Category Archives: Early Learning

Community Learning and Development, Early Learning, Health and Wellbeing, Primary, Secondary

Creative Conversation – You Make Me Feel – Edinburgh

October 20, 2017 S. Bullock Leave a comment

The latest Creative Conversation’s Creative Catalysts are Jaz Ampaw-Farr and Amjad Ali. The focus of this Creative Conversation is on you and the things you can do to help change lives. Jaz will tell her profoundly moving story about her early life and the people who made a difference. Amjad will contribute with practical ideas from his experience as a teacher, school leader and from his work in prisons.

The details are:

Friday 27^th October
Edinburgh Training and Conference Venue on St. Marys’ Street
buffet lunch from 1.30
Creative Conversation starts at 2.30
refreshments, nibbles and continue the conversation from 3.45/4pm on

Creative Conversation prog and info – Jaz and Amjad

Creative Conversation Invitation – Jaz and Amjad

This is another rare opportunity to talk to 2 people who are not often in Scotland and who have great insights and moving stories to tell. It could not be a more current Creative Conversation in terms of how we need to work together to change outcomes for all young people.

Andy Jeffries, Acting Head of Children’s Services will give the welcome and David Cameron will facilitate the conversation.

Please to RSVP no later than 2pm on the 26^th October. You can bring a colleague and we look forward to another Creative Conversation and your participation in it.

linda.lees@edinburgh.gov.uk

Additional Support for Learning, Community Learning and Development, Dance, Drama, Early Learning, Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Languages and Literacy, Primary, Sciences, Social Studies

Out to Play Teacher CPD Opportunities & Resources this Autumn

Image June 23, 2017 User deactivated Leave a comment

Following on from a successful Out to Play pilot project in 2015, winner of the Glasgow City Council Environmental Initiative Award 2016, Eco Drama will run a series of 7 week creative outdoor learning residencies this autumn with 4 primary schools, marking the beginning of a 4 year project in 25 primary schools and nurseries across Greater Glasgow.

Out to Play is a creative learning project in which Drama Artists collaborate with partner Primary Schools and Nurseries to explore the role of Drama, Storytelling and Theatre in Outdoor Learning. The project seeks to facilitate interaction with the natural world through quality artistic experiences, re-thinking traditional views of nature and noticing and appreciating nature on our doorstep. Sessions are tailored to the unique surroundings of each school, and through imaginative play and adventurous learning, Out to Play aims to deepen young people’s connection to our natural world.

Out to Play Teacher CPD Opportunities 2017

As part of the project, Eco Drama are delivering Teacher CPD sessions, which were a popular element of the 2015 pilot project and which may be of interest in engaging teachers from your school in outdoor learning.

Eco Drama will be running an after school twilight CPD session on Wednesday 27^th September at Dalmarnock Primary School, delivered by Ben Mali Macfadyen, the Drama Artist who delivered the Out to Play pilot project in 2015 and who led on the creation of the Eco Drama Out to Play Resource Pack. Additional CPD dates will likely be added on Tuesday 26^th and/or 28^th September.

During the session, teachers will explore how to integrate outdoor learning into the school curriculum and how to utilize creative learning methods such as drama, storytelling, song and movement in order to engage learners with the natural environment. Participating teachers will also leave with an Out to Play Outdoor Learning Resource Pack.

Reviews: “I hadn’t realised the power of imagination within outdoor learning. Really informative session, lots of ideas to start with. Thank you.” Irene Boyle, Corpus Christi Primary

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

“Excellent ideas and superb resource which I intend to use ASAP.” Ellie Henderson, Knightswood Primary

The cost is £45 per teacher, which includes the Out to Play Resource Pack (usual retail cost £16). Each CPD event is limited to 20 attendees and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

At the moment Eco Drama are gathering notes of interest from teachers who would like to attend this CPD event. If this is of interest to your school, please email nina@ecodrama.co.uk detailing how many teachers you would send and confirming if the 26^th, 27^th or 28^th September would be suitable.

Alternatively, Eco Drama could visit your school with a dedicated CPD session for all of your teachers to attend. If this option is of interest, please get in touch with emily@ecodrama.co.uk / 0141 552 9920 to discuss.

“A wonderful experience for the children and myself. A fresh look on how to develop Outdoor Learning in a more creative manner. Fantastic experience.” Tommy Hynes, Teacher, Corpus Christi Primary, participating school in pilot project 2015

Website: www.ecodrama.co.uk Twitter: @EcoDrama1
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1lFBjDg

Short film about Out to Play 2015: https://vimeo.com/141887997

Developing the Young Workforce, Early Learning, Primary, Research and Strategy, Secondary, THIS IS A TEST

Parents’ Nutshell Guide on Creativity, Enterprise and Employability

May 10, 2017 S. Bullock Leave a comment

The latest National Parent Forum of Scotland nutshell guide is now available on the NPFS website: http://www.npfs.org.uk/creativity-in-a-nutshell/

Its focus is Creativity, Enterprise and Employability so we hope you will find this guide particularly useful in your work. It is has been produced by the NPFS in partnership with Skills Development Scotland with input from a range of other partners, including NCLN representatives and Young Enterprise Scotland.

It recognises the significant and increasing link between future employability and well developed creativity skills in young people. In their 2016 report ‘The Future of Jobs’, the World Economic Forum highlighted anticipated changes in employability skills and suggested that by 2020 over one third of the skills considered important in today’s workforce will have changed. Notably, creativity will have become one of the top three skills needed to deal with the avalanche of new products, new technologies and new ways of working. https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs . As you may know, the focus on creativity and employability is also reflected in Quality Indicator 3.3 in the latest (2016) version of the school self-evaluation and improvement guide How Good is our School?

