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Early Years International Conference and AGM 2008

Friday 13th June 2008

Seminars

'What "Building Learning Power" looks like in practice'

Facilitator: Professor Guy Claxton, Professor of the Learning Sciences, University of Bristol Graduate School of Education

'Building learning power' (BLP) is a proven set of small changes to early education that ensures that children grow into confident and capable learners. This seminar illustrates these adjustments to homes and centres and discusses some of these little bits of gold dust.

Guy Claxton is one of the UK’s leading experts on practical ways of developing young people's learning and creative capacities. He is the author of over 20 books on learning and the mind, including Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: Why Intelligence Increases When You Think Less (1997), Wise Up: The Challenge of Lifelong Learning (1999), The Wayward Mind (2005) and The Creative Thinking Plan (with Bill Lucas, 2007). He holds degrees from Cambridge and Oxford, and is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and an Academician of the UK Academy of Social Sciences. Guy Claxton's work impacts on education policy and practice at local, national and international levels. He is currently Assistant Director for Learning at the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. Internationally, Guy has been a member of the OECD High Level Forum on Education and the Brain, and has recently spoken at conferences in Spain, Sweden, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and the US. His highly successful Building Learning Power approach has been developed through four years’ action research with 200 teachers in Cardiff, a year with 70 early years practitioners in Oxfordshire, and student-led learning-to-learn networks in South Devon. Guy Claxton is Professor of the Learning Sciences at the University of Bristol Graduate School of Education. He lives in Sussex.

How to be a Highly Effective Pre-School Teacher

Facilitators: Dr Larry Schweinhart, President, High/Scope Educational Research Foundation and Margaret Fullerton, Early Years – the organisation for young children

Five ingredients of preschool programs found to be highly effective stand out as definitive and serve as rules for how to design such programs. In the High/Scope Perry Preschool Study, the program improved children's intellectual performance and commitment to schooling, which in turn led to improvements in school achievement, educational attainment, and adult earnings, and reduced criminal offences. This seminar will discuss the implications for pre-school teachers.

Larry Schweinhart is an early childhood program researcher and speaker throughout the United States and in other countries. He has conducted research at the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation in Ypsilanti, Michigan, since 1975 and served as its president since 2003. He has directed the High/Scope Perry Preschool Study through age 40, the Michigan School Readiness Program Evaluation, High/Scope's Head Start Quality Research Centre, and the development and validation of the High/Scope Child Observation Record. Dr. Schweinhart received his Ph.D. in Education from Indiana University in 1975. He and his wife have two children and three grandchildren.

Margaret Fullerton is a High/Scope Endorsed Trainer working as a High/Scope Consultant Staff Trainer with Early Years – the Organisation for Young Children in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. She provides training in the High/Scope curriculum and support and advice for settings which implement the High/Scope approach. Margaret works with trainers and practitioners in full day care, pre-school, primary schools and family day care (childminders).

Like Bees, not Butterflies – child-initiated learning in the early years

Facilitator: Sally Featherstone, Freelance trainer and consultant in Early Years

When children are really engaged in learning they initiate themselves, their behaviour is more like bees than butterflies. Why is child-initiated learning important? What is happening in children's brains when they are involved in self-selected activities? How can we provide an environment where child-initiated learning is facilitated and valued? What is the role of the adult during these sessions? What are the challenges and dilemmas that arise when supporting children in activities they have chosen themselves. These are some of the key questions that will be discussed during the seminar.

Sally Featherstone following a career in teaching, 6 years headship of an Infant school with a large nursery, and 4 years as an LEA adviser in Leicestershire, has been working as an independent trainer and consultant for the past 9 years. Her work covers a wide range of current issues in the management and assessment of learning in the early years. Sally's particular interests are in the development of independent learning, whole brain learning, gender, and play in the early years. She is the series editor for the successful Little Book series and is the co-author of the recently completed series of Little Baby Books. She has worked with others on the titles Thinking Child and Thinking Child Resource Book, on Foundations for Independence, We Can Do It, Smooth Transitions, and Boys and Girls Come out to Play. Sally divides her time between writing and training and conferences for practitioners working with children from birth to eight.

Supporting Boys through Active Learning: the "crisis" for boys in education

Facilitators: Sandy Slack and Gerin Martin, Lynchburg City Schools and endorsed High/Scope Trainers

Be ready to be physical! During this active learning workshop you will practice strategies to use to meet the gender specific needs of boys in your classroom and care giving setting. You will understand the different sequence in male brain versus female brain development as well as other biological factors that must be considered. Challenge yourself to think differently about the adult-child interactions that you use with boys to create a "goodness of fit" for every child in your care!

Sandy Slack has a master's degree in early childhood education from George Washington University. She has worked with preschool children for 36 years and with preschool children with special needs for 29 years. Sandy began using the High/Scope Curriculum in 1981 and became a trainer in the curriculum in 1991. Sandy has conducted training on the High/Scope curriculum in many states and Puerto Rico. Sandy and Gerin collaborated as a team for five years in a child care center where Sandy supported children with developmental delays in Gerin's classroom. Together they began to read about and experience first hand the gender based needs of boys. This workshop has now been presented locally in Virginia and at the High/Scope Registry Conference in Ypsilanti.

Gerin Martin has a bachelor's degree from Radford University and is currently enrolled in a Master's degree program in early childhood special education from Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Gerin has worked with preschool children for 12 years. She began using the active learning based High/Scope Curriculum seven years ago. She became a certified High/Scope classroom teacher in 2005 and is currently becoming an endorsed trainer. Gerin and Sandy collaborated as a teaching team for five years and continue to collaborate as High/Scope trainers. Gerin initially began working on the issue of meeting the needs of boys because of the high numbers of boys in special education and the demanding physical behaviours in her own classroom.

