from the website.

VISUAL LEARNING FOUNDATION

- In Charge of Art: developing a creative curriculum for Foundation Stage and KS 1 and 2. The course covers using the right materials, how to mount and document the children's work and how to use artists' work and good resources to stimulate ideas.