Category Archives: Early Learning

Out to Play CPD Sessions – October 2019

“I hadn’t realised the power of imagination within outdoor learning”

Eco Drama is delivering 3 Out to Play CPD sessions for primary school teachers and education practitioners at venues in Glasgow and Paisley this October on the following dates/times:

  1. Monday 21st October, 3.30-5.30pm – Jordanhill School, Glasgow
  2. Tuesday 22nd October, 3.30-5.30pm – Kibble Education Centre, Paisley
  3. Thursday 24th October, 10-12noon – Glenburn Resource Centre, Paisley

The session will introduce the Out to Play project, supporting primary school teachers and education practitioners to engage further with outdoor learning and make imaginative use of school playgrounds using drama and storytelling. This 2 hour practical session costs £45 pp which includes a hard copy of Eco Drama’s latest resource ‘Let’s Go…Out to Play!‘.

There are a limited number of places left on each of the dates. To find out more information and book a place, please email christine@ecodrama.co.uk

“Best CPD event I have been to in ages.” Catriona Brown, Battlefield Primary

“Fantastic workshop. Ben is inspirational.” Jane Johnston-Smith, Eaglesham Primary

Eco Drama Resource Pack ‘Let’s Go…Out to Play!’

Eco Drama have copies available of our brand new Resource Pack ‘Let’s Go…Out to Play!’, an invaluable 82 page document bursting with ideas, activities, stories and inspiration to develop a school’s ‘Out to Play’ journey.

Building on the first pack written by Eco Drama in 2015, this second edition draws on the experiences of the Drama Artists that delivered Out to Play residencies in school playgrounds across Glasgow during 2015-18. It contains an abundance of new ideas to support teachers to deliver imaginative outdoor learning sessions in school playgrounds, including inspiring environmental stories, nature connection exercises, session plans, drama activities and games, and is packed full of handy tips and insights for facilitating creative outdoor learning sessions.

The pack is suitable for teachers, early years practitioners or any practitioner working in an education setting, looking to explore more creative ways of delivering outdoor learning and sustainable development education.

“Teachers who have used this resource have found it well planned out, easy to follow and have found the activities to be very motivating for the children.” Andrea Gurd, Aultmore Park

Packs are available to purchase for £20 as a quality, ring-bound hard copy booklet. To order a copy pleased email nina@ecodrama.co.uk. View a sample copy or visit the Eco Drama website for more information: http://www.ecodrama.co.uk/resources/

Employability and Creativity Skills across Learning Award

The Scottish Education Awards recognise early learning and childcare settings and schools that have developed a vibrant and progressive culture and climate of continuous innovation. There are 15 award categories in total.

 From 2013 onwards the Awards featured a Creative Learning Award category with notable shortlisted winners from primary, early learning and childcare, and secondary schools. Last year we took the awards a step further by embedding creative teaching, creative learning, and creative improvement in all of the award categories, and with a focus on creativity skills within a new Employability and Creativity Skills across Learning category.

You may wish to submit a nomination or encourage nominations from your authority/area for this award which recognises establishments that promote the development of employability and creativity skills for pupils and staff in partnership with the wider school community across all contexts and settings where young people are learning.

Find out more and make nominations by 6pm on Thursday 14 February here:

http://www.scottisheducationawards.co.uk/categories-employability.html

Please read the guidance notes incorporated into this page which explain what information should be provided.

 For information about the Scottish Education Awards and all fifteen categories, visit the website here:

http://www.scottisheducationawards.co.uk/

Theatre In Schools Programme – January to May 2019

Theatre in Schools Scotland is a project managed by National Theatre of Scotland and Imaginate to develop the provision of in-school theatre and dance performances available across Scotland.

Our programme for January –  May 2019 contains three shows, available for in-school touring, from two of our partner organisations covering N-P2 and P4-7.

All are suitable for clear, flat school hall and can be presented twice in one day.

As usual, fees are subsidised to keep costs within reach and one-show days are available for smaller schools.

Click here to see the programme: Theatre in Schools Scotland programme Jan-May 2019

 

Pondlife by Catherine Wheels Theatre Company
Suitable for P5-7
23rd January – 29th March 2019 / School hall / 55 mins
Moving school is never easy. When class bully Sharon takes an instant dislike to Martin it feels like he has an especially tough ride ahead of him. That is until he befriends Simon McGurk and his fortunes seem to change. The fickle world of playground politics soon puts pressure on their friendship, however, and Martin finds himself making a choice that will impact them both for the rest of their school days.
£365 / £500 + VAT for one or two show days.
Maximum capacity 120 per performance.
Performed in a clear school hall (min size 8m x 12m)


Emma & Gill by Catherine Wheels Theatre Company and Lung Ha Theatre Company
Suitable for P4-7
18th February – 8th March 2019  / School Hall (LOTHIANS ONLY) / 50 mins

This new show explores the lives of two young girls and their different experiences of school and family life. It questions what is ‘normal’ and why being different is to be celebrated.

The show features Emma McCaffrey, a member of the Lung Ha ensemble, who was diagnosed with autism when she was 11, and Gill Robertson, artistic director of Catherine Wheels.

