Early Years CPD Programme

Course Overview

The role of executive functioning in children's cognitive development has been widely recognised for years by experts in child development. There is a wealth of research which shows that children with good executive functioning skills are able to plan, problem solve, reason and regulate behaviours more effectively, leading to better outcomes in the long term. It is no surprise that Ofsted and the DFE are currently shining a spotlight on these areas in Early Years. But what does that mean for schools? In this session Ruth will explore what we mean by executive function, how it develops from birth into adulthood, some key developmental milestones and practical ways delegates can support children to develop this vital skill.

Audience: This course will be useful for anyone who works with young children in the Early Years and Key stage one and senior leaders who seek to deepen their understanding of Executive Functioning.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

The notion of "school readiness" has been widely discussed, explored and contested for many years. With an increasing number of children attending a range of childcare settings the notion of "Readiness" has evolved and changed over the last decades. In this session Ruth will explore "broadly typical" child development to allow delegates to develop their own understanding of "readiness" and provide a range of ideas to support delegates to ensure that children leave the Foundation Stage ready for their next steps. Ruth will draw on a range of research as well as recent DFE and Ofsted documents and reports.

Audience: This course will be useful for senior leaders and teachers who work in the EYFS and KS1.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

The EYFS statutory guidance states that, "Practitioners must stimulate children’s interests, responding to each child’s emerging needs and guiding their development through warm, positive interactions coupled with secure routines for play and learning."

Yet increasingly teachers are feeling pressured to reduce the amount of time children have to play in the Early Years classroom. This course will explore the power of play, the different types and aspects of play and how it can be used to develop children's language, communication and executive function. Delegates will explore play using a range of taxonomies, and will discuss how play and schemas can be utilised effectively to support children's learning.

Audience: A course suitable for senior leaders and anyone working in EYFS.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

One of the greatest challenges in the Early Years Classroom is how to build a curriculum to support children's foundational skills and knowledge that allows teachers the flexibility to follow children's interests.

This practical training session will support teachers and leaders to reflect on their current curriculum, what needs to be taught when to ensure that children build the necessary skills to be successful learners, and how they might follow the interests of the children to meet the needs of the unique child. Delegates should bring a copy of their current curriculum overview / map / plans to the session.

Audience: A course for curriculum leads, senior leaders, EY leaders and Headteachers.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

"The Best Start In Life" has been identified by the DFE as the first of its 4 focussed opportunity mission pillars, this puts Early Years at the heart of the Government's education strategy for the foreseeable future. Whilst this is a positive step in the right direction, it can be challenging to keep up with all the latest developments from the DFE and Ofsted as well as all the latest research into this important field. These Networks provide leaders and teachers with the opportunity to keep up to speed with the latest developments and consider how they will impact their day-to-day practice and long-term improvement strategies in school.

Audience: A network for Headteachers, senior leaders, EY leaders and EY practitioners.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

"The Best Start In Life" has been identified by the DFE as the first of its 4 focussed opportunity mission pillars, this puts Early Years at the heart of the Government's education strategy for the foreseeable future. Whilst this is a positive step in the right direction, it can be challenging to keep up with all the latest developments from the DFE and Ofsted as well as all the latest research into this important field. These Networks provide leaders and teachers with the opportunity to keep up to speed with the latest developments and consider how they will impact their day-to-day practice and long-term improvement strategies in school.

Audience: A network for Headteachers, senior leaders, EY leaders and EY practitioners.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

"The Best Start In Life" has been identified by the DFE as the first of its 4 focussed opportunity mission pillars, this puts Early Years at the heart of the Government's education strategy for the foreseeable future. Whilst this is a positive step in the right direction, it can be challenging to keep up with all the latest developments from the DFE and Ofsted as well as all the latest research into this important field. These Networks provide leaders and teachers with the opportunity to keep up to speed with the latest developments and consider how they will impact their day-to-day practice and long-term improvement strategies in school.

Audience: A network for Headteachers, senior leaders, EY leaders and EY practitioners.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

Designed for leaders new to Early Years Leadership. A series of 6 school visits throughout the year with a bespoke programme aimed at developing the leaders understanding of all aspects of Early Years. This professional development programme could be run as a 1:1 package, as a development for all the leaders of Early Years in a Trust, a collaboration of Early Years leaders and Headteacher, deputy or assistant Headteacher.

This training would be suitable for individuals or small groups of leaders. Please contact bookings@learnsheffield.co.uk for further information and to book a place. Please note, this offer is not included in the Core Subscription offer. Prices are available on request.

Audience: All practitioners working in the Early Years.

