Author: Ali

Mini INSET Session: Slow Pedagogy

This comprehensive staff meeting template provides early years settings with a structured approach to exploring and implementing slow pedagogy principles in their practice. Based on Alison Clark’s research and writing, the template guides teams through understanding what slow pedagogy means, identifying opportunities throughout the day for unhurried learning, and reflecting on specific aspects like mealtimes and storytelling. Complete with discussion prompts, practical activities, and follow-up suggestions, this one-hour meeting plan helps settings develop more attentive, child-centered approaches that value children’s natural rhythms and deeper learning experiences. The template is particularly useful for settings looking to move away from rushed routines and create more meaningful engagement with children.

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Trauma Informed? Dispelling the Jargon and How You Can Make a Difference by Terri Mitchell

Explore the meaning behind common educational phrases like ‘Belonging Strategies’ and ‘Trauma Informed’ while discovering how to make a meaningful difference in children’s lives. Early years educator Terri Mitchell challenges us to shift our perspective on challenging behaviors and view them through a trauma-informed lens. Drawing from her extensive experience and training in Trauma Informed Schools, she explains how early childhood experiences shape brain development and why understanding trauma and attachment is crucial for every educator. This insightful post offers practical guidance on becoming an emotionally available adult who can positively impact children’s life outcomes.

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Webinar: Evidence Informed Practice for Communication and Language With Nicki Cherry and Ali Carrington

In this insightful webinar recording, Ali Carrington and Nicola Cherry explored the Education Endowment Foundation’s summary of evidence-informed approaches for early years education. They guided participants through practical reflections on implementing effective communication and language practices in early childhood settings.

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The Importance of Self-Care Strategies for Staff, Children and Setting – Case Studies from the Early Years

In this blog post, by Dr. Louise Hannan, the complex emotional landscape of Early Years settings is explored through the lens of staff well-being and self-care strategies. Drawing from her experience as a practitioner, manager, and researcher, she examines how staff emotional well-being directly impacts children’s development through warm, responsive relationships. Through a case study with Bridgwater and Taunton College Childcare Centre, the research demonstrates how implementing simple self-care strategies can enhance job satisfaction, reduce stress, and create a more positive environment for both staff and children.

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Webinar: Early Maths Matters with Dr Sue Gifford

At the Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub’s “Maths Matters More Than Ever!” free mini-conference, guest speaker Dr Sue Gifford (Professor Emerita in the University of Roehampton’s School of Education) celebrated all that is creative and playful about early mathematics and dug deeper into pattern, problem-solving and spatial reasoning.

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Promoting Positive Relationships through Relationship Mapping – Case Studies from the Early Years

Relationship Mapping, Attachment and Attunement in the Early Years is a training course delivered by Jacqui Lewis, an early years specialist. The Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub funded Jacqui to extend the delivery of this training to include our SPH area. The course explores the concept of relationship mapping, using sociograms to visualise relationships, and provides an opportunity to reflect upon the individual and pedagogical factors which influence adult-child relationships, and to consider how to strengthen relationships so that every child has a meaningful connection.

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Webinar: Musical Creativity In The Baby Room With Dr Mona Sakr

In this online workshop, we’ll focus on practical ways to bring more musical creativity into the baby room daily. Dr Mona Sakr will offer starting points for bringing more musical creativity into the baby room. Then, there will be the chance to work together to develop practical ideas and tips that you can take back to your place of work to make a difference immediately. We know that musical creativity is something that binds babies, children and adults together – it’s part of what makes us who we are. So, finding ways to be more musically creative with babies is part of developing a happier and healthier baby room.

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📢NEW BLOG POST: Trauma Informed? Dispelling the Jargon and How You Can Make a Difference by Terri Mitchell
📢 New Blog Post: The Magic of Emerging Literacy in the Early Years by Ali Carrington