£365 / £500 + VAT for one or two show days.
Maximum capacity 120 per performance.
Performed in a clear school hall (min size 8m x 12m)


A Ladder to the Stars by Visible Fictions
Suitable for N-P2
April 2019 / School Hall / 40 mins
Way up in the deep blue night sky, a twinkling star hears a little girl’s birthday wish . . . she wishes she could dance with the stars. Wanting to make this wish come true, the star tells the moon, the moon tells the sun, the sun tells the wind and the rain, and together they dream up a wonderful plan. Told through a magical mix of music, light and imagination, this is a heartfelt and humorous story of what can happen when the universe hears your dreams.
£300 / £400 + VAT for one or two show days.
Maximum capacity 100 per performance.
Performed in a clear school hall (min size 5m x 12m)

www.theatreinschoolsscotland.co.uk  / E: tiss@imaginate.org.uk / T: 0131 225 8050

Pages of the Sea – FREE – national project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One

Pages of the Sea is a Nationwide Project that will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One. Directed by Danny Boyle, you are invited to participate in a one off UK wide historical event.

Pages of the Sea

 

 

REACH OUT – to all young people – Creative Conversation in Edinburgh

REACH OUT – to all young people

With the new session brings the good news of continued funding from Education Scotland for Creative Conversations. This year we are also working with Fife and Borders Councils in addition to Midlothian and East Lothian.

Your invitation to the first Creative Conversation of 2018/19 is attached. Many of you will remember Jaz Ampaw Farr and Amjad Ali from last October. We are delighted to welcome Amjad back to Edinburgh, this time with Allana Gay. Together they will engage us in a conversation, titled Reach Out, where the focus will be on diversity and inclusion, particularly of BAME children, young people and their families. Please share this invitation with your colleagues and partners as we are updating our mailing lists and may have missed inadvertently missed some people.

As ever David Cameron will facilitate the conversation:

          On Wednesday 24th October

          At the Edinburgh Conference and Training Centre, St Mary’s Street, Edinburgh (close to Waverley Station)

          From 4 – 4.30 with registration, coffee and meeting colleagues

          5.30 – around 6.30/6.45 in creative conversation with Amjad and Allana

          And continuing the conversation till around 7.30 with refreshments

 

Looking forward to seeing you there

Linda

Reach Out

We all wrestle with the challenge of making sure that we reach every pupil and that though our work we ensure every child and young person can achieve and succeed and be fulfilled. We also know that there can be all sorts of barriers to engagement – the young person’s background and experiences, their attitudes, interests, and increasingly, culture and ethnicity. For all those reasons we are delighted to have our first Creative Conversation of the session with Amjad Ali and Allana Gay.

Amjad was involved in a powerful and moving Creative Conversation on ACEs last session with Jaz Ampaw Farr – and he held his own!!! Not many people could manage that….. So we are delighted that Amjad is returning, bringing a wealth of experience as a teacher, school leader, fantastic speaker and as an outstanding supporter of staff development through his website https://www.trythisteaching.com  

With Amjad for this Conversation is Allana Gay, the Interim Headteacher in a North London primary school. Her 15 years in education have focused on turning around schools in challenging circumstances, especially those in deprived areas. She has extensive experience in both primary and secondary schools and shares this with colleagues throughout education. 

Both Allana and Amjad are closely involved with the BAMEed: Black, Asian Minority Ethnic Educators and support diversity and equity across education. Their experience and insights will be of interest to anyone working with children and young people in or out of school.

Linda Lees | Lifelong Learning Strategic Manager (Creativity, Health and Wellbeing) | Schools and Lifelong Learning | Communities and Families | The City of Edinburgh Council, Waverley Court, Business Centre 1/2, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG | Tel 0131 469 3956 | Mobile 07917 825007 | mailto:linda.lees@edinburgh.gov.ukwww.edinburgh.gov.uk

 

‘Supported by the Creative Learning Network Fund, a partnership between Creative Scotland and Education Scotland under Scotland’s Creative Learning Plan’.

Messy Maths: An outdoor, playful approach

Children in Scotland CLPL

Messy Maths: An outdoor, playful approach
Friday, 14 September 2018 – Edinburgh  

When children have opportunities to play with loose parts, their creativity, imagination and ability to problem-solve becomes evident. It provides the ideal context for exploring and developing mathematical concepts.

In this practical course (half of which will take place outdoors), you will explore the rationale behind using outdoor play as a key approach to building the foundations of maths, along with a host of practical ways of making this happen

How much does it cost?

Costs start at £79 for Children in Scotland members and £99 for non-members.


How can I find out more and book my place?

By phoning us on 0131 313 8828
By emailing events@childreninscotland.org.uk

Connecting Generations Competition – Interfaith Week 2018

To celebrate Scottish Interfaith Week 2018 which is taking place from 11th – 18th November, Interfaith Scotland is looking for budding artists to take part in our ‘Connecting Generations’ competition.

There is a top prize of £50 and winning entries will have their work displayed at the launch of Scottish Interfaith Week taking place at the Town House, Aberdeen on 12th November 2018. Entries are open to individuals and groups of all ages. You do not need to be part of a faith group to enter this competition. The deadline for entries is Monday 22nd October.
See the PDFs below for entry details.

Creative Competition Flyer

Connecting Generations Competition Entry Form

Connecting Generations Art Competition Advice Sheet

New Quality Assured Creative Partner – Jupiter Artland

Meet the latest quality assured Creative Partner to join the directory of quality assured creative partners available on the Creativity Portal – offering a ground breaking learning programme, and free visits for nurseries, schools, colleges, universities and community groups.

http://creativityportal.org.uk/partners