Trainer Information: Angela Lant, Learn Sheffield Associate

Course Overview

Following the review of the Early Learning Goals in 2020 and the significant changes to assessment procedures in the EYFS, many schools have been looking for a way to document children’s learning that supports children and teachers to recall what children know and can do in a way that doesn’t impact on the all important serve and return interactions that we know make so much difference to children’s learning.

In this session Ruth will explore the use of Floor books, drawing on the work of Clare Warden and a number of schools which have successfully used these as a documentation tool to keep assessment minimal, manageable and meaningful. Ruth will share real life examples of Floor books from real schools.

Audience: Senior leaders, assessment leads and EYFS leads and teachers.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

Loris Malaguzzi described the learning environment as “the third teacher” In this interactive session we will explore what that means in practice, how to review and plan an effective learning environment and how the learning environment can be used to support and consolidate the teaching of the Early Years curriculum and beyond. Delegates will be given audit tools to enable them to review their environments and strategies to support developing an environment that truly enables all children to learn effectively.

Practitioner training sessions are designed to be attended by as many of your EY team as you can release to allow staff time to discuss ideas and develop a strategy for implementing practice in your schools. These sessions will provide a blend of theory and practice to allow all attendees, regardless of their level of experience to understand the research and child development practice underpinning the approaches.

Audience: Anyone who works in the EYFS including support staff.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

If you’re a senior or subject leader and you’re not quite sure what’s going on in your Early Years classroom and don’t know where to begin evaluating the quality of provision, then this is the course for you. We will explore why the early years looks and feels different to the rest of the school, what makes an effective EYFS environment and curriculum and key things to look out for to allow subject leaders to confidently challenge and support in the Early Years.

Audience: Senior leaders and subject leaders. Note: EY teachers would also be welcome to accompany a non-EYFS specialist from their setting

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

During this whole day course we will explore the cognitive and physical pre requisites of early literacy development including gross and fine motor skills and their impact on early reading and writing as well as the impact of the other prime areas on early literacy skills. Delegates will secure a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by young readers and writers and leave with practical ideas to make reading and writing irresistible for all.

Audience: Literacy, English and reading leads as well as EY practitioners.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

Delegates will explore the importance of early interactions, their impact on learning and development and use a range of tools to develop their provision to ensure that all opportunities for interactions are maximised. Drawing on research, child development and a range of best practice, Ruth will share practical ideas which can be taken back to the classroom and put into place immediately to have an impact on young children’s early language development.

Practitioner training sessions are designed to be attended by as many of your EY team as you can release to allow staff time to discuss ideas and develop a strategy for implementing practice in your schools. These sessions will provide a blend of theory and practice to allow all attendees, regardless of their level of experience to understand the research and child development practice underpinning the approaches.

Audience: All practitioners who work in early years settings.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

Building a sense of self in young children. More than ever before children need support to understand their emotions and regulate their behaviours. This course explores how practitioners can support children to understand and manage their feelings in everyday situations by building a strong PSED curriculum that supports children’s sense of self and belonging in the wider world.

Audience: A course designed to support all EY practitioners.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

Physical development is often the poor relation of the prime areas in EYFS yet it impacts on children’s health, wellbeing and cognitive development. This training will explore how all practitioners can ensure that children have their physical needs met so that they build the necessary skills to become healthy, happy life- long learners. Drawing on a wealth of research, Ruth will share simple, low-cost practical ideas that can be put into practice immediately.

Practitioner training sessions are designed to be attended by as many of your EY team as you can release to allow staff time to discuss ideas and develop a strategy for implementing practice in your schools. These sessions will provide a blend of theory and practice to allow all attendees, regardless of their level of experience to understand the research and child development practice underpinning the approaches.

Audience: All practitioners working in the Early Years.

Trainer Information: Ruth Swailes, Learn Sheffield Improvement Partner- Early Years

Course Overview

This extended training course has an emphasis on content that is immediately applicable to delegates’ work context and involves case examples that might occur in their schools. The training package combines in-person training sessions with group reflective practice sessions (which are held online). This gives delegates the opportunity to learn, or refresh, their knowledge and skills, with opportunities to try them out in school. Delegates then come together in a smaller group to reflect together on their experiences. This model supports delegates to ‘learn-apply-reflect’ in three cycles across the package; adult learning principles suggest that relevant, experiential learning is vital to success and implementation of the learning received.

This training is suitable for any staff who work within the EYFS phase, and particularly those who wish to develop their insight and skills into children’s SEMH development and needs, including those who support children at a targeted level, nurture interventions and play-based learning.

Audience: All practitioners working in the Early Years.

