It takes a trained mind to think like a child REFLECT - Early Years Foundation Stage Training We deliver the themes and principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage through a sound active learning model based on a well researched philosophy committed to making a difference in society. “Numerous settings across the UK, including schools, family centres, after-school clubs, crèches, primary schools, childminders, special needs settings and assessment centres, have achieved Investors in Children status and outstanding Ofsted results, with the benefit and support this training”  High/Scope UK.   See EPPE Project and significant benefits by Schweinhart and Weikart 1993 The REFLECT Training Programme facilitates effective implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage through day events or an 18 module High/Scope Implementation accredited programme covering: Learning and Development: you will explore how children learn actively, through their own intrinsic motivation and will reflect on how children make decisions, personalise their learning and make connections across all areas of learning. The Enabling Environment: will help you review, design, equip and enrich the indoor and outdoor learning environments and schedule routines.  Emphasis is on facilitating children to make their own choices, as well as being able to follow activities initiated by adults and lead activities themselves. Starting with the child you will refine your skills in observation and assessment and consider the next steps for planning appropriate activities and interactions. Positive Relationships: means forming authentic key relationships and engaging children. You will learn how to share control and support them to initiate ideas, think creatively, negotiate and work collaboratively with others.  You will develop communication skills which raise children's intelligence and help them to resolve conflicts. A Unique Child: celebrates diversity, inclusiveness, partnering parents and living in community together. You will examine how we support children's emotional wellbeing. Here are a few comments from participants who attended our programme; funded by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea: "I have increased my communication skills and the way to solve problems. I try to use more encouragement instead of praise. I learnt about transitions and the way I now interact with children has totally changed" "It was the best training I ever attended because it did not stay at the theory level, but helped me to change my practice"   "As this course involved some introspection I understand better the way I react and am therefore able to change the areas I do not like. In particular with the team members, using the High Scope problem solving approach. I try to acknowledge peoples feeling rather than making decisions and finding solutions for them".  Click Here to read the full Impact Evaluation of the Early Years Foundation Training Programme.   LET’S TALK – Every Child a Talker In 2006 an I CAN Talk paper - ‘The Cost to the Nation of Children’s Poor Communication’ reviewed some current research and noted that up to10% of all children in UK have a long term persistent communication difficulty.   Over 50% of children on school entry have communication difficulties.   This programme was developed to implement the Every Child a Talker initiative which is aimed at improving the expertise of the early year’s workforce to support early language development and improve outcomes for children.   This Lead Professional Programme is accredited by NCFE and offers a customised award at level 4. It is aimed at deepening participant’s knowledge and understanding children’s speech language and communication, implementing the EYFS and leading and managing a specialist initiative in the setting. Participants may choose the attendance only option, rather than completing the NCFE Award. This is Harrison, 4 months, having a conversation with Claire:   The programme is delivered over 14 sessions covering: Supporting Children’ Speech Language and Communication: you will identify typical stages of speech language and communication development and plan activities to support children’s speech language, communication and literacy skills   Effective Practice: you will learn how to create an optimum speech, language and communication enabling environment; consider the critical role of observation in the care, learning and development of children and examine your existing relationships with parents and families in the setting, working together to support children’s development and learning.   Leading and Developing Self and Others: You will identify the values that drive you, become aware of your leadership style and learn about motivational theory and practices to foster collaborative working relationships with team members and parents. You will also develop some coaching, mentoring, training and facilitation skills.   This is what Lena Engle Head of Early Years Service RBKC said to us about the programme after receiving an outstanding RAG judgement for their implementation of the initiative.   “Very well done for this brilliant, ‘outstanding’ achievement! Thank you so much for all your hard work on this programme!   I believe every element of your contribution has helped us in being graded at this level.”    