Bristol Early Years Teaching Hub

Emotion Coaching for Childminders and Settings
2025-11-19 18:00 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This online session will help you support children and young people in understanding the different emotions they experience, why they occur, and how to handle them. We will consider Emotion Coaching as a strategy for supporting children’s behaviour and self-regulation and highlight research that demonstrates the value of an emotion coaching approach. There will be opportunities to explore the tools to practice emotion coaching with children. This session is for Early Years practitioners in settings and childminders.
Part of this event may be recorded.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Courageous Conversations - Leadership
2025-11-18 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-07-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This training is being delivered by Lucy Driver, lead of the Stronger Practice Hub.
We all sometimes get stuck when we need to say some hard things to people. This session will provide you with the opportunities to explore what might be stopping you from doing this, consider different ways of approaching and leading the conversation, and provide space to practice them. You will be offered a variety of strategies from which you can apply your new learning to that next tricky conversation you need to have.
These leadership courses are for early years setting leaders and managers, room leaders and those aspiring to be leaders. Childminders working with assistants may also find it useful.
Lucy Driver leads the Stronger Practice Hub and Bristol EYs Hub, is Head of St. Pauls Nursery School and a National Leader of Education.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Identifying and Supporting Speech, Language and Communication - November 2025
2025-11-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This session is for all Early Years practitioners, including Early Years settings, schools, and childminders.
This online workshop will involve input about typical language development from speech and language therapists, followed by supportive discussion around strategies for support and useful resources.
Building on what we already know about supporting speech, language and communication difficulties; this session will focus on supportive strategies and resources to use in your settings and with families. We will explore the importance of quality interactions via our own key message themes around ‘Chatting, playing, sharing books and singing together,’ as well as learning opportunities from other sources, including the Education Endowment Foundation.
Please Note: This is one of series of SALT surgery sessions, with a mixture of input and discussion time. Each event is an individual session with unique content!
View Tickets

Sessions in this Series

Notice

There are no upcoming events.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Creative Mathematics Study Day at Sefton Park School
2025-11-07 09:00 - 15:00 | Sefton Park Infant and Junior Schools, Ashley Down Road, Ashley Down, Bristol, BS7 9BJ, United Kingdom
Stronger Practice Hub Event
If you want to put your young mathematicians in the mathematics driving seat, come and explore with us at Sefton Park.
Together, we will look at ways of unlocking the mathematician in every pupil and get the best possible results.
During the day we will:

Discuss theories of early mathematical development in children
Play with innovative and high-quality maths resources, including those at Sefton Park and Montessori mathematical equipment, such as the Numbers to 9,999 study box, the Montessori Pink tower, the Understanding Addition study box, and the Equality study box.
Explore how you create a learning environment where young mathematicians thrive
Understand how the Reggio approach can be incorporated into the teaching of mathematics
Create high-quality mathematical resources to use within independent learning, including supporting children with SEND
Observe children developing mathematical understanding in high-quality independent learning

You will leave with:

A resource you’ve made that you can use immediately with your children
A range of ideas for developing high-quality creative mathematics within your independent learning.

The morning will explore pedagogical approaches to mathematics, the anatomy of rapid mathematical development, and the range of resources used to stimulate mathematical play.
The afternoon will include designing and making resources for all children, including those with SEND, and the exploration of strategies to introduce rigorous mathematical learning in independent play.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Back to Basics: Learning How to Plan Your Daily Routine
2025-11-06 16:00 - 18:00 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Getting your daily routine right is a way to maximise the learning in every session and build children’s sense of belonging and autonomy.
Come to this session and learn more about:

The rationale – why do we need a daily routine and what is the impact?
Time to reflect on our routines – what works well and even better if
The Unique Child: We will reflect on how a well-planned daily routine has a positive impact on every child’s emotional well-being and sense of belonging.
Positive Relationships: What is our role within the daily routine? There will be a focus on quality interactions that promote teachable moments.
Learning and Development: We will explore each element of the routine, the rationale behind it and how each element maximises learning opportunities.