Trainer Information: Deb Page and Samantha Hallewell-Flatman, Step Forward Psychology

Reflective Practice Sessions

After each of the 3 training sessions, delegates will join small-group reflective practice sessions online, 1.5 hours in duration, where they can share and reflect upon their experiences of trying the approaches/ strategies with children. The training providers facilitate these sessions by following a loose structure to support discussions and reflection on what has worked well and what might have felt challenging. The facilitators establish ground-rules to create a safe learning space. Dates and details of these will be shared at the first session.

Course Overview

Designed for leaders new to Early Years Leadership. A series of 6 school visits throughout the year with a bespoke programme aimed at developing the leaders understanding of all aspects of Early Years. This professional development programme could be run as a 1:1 package, as a development for all the leaders of Early Years in a Trust, a collaboration of Early Years leaders and Headteacher, deputy or assistant Headteacher.

This training would be suitable for individuals or small groups of leaders. Please contact bookings@learnsheffield.co.uk for further information and to book a place. Please note, this offer is not included in the Core Subscription offer. Prices are available on request.

Audience: All practitioners working in the Early Years.

Trainer Information: Angela Lant, Learn Sheffield Associate

Course Overview

A course designed to help leaders and teachers focus on what really matters. Ruth will share research, current statutory guidance and examples of effective practice to allow delegates to reflect on their own assessment procedures.

There will be practical tools and tips to support schools to make assessment “Meaningful, Manageable and Minimal”.

Course Overview

With so much information coming from the DFE and Ofsted it can be difficult to identify what’s statutory, helpful and relevant or not to Early Years . The Early Years Network provides leaders and teachers with the opportunity to hear about the latest news and developments and reflect on what these might mean for their own practice.

Delegates who attend this session will also have the opportunity to shape the summer term EY training offer.

Course Overview

This full day practical workshop will draw on research and current thinking around curriculum development alongside Ruth’s extensive experience of designing, developing and producing curricula with schools. Leaders and teachers will be given practical tools to help evaluate their current curriculum offer and support and advice to help them design a curriculum which meets the needs of their children whilst fulfilling statutory requirements.

Delegates may wish to being current curriculum plans and documents to help with reflections and forward planning.

Reflective Practice Sessions

After each of the 3 training sessions, delegates will join small-group reflective practice sessions online, 1.5 hours in duration, where they can share and reflect upon their experiences of trying the approaches/ strategies with children. The training providers facilitate these sessions by following a loose structure to support discussions and reflection on what has worked well and what might have felt challenging. The facilitators establish ground-rules to create a safe learning space. Dates and details of these will be shared at the first session.

Course Overview

In this hybrid training session Ruth will provide a mixture of practical advice, support, guidance and audit tools alongside research evidence on the benefits of outdoor learning and examples of best practice. The second part of this session will focus on developing plans for teacher’s own outdoor learning areas. Delegates may find it useful to being digital photographs of their current outdoor provision.

Teachers will leave with practical guidance, a model risk/ benefit analysis documents and their own action plan for outdoors.

Course Overview

In this session Ruth will challenge conventional thinking about approaches to intervention strategies in the EYFS, drawing on research information, experience and a wealth of information about early development, we will explore how best to provide the support young children need in the Early Years to ensure that they make the best possible progress alongside their peers. The session is suitable for EY leads and teachers, SENCos and senior leaders.

Course Overview

With so much information coming from the DFE and Ofsted it can be difficult to identify what’s statutory, helpful and relevant or not to Early Years . The Early Years Network provides leaders and teachers with the opportunity to hear about the latest news and developments and reflect on what these might mean for their own practice.

Delegates who attend this session will also have the opportunity to shape the 2024/25 EY training offer

Course Overview

This programme of development is designed to be delivered to a number of leaders. The basis is the EEF’ Preparing for Literacy’ guidance report. There will be time to explore the 7 areas of the report and how these relate to specific settings. This is a half day course with the option of a full day of follow up in individual settings.

The 7 areas of the report are:

1. Prioritise the development of communication and language
2. Develop children’s early reading using a balanced approach
3. Develop children’s capability and motivation to write
4. Embed opportunities to develop self-regulation
5. Support parents to understand how to help their children learn
6. Use high quality assessment to ensure all children make good progress
7. Use high quality targeted support to help struggling children

Please contact bookings@learnsheffield.co.uk to arrange a follow up visit from Angela Lant.

Course Overview

Designed for leaders new to Early Years Leadership. A series of 6 school visits throughout the year with a bespoke programme aimed at developing the leaders understanding of all aspects of Early Years. This professional development programme could be run as a 1:1 package, as a development for all the leaders of Early Years in a Trust, a collaboration of Early Years leaders and Headteacher, deputy or assistant Headteacher.

This training would be suitable for individuals or small groups of leaders. Please contact bookings@learnsheffield.co.uk for further information and to book a place.