Supporting Traveller Children's Eagerness to Learn

Facilitator: Kathleen O'Kane, Toybox

This presentation will highlight how the Toybox project is making a difference in the lives of young Traveller children 0 — 4 years working with them and their parents in their homes. It will address how the engagement of the adults provide children with an eagerness to learn by sharing control, focusing on their strengths and supporting them in their play activities. The presentation will also highlight how the adults observe, listen, encourage and extend the children's play which leads to problem solving and supports their eagerness to learn.

Kathleen O'Kane is currently the Co-ordinator of the Toybox Project for Traveller children. Kathleen's initial role with Early Years, the organisation for young children was an Early Years Specialist, then Senior Practitioner supporting the practice element of the project and subsequently a High Scope trainer. She developed a keen interest and enthusiasm in enhancing the social, emotional and educational needs of young Traveller children and is a strong advocate for the work of the project in addressing these needs.

Beyond Words – how children make meanings with interactive media

Facilitators: Brian McHenry and Janet Preston, Early Years – the organisation for young children supported by the Cross Border Training Programme Part 2

This Seminar will explore how ICT can be woven appropriately into many of the experiences contributing to children's learning and development in the Early Years. For the purposes of this Seminar we will explore how children and Early Years Practitioners can use media such as computers, projectors, light boxes and digital imaging to support children’s understanding of their world.

Brian McHenry is currently a Development Worker with Early Years – The Organisation for Young Children. He has worked in the early year's sector for over twelve years and is currently supporting the development of appropriate high quality play and learning experiences for young children aged 0 - 4. Brian has a particular interest in creativity in the early years and specifically the work undertaken by the Pre-School/ Infant Toddler Centres of Reggio Emilia and the importance placed on the child as an active protagonist in the creative process. He has experience in both Graphic Design and Children’s Illustration and has used computers and new media extensively in his work. He believes strongly in the creative opportunities available through ICT and that this creativity is paramount to successful learning.

Janet Preston is currently an Early Years Specialist with Early Years the Organisation for young children providing support to staff, children and parents in a range of early years settings. Janet has a particular interest in supporting the development creativity in young children having initially trained as an art teacher, and has visited the infant and toddler centres and pre-schools in Reggio Emilia on a number of occasions most recently in 2007. Janet's Masters Degree involved research on the impact on children's learning of implementing aspects of the Reggio Approach.

Promoting Language Enrichment

Facilitator: Little Hands Sure Start

Little Hands Sure Start are promoting Language enrichment to all children within our Sure Start area to 0-3 yrs: The seminar will share with others how they can adapt, train, be creative and work with parents and children each day through language. The seminar will share the Chatter packs (3-4 year olds), Wee talk bags (2-3 years old), use of Elklan training, Stay n Play sessions and a language enrichment programme.

Transitions – the Sure Start Way

Facilitators: Joanne Morgan and Mia Murray, Sure Start

This seminar will look at how 2 Sure Start projects within Northern Ireland have piloted some innovative work in the area of Transitions. The session will focus on the experience of the 2 speakers in building on and changing practice in relation to ensuring a seamless transition from pre school to school. It will also focus on the challenges of ensuring children and parents are and remain equal partners in the transition process.

Joanne Morgan is the Sure Start Manager for Early Years, a post which involves providing strategic direction and leadership for 5 Sure Start projects in Northern Ireland. Previous to this Joanne directly managed a Sure Start project for 3 years within rural South Armagh. The project successfully delivers a range of health education and early learning opportunities for families with young children, delivered by a skilled multi disciplinary team. Joanne has more than 12 years experience in project management having managed a number of European funded projects and partnerships within the province.

Mia Murray is the manager for Clogher Valley Sure Start, one of 32 Sure Start projects within Northern Ireland. Mia manages a diverse, multi disciplinary team which delivers high quality services for family with young children within a rural and isolated area. Mia has worked in the Early Years sector for many years, having held posts with Play board and Save the children. She is a strong advocate for community development approaches within the sector and is actively involved in the development of several locally based groups and organisations.

Visit to Playtrail – play and educational facility

Facilitator: Mark Roberts, Project Manager, Playtrail

Playtrail includes two large play areas, a unique sensory garden, outdoor auditorium, woodland walk, visitor centre and environmental educational building (Eco-base). Funding has also been secured and plans are under way to add a community garden with allotments, raised beds and green houses.

The facility is currently used by schools and community groups from across the Derry City Council area and also opens for community use after school hours and at the weekends. Visitor numbers for 2007 reached a staggering 36,000, with the Playtrail playing host to a range of activity programmes including a celebration of National Play Day, a Halloween Drama Event and a visit from Santa. Early figures for 2008 show a 300% increase in users as word continues to spread on the facility.

Mark Roberts has been employed by Liberty Consortium for the past 4 years and has overseen the capital development of the Playtrail facility, securing in excess of £1m in funding. Previously Mark has been employed as a grant assessor for the Big Lottery Fund, as a community development worker and as a full-time Youth Worker. A native of the City, Mark is vice chair of the Derry Children's Commission and has worked with the Inter Agency Play Strategy committee in the development of Derry's first Play Strategy. Mark is keen to offer other groups the benefit of his advice, experience & insight gained during the ongoing development of the Playtrail.