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Back to Basics Series
Our Back to Basics series consists of four webinars. You can attend all the webinars in the series, or pick the one(s) that are most relevant to your practice. Each of these webinars will run twice between June 2025 and March 2026.

Notice

There are no upcoming events.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Early Years EAL Programme: Unlock the Potential of Every Child (CPD Programme)
2025-11-05 16:00 - 17:40 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Join us for an insightful training programme tailored for Early Years practitioners, designed to empower you with the knowledge and tools to support children with English as an Additional Language (EAL).
This CPD Programme involves three online sessions, and you will be required to attend all three.
Wednesday 5th November – 4:00 pm – 5:40 pm
Wednesday 12th November – 4:00 pm – 5:40 pm
Wednesday 26th November – 4:00 pm – 5:40 pm
What You’ll Learn:

Understanding Complexities of EAL – Gain insights into the unique challenges EAL learners face.
Stages of Language Acquisition – Learn how children develop language skills and how to support them at each stage.
Supporting Silent Children – Discover strategies to build confidence and encourage communication.
Identifying Risk Factors for Underachievement – Recognise early signs and intervene effectively.
Promoting Cultural Identity – Celebrate diversity and help children feel valued and included.
Key Approaches, Practices, Tools, and Resources – Practical strategies to enrich your everyday practice

It is hoped that by the end of this training practitioners will no-longer see bilingualism as a barrier to learning/outcomes, they will better understand the vulnerabilities and bilingual stories of their children, and they will start using a range of teaching approaches and strategies that are effective in teaching all children including bilingual learners.
Overall, participants will have a better understanding of their provision through a bilingual lens, and they will lead improvements in their own settings.
This training will be recorded, and a version will be made available online afterwards.
This training is being delivered by Andrina Flinders, Headteacher of Fullbrook Nursery School and Lead Practitioner for the Thrive Together Stronger Practice Hub.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

PSED Network: Belonging and Transitions
2025-11-03 16:00 - 17:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Join the Bristol PSED team for four networking sessions over the year as we collaborate to discuss key areas of PSED practice. We will be guided by Eight to Relate, a values-driven auditing tool for embedding connection and relationship-based practice in your setting. The networks will be an opportunity to come together and explore aspects of provision, sharing ideas, reflecting and connecting with other settings, coming away full of ideas and tools you can use straight away.
Network sessions will involve 30 minutes of teaching time, 30 minutes for sharing practice and discussion, and 30 minutes back together for action planning. We hope you will leave feeling inspired and with tangible actions you can take.
Please Note: This session is part of what will be regular termly PSED regional networking sessions. So it will involve some CPD and then networking/ discussion time. Participants are encouraged to discuss their learning, what they have or will put into practice, successes and challenges from their settings, and what you'd like future sessions to cover as we build this learning community.
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Sessions in this Series

Notice

There are no upcoming events.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Bristol Behaviour Surgery at St Pauls Nursery School
2025-10-23 16:00 - 18:00 | St. Pauls Nursery School and Children’s Centre, Little Bishop Street, Bristol, BS2 9JF, United Kingdom
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This is an event for early years practitioners in Bristol only and is organised by Bristol Early Years and the Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub.
Come along to our in-person behaviour surgeries, where you can bring your scenarios and questions to local colleagues and experts. Through reflection, discussion and shared curiosity, we can unpick experiences, helping you to provide the best possible support to children in your care.
Book Here

Bristol Behaviour Surgeries

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There are no upcoming events.

