Category Archives: Early Learning

Early Years CPD from Children In Scotland – places still available

Nature Kindergartens: making a start
8 Feb 2012, Half day morning

It is widely accepted that unstructured outdoor play improves children’s physical and emotional development, mental well being, social skills and opportunities for creative learning.
Between 2006 and 2008 almost eighty nature kindergartens were developed in schools in Fife where children go out into woodland, forest or foreshore on a regular basis.
At the end of the day participants will go home determined to make something happen, and confident of their ability to do it!

Transforming Early Years Spaces on a Shoestring
8 Feb 2012, Half day afternoon

A quality environment for children’s development cannot just be bought ‘off the peg’. Enriching children’s learning environments takes careful planning and consideration of the whole needs of the child both physical and emotional. A balance between simply providing new equipment on a regular basis and integrating this within a philosophy of development is required. The tutor is was pre-school education coordinator at Fife Council.

This half-day workshop will give participants an understanding of what is, and what is not, required to provide rich and meaningful early years experiences, and provide ideas as to how to achieve this.

The tutor – Chris Miles

Chris was a Nursery School Headteacher for twenty years, and Pre School Education Coordinator for Fife Council Education Service for eight years. During both these careers aspects of her work attracted national attention. She maintains an involvement in Nature Kindergartens through her chairing role in the Forest Schools Group within the Forestry Commission, and is in demand for consultancy and training work across Scotland, on a variety of issues involving early education. Chris was recently awards an MBE for services to Education and Young People.

Further information or to book, please visit us online at http://www.childreninscotland.org.uk/training or contact us by telephone on 0131 222 2446.

Early bird rates are currently available from £45 for one workshop or £85 for both.

Glow Meet with Santa – TODAY!

Monday 19 December 2.00 pm
http://glo.li/tptJfb

Santa is back again to join us for another Glow Meet. This time, our good friend will be coming to Glow users LIVE from the infant department at Fallin Primary near Stirling and he will be answering your questions LIVE through Glow TV. This was a hugely popular and successful event last year and Santa got lots of tricky questions from Glow viewers, as well as those in the school. Sign up here <http://newsletters-ltscotland.org.uk/LQE-MQEE-3GU5HR-8Q32A-1/c.aspx> , prepare some questions and get ready to see Santa LIVE through Glow.

Creativity in the Classroom – a call out to share what works

Consider yourself creative?

The Creativity Portal is looking for examples of simple, short creative exercises that teachers and youth workers like yourself have used in the classroom and youth group settings.

It could be:

  • A creative chemistry experiment
  • The school’s fastest paper aeroplane contest
  • The imaginative alphabet
  • A 30 second dramatic warm-up

We would love to hear what’s worked for you. Get a mention on the national Creativity Portal and an invitation to future creative CPD. A wee bit of text is all it takes.

Add to the Creativity Archive here within Glow.

Or email Stephen.bullock@educationscotland.gov.uk

Scots Language in the Early Years – watch again on Glow Meet

Do you know what ‘cow’,  ’dog’ or ‘vest’ is in Scots? If not tune in and watch again on Early Years Glow TV. We had a fantastic session with Matthew Fitt this morning, lots of establishments tuned in and took part by burlin’ roon  and shoutin’ oot!

If you would like to know more visit the Glow TV ’discussion’section of our Early Years National Glow site and download the hints and tips on how to explore Scots more in your classroom/playroom.

Here are some useful links too:

Scotland’s Songs for Early Years

Scotland’s Stories

Itchycoo

Thank you for tuning in!