Author: Professional Learning

Capturing Learning & Observations for assessment

This course is aimed at settings wishing to develop their understanding of how to capture learning and observations in a variety of ways (including digital, using a platform such as Showbie) and how these can be used for assessment to support children to make progress in their learning across the curriculum.   Where possible, it would be beneficial for as many of your team as possible to attend. This should include an SEYO or EYO. This is to enable teams to discuss and develop a shared approach through the course. If the location of your setting makes it challenging to attend this session in-person, please get in touch with the tutor to discuss the possibility of joining remotely as a team .

The course will comprise three compulsory sessions across the year. These will take place in-person at Council Headquarters. There will also be two optional online drop-in sessions for additional support if required.

  • Session 1 will consider why and how we capture learning & high quality observations and the variety of ways in which we can document this involving children and parents.
  • Session 2 will delve into understanding why systems must be in place to analyse and interpret our documentation to progress individual children’s learning across the curriculum.  We will discuss and share what this can look like in practice.
  • Session 3 will require practitioners from settings to share their progress across the year and the impact this has had on children. Practitioners will have the opportunity to share their journey with another setting in the Borders.

In order to experience impact from these sessions, participants are required to;

• share current observations and systems

• participate in the sessions and to implement a change after each session (to both observations, and then systems)

• share the changes they implemented and the impact the change has had on their interpretation of children’s progress.

 

Practitioners will:

• Gain clarity on a variety of documentation types which evidence a child’s holistic development.

• Establish systems to put in place as a team to ensure that documentation is purposeful & supports progress & effective assessment.

• Share practice with other settings and quality assure their documentation against key messages.

• Work as a team to establish a robust framework that sets out their own setting’s types of documentation & systems around these.

 

Target Audience – SEYO or EYO. For this training to have the most impact, it would be beneficial for as many of your team as possible to attend.

Friday 24/10/25 – 2-4pm HQ business suite

Wed 3/12/25 – 4-5pm Online Teams (optional drop-in)

Wed 28/1/26 – 4-5:30pm HQ business suite

Wed 25/3/26 – 4-5pm Online Teams (optional drop-in)

Wed 27/5/26 – 4-5:30pm HQ business suite

Inspiration, Innovation, Impact-Inspirational environments

A series of 4 core (mandatory) CLPL sessions (1 hour each presented virtually) and an expectation participants will engage in a minimum of three hours implementing learning in practice.     Optional drop-in sessions to support practitioners will be arranged.

14/11/2025 – Inspirational Environments Session 1 1hr live presentation- Practical implementation- Core and Continuous Provision Audit Introductory session to Core and Continuous Provision across the indoor spaces supporting holistic development and learning (incorporating CfE capacities & meta skills)

30/01/2026 – Innovative Practitioners Session 2 1hr live presentation- Practical implementation- Observation of children’s use of core and continuous provision (Feedback from practitioners’ implementation of core and continuous provision audit) Focus on Loose parts including block play

20/03/2026 – Creativity and Curiosity Session 3 1hr live presentation- Practical implementation-improved core and continuous provision  (Feedback from practitioners’ observation of core and continuous provision)  Focus on Expressive arts play including role-play

01/05/2026 – Impact Session 4 1hr live presentation  Stimulating indoor spaces where children explore, experiment, and develop curiosity and creativity have been improved throughout the setting. Children are highly confident and engaged in the available spaces that meet their changing developmental needs.

 

Course aims:

Individuals will be able to implement changes to create stimulating indoor spaces which enable children to explore, experiment, and develop curiosity and creativity throughout the setting.

Individuals will be able to demonstrate that children are highly confident and engaged in spaces to meet their changing developmental needs.

 

Target Audience – All Early Learning and Childcare setting practitioners

14/11/2025 – 2-3pm

30/01/2026 – 2-3pm

20/03/2026 – 2-3pm

01/05/2026 – 2-3PM

 

Skills Development Scotland – Education Offer

Click the link to find out about our Education team 2025/26 professional learning offer.

We offer sessions either F2F or online for Primary Clusters regarding the following themes:

We also offer virtual sessions that individuals can register for using the links below:

23/9/25 – Introduction to meta-skills

8/10/25 – Meta-skills in Practice: Sharing approaches from primary schools 

12/11/25 – Introduction to career education

4/12/25 – Meta-skills in Practice: Sharing approaches from ASN settings

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss this offer in more detail.

Amber

Amber.beatson@sds.co.uk

Fischy Music – free teacher training

Fischy Music is running free teacher training this term. It’s a great opportunity to learn about the songs and resources for the 2025/2026 School Year, and is open to all Primary School teachers, whether or not they feel confident musically.
Feel free to share these registration links:

Leadership Opportunity – DYW

I am pleased to share an SBC leadership opportunity for promoted staff to operationally lead the Developing Young Workforce (DYW) Schools and Pathways monthly network.

 

This role offers a valuable chance to contribute to our collective efforts in improving career education and positive destinations, with a focus on coordination and collaboration across schools and partners while offering whole authority leadership experience and the opportunity to being fresh ideas to the group.

 

Key Responsibilities Include:

 

  • Operational Leadership of the monthly DYW Schools and Pathways network meetings.
  • Organisation and Coordination of meeting logistics, agendas, and follow-up actions.
  • Liaison with partners including Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and DYW Borders to ensure alignment and collaboration.
  • Sharing Good Practice across schools to promote effective approaches and innovation.
  • Feedback of National Messages to ensure schools are informed of current developments and opportunities.
  • Linking with strategic leaders to ensure the network’s work complements wider planning and priorities.
  • Organising of potential professional learning opportunities for staff involved in DYW and pathways work.

 

If you have a member of your promoted staff team who would be well-suited to this role, please encourage them to express interest.

 

Data Literacy in the Primary Classroom

Join an Online Professional Learning Course on Data Literacy in the Primary Classroom

We’re inviting student primary teachers, probationary teachers, and those in the first five years of their careers to take part in a new professional learning course as part of a research project led by the University of Edinburgh.

The course is designed to help early career teachers build confidence in teaching data literacy through playful, inclusive, and meaningful activities aligned with Curriculum for Excellence.

What’s involved?

  • A flexible, self-paced online course
  • Live sessions and peer support
  • Use of ideas or activities in your current/future classroom
  • Short survey or interview to reflect on your experience
  • Certificate of completion

Timeline: September–October 2025

Who can join?

  • Primary teachers in their induction year
  • Early career primary teachers (within 5 years)
  • Student primary teachers (PGDE/ITE programmes, all parts of Scotland)

💬 What past participants say:

“I wish I had this in my ITE programme.” – Primary Teacher

“Now I feel confident to use data in my classroom.” – Student Teacher

Register here: https://edin.ac/4dLhFGh

📩 For more information: Mustafa Ciftcioglu – s2452324@ed.ac.uk