Identifying and Supporting Speech, Language and Communication - October 2025
2025-10-23 16:00 - 17:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This session is for all Early Years practitioners, including Early Years settings, schools, and childminders.
This online workshop will involve input about typical language development from speech and language therapists, followed by supportive discussion around strategies for support and useful resources.
Building on what we already know about identifying speech, language and communication needs; this session will focus on social communication differences and children who may have a diagnosis of autism in more detail. This will include time for discussion and sharing of resources in these areas.
Please Note: This is one of series of SALT surgery sessions, with a mixture of input and discussion time. Each event is an individual session with unique content!
View Tickets

Sessions in this Series

Notice

There are no upcoming events.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Unpicking the ShREC Approach: Communication, Language and Literacy Network
2025-10-16 16:00 - 17:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Come and learn more about the ShREC approach, a strategy designed to enhance interactions between educators and young children. It is evidence-informed and a versatile tool to support children’s language development.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

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This network is an opportunity for practitioners to come together and consider how we support children’s communication, language and literacy through an evidence-informed approach. It is for anyone working in EYs and offers 45 minutes of learning more about an approach with a follow-up reflective discussion about how this might work in your setting or school.

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There are no upcoming events.

Introduction to Makaton for Childminders
2025-10-15 18:30 - 20:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This session is for Childminders in our SPH region only. If you are not a childminder or from outside our area, do not make a booking, as it will be removed. There are limited places, and the funding is allocated per person; therefore, it is essential that if you book, you can attend.
The ‘Introduction to Makaton’ taster session is a 2-hour workshop designed for complete beginners or those with previous training who would benefit from a refresher.
You will learn what Makaton is, how to use it and who with. You will learn approximately 50 signs and symbols relevant to your role as a Childminder, with the focus being on Early Years Vocabulary alongside core, functional vocabulary. The workshop comes with an emailed participant booklet for use during the session and an emailed Certificate of Attendance on completion.
This workshop is live and interactive, so you will need a laptop/PC/tablet, and a working camera, mic and speaker. Phones are not recommended.
If sold out, we will operate a waiting list. To be added to this, please email: sph@beyth.co.uk
About Your Tutor
Ali has over 25 years’ experience in supporting children with a wide range of communication needs, Ali’s last role prior to becoming a full-time tutor was as a SEND Hub Lead in a mainstream school. Ali is an established Makaton Tutor across the South-West supporting and training many educational establishments, organisations, charities, and businesses nationwide. Ali is also a guest lecturer at University of the West of England, University Centre Weston and Weston College across several subjects and sectors. Ali brings a wealth of knowledge and implementation ideas into the training.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

SEND Network: Emotional Regulation Through Sensory Processing
2025-10-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Emotional Regulation Through Sensory Processing is a strategy-focused, one-hour course designed for early years practitioners. It explores how sensory processing affects young children’s emotions and behaviour, and how simple changes in the environment can support better self-regulation, especially for children with additional needs. With real-life examples and tools, the course helps practitioners build confidence in spotting sensory challenges and supporting children to feel calm, safe, and ready to engage.
Learning Aims;

An understanding of the eight senses
An understanding of how children experience and show sensory differences
Explore how these affect children’s emotional regulation
Share practical strategies to support your children

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

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Our SEND Network offers a series of informal, online networking sessions designed for early years practitioners to come together, share experiences, and explore key topics related to SEND in early years settings. Each session focuses on a different aspect of practice, providing some specialist input and a space for discussion, reflection, and peer support. This SEND Network session will be facilitated by Springboard Opportunity Group, our SPH Partner’s who run several Special Schools in North Somerset.
This SEND Network session will be facilitated by Springboard Opportunity Group, our SPH Partner, who run several Special Schools in North Somerset.

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There are no upcoming events.