LETS TALK It is a programme that could be adapted to support Lead Professionals with a remit to implement any specialist initiative. Tuning into the Terrific Twos This one day event considers the child's behaviour and the adult's role in supporting positive interaction in the context of holistic development • Explore how two and three year olds have a growing sense of identity and competence, accompanied by frustration at their lack of autonomy • Tune in to the child's world and see things from their perspective • Experience how two year olds cope in a social situation; how they deal with their emotions and develop the ability to resolve problems • Consider the provision of developmentally appropriate activities and establish the requirements of an enabling environment. Nourishing Schema’s This two day programme demystifies schemas and helps practitioners to see how to plan for and support children’s interests. It builds on the work of Chris Athey, Tina Bruce and Cathy Nutbrown. • Recognise and understand schema development • Nourish schemas through the enabling environment and positive relationships • Carry out action research • Share learning with your team and with parents   “As they move around, exploring their ideas babies and toddlers can be observed to be frequently exploring a particular pattern of thought and movement such as in and out, transporting or rotation, exhibiting an underlying logic in their play. Play that appears idiosyncratic or even mischievous can also give clues to children’s schematic preoccupations” Julia Manning-Morton and Maggie Thorpe “I wanted to thank you again for the really informative and enjoyable training on schemas that I attended at Alresford last week. It has already been a huge help to me in my work and it was great to be a course where I felt actively engaged in thinking and that this thinking was allowed to develop and follow its natural course. As well as giving me insight on schemas and their role in early years planning and practise it made me reflect on how I run training (something which I am vey new at) and given me confidence that I can deliver training in a way that will engage people and give them ownership of their practice" Children’s Centre Support Teacher Gosport   Build Warm and Respectful Relationships with Parents and Carers This can be delivered as a one or two day event. Day one provides practioners with the opportunity to review their relationship with parents and carers and raises their awareness of diversity, inclusiveness and barriers to effective relating. Day two continues this work and offers practical exercises in developing communication and relating. Identify what parents and carers want and why family inclusion in the early year setting is important – respect diversity • Develop an awareness of NVC (the work of Dr Marshall Rosenberg) • Explore what communication enriches the connection and what gets in the way of relating effectively with parents • Plan strategies for connection, inclusion and learning together for the well being of the child   “When we respect each others differences and similarities, understand each others feelings needs and expectations a professional/partnering relationship can be borne and learning can be a mutually beneficial and life enriching” EYFS “The most useful things from this training for me were self awareness and understanding that this whole area is a much bigger subject than it first appears. It was an excellent course that really helped me to develop more understanding of a parents perspective” Early Years Teacher Bromley Safe Guarding Children This one day event is an essential training for all those working with young children. It covers all you need about policy and structures for the children's services and safeguarding procedures to protect the children in your setting. • Awareness of the possible signs of abuse • Disclosure • Record keeping • Self-protection for staff and the role of the local safeguarding children's board Preparing for Ofsted This one day event ensures that participants are prepared for the process of inspection. It is informative and proactive and ensures that unexpected surprises are limited. • Understand the process of inspection • Complete self-evaluation • Look through the inspector's eyes at your setting • Gain clarity about feedback Introduction to the High/Scope Approach This one day event provides an overview of the key elements of High/Scope practice. It provides participants with an experience of active learning and shows them how to support this through the EYFS. Understand the history of High/Scope and the educational philosophy which underpins this approach. • Experience active learning and be familiar with the ingredients required for intrinsic motivation • Identify key experiences – “the eureka moments” in children’s learning • Review your enabling environment , learn about design and plan improvements   "High/Scope is unique in having a 40 year longitudinal study in validation of its work with children. The results of these research studies show how the High/Scope Approach to early year’s education produces lasting benefits for children, families and society. The following examples are specific findings from the research studies."   Children who had experienced the High/Scope Approach as adolescents and adults showed: • Increased social responsibility • Increased chance of higher economic status • Improved educational performance • Increased commitment to long term relationships The overall conclusion from research is that children across cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and of varying abilities benefit from the High/Scope Approach. Using the High/Scope Approach should be seen as an investment in a child's future life chances and as an investment in the future well-being of society.” http://www.high-scope.org.uk/about_highscope/18.asp NV Education Foundations for the Early Years Practitioner This two day programme provides early year’s practitioners with a basic understanding and level of skill in applying NVC principles to their work and it meets the requirements of CNVC foundation certification process. • Understand the theory of Nonviolent Education and the work of Dr Marshall Rosenberg Phd • Know how to work with children, your colleagues and families in a way that results in you going home at the end of the day full up rather than drained • Support children to resolve conflicts, with care and confidence • Learn the language of feelings, needs and requests “With NVC we learn to hear our own deeper needs and those of others.Through its emphasis on deep listening - to ourselves as well as others - NVC helps us discover the depth of our own compassion. This language reveals the awareness that all human beings are only trying to honor universal values and needs, every minute, every day” http://www.cnvc.org/en/about/what-is-nvc.html "Education is simply the soul of a society as it passess from one generation to another" - GK Chesterton" These are just some of our pre-designed programmes. We also have extensive experience in developing training to meet specific outcomes. Call 44 (0) 77956 32878 or contact us TODAY through our contact page.