Colleges, Community Learning and Development, Developing the Young Workforce, Early Learning, Primary, Secondary, THIS IS A TEST

Creativity Banners now available in all local authorities

April 26, 2017 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Your local Creative Learning Network now have high quality pull up banners available to loan that offer deep learning opportunities for creativity across learning, creativity and employability and creativity for attainment. You will find all of the infographics used on the banners on the National Improvement Hub: http://bit.ly/creativityinfographics

The set of 5 pull-up banners offer an informative and dramatic display for any creativity themed event or project you may be planning. They can be used as discussion materials for CLPL, to stimulate activities with learners, and as easy to digest resources for classrooms and staffrooms. As well as relating directly to Quality Indicator 3.3 in How Good Is Our School 4 they offer a key component in any work around skills for life, learning and work and Developing the Young Workforce.

To borrow the banners you can find your local authority’s creative learning contacts on the Creativity Portal: http://bit.ly/creativitycontacts or email Stephen Bullock, Development Officer for Creativity Stephen.bullock@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk

Developing the Young Workforce, Early Learning

Creativity Posters for every Early Learning and Childcare centre in Scotland

April 24, 2017 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Colourful posters, exploring creativity skills for learners and staff, are currently being delivered to every ELCC centre in Scotland as part of Education Scotland’s work on the national Creative Learning Plan.

The posters support learners, teachers and leaders in sharing a common understanding of creativity skills, and their place across all areas of the curriculum.

You can find downloadable versions of posters and more on the National Improvement Hub: http://bit.ly/creativityinfographics

To learn more about creative teaching and learning you can speak to your local creative learning contacts http://bit.ly/creativitycontacts or email Stephen Bullock, Development Officer for Creativity Stephen.bullock@educationscotland.gsi.gov.uk

Art and Design, Colleges, Community Learning and Development, Early Learning, Primary, Secondary

Jupiter Artland – outdoor sculpture garden – FREE opportunities deadline soon

March 20, 2017 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Jupiter Artland – www.jupiterartland.org

Call for Applications – deadline 31 March! The Jupiter Artland Foundation enables nurseries, schools, universities and other learning groups to visit Jupiter Artland, a private sculpture garden just outside of Edinburgh, for free.

Choose one of our visit options – from half-days, to full-days or even whole school engagements, pick your day and let us know what your themes/topics are. Visits can including a tour, a workshop or even a Minecraft experience with our new App (launching at the Science Festival in April). We want to hear from you and find out how we can help you achieve your aims and outcomes when you come and visit us.

Fill in our short application form by 31 March 2017 for visits between August and November.

Find our more here: https://www.jupiterartland.org/learning/school-and-universities

Jupiter Artland also offers two Free Teachers Private Views:

https://www.jupiterartland.org/whats-on/teachers-private-view

After last year’s sold-out success, Jupiter Artland offers three CLPL Events in 2017 (£15 each):

https://www.jupiterartland.org/whats-on/creative-learning-for-early-years-cpd

https://www.jupiterartland.org/whats-on/creative-learning-in-the-outdoors

https://www.jupiterartland.org/whats-on/engaging-children-and-young-people-in-contemporary-art

Art and Design, Colleges, Community Learning and Development, Early Learning, Primary, Secondary

Jupiter Artland outdoor sculpture garden – FREE opportunities

March 9, 2017 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Jupiter Artland – www.jupiterartland.org

Fill in our short application form by 31 March 2017 for visits between August and November.

Find our more here: https://www.jupiterartland.org/learning/school-and-universities

Jupiter Artland also offers two Free Teachers Private Views:

https://www.jupiterartland.org/whats-on/teachers-private-view

After last year’s sold-out success, Jupiter Artland offers three CLPL Events in 2017 (£15 each):

https://www.jupiterartland.org/whats-on/creative-learning-for-early-years-cpd

https://www.jupiterartland.org/whats-on/creative-learning-in-the-outdoors

https://www.jupiterartland.org/whats-on/engaging-children-and-young-people-in-contemporary-art

Early Learning

Start 2017 with a new Creative Approach to Early Years

December 18, 2016 S. Bullock Leave a comment

Since 2013 Starcatchers has been funded by the Scottish Government to work with Early Years practitioners and teachers across the country to help them feel, and be, more creative. Our Creative Skills training is transforming practice and changing lives, empowering educators and reminding them what their jobs are really about.

Starcatchers is delighted to launch our bespoke level 7, 24 credit point qualification Creative Skills in Early Childhood Practice, in partnership with Glasgow Kelvin College. Applications are now open for the course beginning in January 2017.

Why are the Arts and Creativity so Important?

The importance of creativity is at the centre of Scottish Government policies and guidelines: from Curriculum for Excellence and HGIOELC, the UNCRC, GIRFEC and EYC/RAFA, there is a strong emphasis on the voice of the child, the importance of child-centred approaches, involving children in decision making and shaping their own learning.

Creativity and Attainment

There is a wealth of evidence proving the arts and creative approaches boost attainment in literacy and numeracy, support healthy development and wellbeing, and are particularly effective when working with our most vulnerable children. There is agreement across the board that creativity is a good thing, but in practical terms it’s not always easy to put that knowledge into practice.

In 2017, through our online Creative Community, Starcatchers will be supporting settings who are interested in using improvement methodology to measure the impact of creative approaches.

To apply for the qualification and register for our Creative Community please visit http://creative-community.starcatchers.org.uk/training-opportunities/

To find out more about Starcatchers please visit http://www.starcatchers.org.uk/