Music in the Early Years – for Schools and Settings
2025-10-14 13:00 - 14:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Are you an EYFS practitioner looking to bring more music into your practice?
This friendly, practical session is designed especially for those working with young children in nurseries, preschools or other group settings — supporting you to feel confident and inspired in your use of music. Together, we’ll explore the theory behind the musical instincts you already use every day, helping you deepen your understanding of why music matters and giving you fresh ideas to make the most of everyday musical moments.
This 90-minute online session includes:

Songs and musical ideas you can use straight away — in routines, to support emotional regulation, enhance play and enrich learning
Insight into how music supports communication, relationships and children’s overall development
Time to reflect, share ideas, and feel inspired

Led by The Family Music Hub — a not-for-profit organisation that supports all those engaging in family music with 0–5s through practical, inspiring, research-informed training. Our team includes experienced early childhood music specialists who understand the realities, demands and opportunities of working with young children in group settings.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Back to Basics: Learning About the Role of the Key Person
2025-10-09 16:00 - 18:00 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
The role of the Key Person has never been more critical as we work to meet the increasing needs of every unique child. As we face growing challenges in Early Years our settings need to be safe, loving and enabling environments for our children and families.
Being attuned and building a rapport with every child and embracing their family is crucial at this time to support self-regulation. We need to do this through loving relationships and positive interactions.
Join us to learn more about:

The rationale – what is the role of the key person, why do we have key people, and what difference does it make?
The philosophy and principles underpinning an effective key person model and how can we put these into practice.
Ways to build the provision around the key person role.
The key qualities and characteristics that the key person needs to promote safe, loving, trusting relationships.
Ways to foster quality interactions that promote a sense of belonging, strong attachments and well-being.
How to build and maintain resilience for yourself as a key person and ‘fill your well’.

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Back to Basics Series
Our Back to Basics series consists of four webinars. You can attend all the webinars in the series, or pick the one(s) that are most relevant to your practice. Each of these webinars will run twice between June 2025 and March 2026.

Notice

There are no upcoming events.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

CPD Programme: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion - It Starts with Us
2025-10-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This EDI network will allow Early Years professionals to come together in a safe space and reflect on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
The three sessions will explore our individual values and influences and how this informs our professional selves. We will learn how to know and understand the identities of unique children, their families, and our communities and how we can use our knowledge to change practice in our settings.
Session 1: Self-reflection- Starting the journey
Session 2: Valuing identity, the unique child, family, and community
Session 3: Making a difference – Vision and values, and ethos of your setting.
Session 1: Wednesday 8th October 2025, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Session 2: Thursday 6th November 2025, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Session 3: Thursday 27th November 2025, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Please Note: A commitment to attend all sessions is required.

Mathematising the Day
2025-10-08 15:30 - 17:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This session will support you to identify children’s everyday mathematical experiences and plan for playful moments of mathematics throughout your day.
We will be focusing on how to implement evidence-informed approaches that support children’s understanding of mathematical skills and concepts through the integration of games, stories and mathematical vocabulary into our everyday routines, interactions and provision.
The session is suitable for all early years educators and leaders who would like to develop their own understanding of early mathematics.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

CPD Programme: Getting it Right for Twos
2025-09-30 16:00 - 18:00 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This CPD Programme involves three 2-hour online sessions, and you will be required to attend all three.
Tuesday 30th September – 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 7th October – 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Tuesday 21st October – 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
This programme will explore getting it right for two-year-olds in early years settings. They will support educators to look at provision through the eyes of the two-year-old, reflecting upon the unique child, positive relationships, enabling environments and learning and development. The sessions will provide opportunities to reflect upon aspects of the day with children’s rights in mind, including the daily routines, mindful care and supporting play.
This training is for educators who are new to working with two-year-olds, those who haven’t done training specifically about being with two-year-olds or those wanting a refresher on getting in right with twos. It is a great basis for talking with twos, tuning in to twos and inspiring provision for two-year-olds.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Early Years Nutrition for Settings
2025-09-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Jo Ingleby
Join us for a webinar about the new Nutritional Guidance for Early Years Settings led by Jo Ingleby, who has 20 years of early years food experience and is the Director of The Children’s Kitchen, a Feeding Bristol project. These webinars will focus on:

Understanding the new guidance and what it means to your setting
Practical ways to improve the nutritional quality of snacks, meals and food sessions
Ways to promote healthier lunchboxes and run practical sessions with your families
How to develop a food and nutrition policy for your setting
Where to go for support, ideas and resources

There will be two webinars: one for childminders and one for schools or settings, both of which will be recorded.
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Join Jo Ingleby's Early Years Nutrition Sessions

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There are no upcoming events.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Physical Development - Super Scribers With Helen Battelley
2025-09-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Super Scribers – Building Early Writing Skills Through Physical Development.
As early years educators, we know that writing starts long before children pick up a pencil—it begins with movement, play, and the development of strong, coordinated bodies.
In this session, we’ll explore how physical development lays the groundwork for mark-making and early writing. From core strength to fine motor skills, we’ll look at the building blocks that help our young learners become confident, capable scribers.
Expect practical ideas, playful activities, and plenty of opportunities to join in as we connect movement to early literacy in a fun, hands-on way.
Let’s get scribbling—and moving!
About this Series
Welcome to our comprehensive professional development series focused on Physical Development (PD) in the Early Years, designed to support educators, leaders, and practitioners in building confident, evidence-informed practice aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Development Matters.
This series brings together research, theory, and hands-on strategies across key areas of early movement, play, and pedagogy. Whether you engage in one session or the full series, this training is designed to deepen your understanding, strengthen your provision, and equip you with the tools to deliver meaningful, movement-rich experiences that support every child’s development from babies and infants to reception children.
Please Note: The webinar will be recorded and available online afterwards.
The session will involve a 30-minute networking/discussion session, during which participants are encouraged to discuss their learning, what they have put into practice, successes, and challenges as we build this learning community. The network section of this event will not be recorded.
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Sessions in this Series

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Helen Battelley is an internationally renowned consultant, trainer, author and speaker in Physical activity/movement in Early and Primary Education with an MA in Early Childhood Physical Activity. The movement philosophy Helen promotes is to embed movement within the curriculum and framework to enable a movement philosophy. Young children learn through movement, and early years practice must adopt an approach which is accessible to all. Learn more about Helen here.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Early Years Nutrition for Childminders
2025-09-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Online Course

Identifying and Supporting Speech, Language and Communication - September 2025
2025-09-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This session is for all Early Years practitioners, including Early Years settings, schools, and childminders.
This online workshop will involve input about typical language development from speech and language therapists, followed by supportive discussion around strategies for support and useful resources.
Building on what we already know about identifying speech, language and communication needs; this session will focus on identifying speech sound difficulties and stammering in more detail, with time for discussion and sharing of resources in these areas.
Please Note: This is one of series of SALT surgery sessions, with a mixture of input and discussion time. Each event is an individual session with unique content!
View Tickets

Sessions in this Series

Notice

There are no upcoming events.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Introduction to Staff Supervision - Leadership
2025-08-11 16:00 - 18:00 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This training is being delivered by Lucy Driver, lead of the Stronger Practice Hub.
Supervision is an effective tool to support staff wellbeing, accountability and ambition in your school or setting. The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage requires that providers must put appropriate arrangements in place for the supervision of staff who have contact with young children and families. During this session we will review understanding, policy, protocols and procedures for developing effective supervision in your EYFS setting/class teams.
It will also explore some of the complexities of being an effective supervisor and some of the strategies to get the most out of your team in this role.
These leadership courses are for early years setting leaders and managers, room leaders and those aspiring to be leaders. Childminders working with assistants may also find it useful.
Lucy Driver leads the Stronger Practice Hub and Bristol EYs Hub, is Head of St. Pauls Nursery School and a National Leader of Education.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Talking About Babies: Settling in to Provision
2025-08-08 09:30 - 10:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Debbie Brace
In this Talking About network session, we will explore strategies and share experiences around supporting babies as they transition into new settings, with a focus on building secure attachments and creating welcoming environments for families.
Guest speaker Debbie Brace will join local specialist leaders in Birth-3s for this networking session.
Debbie Brace specialises in the behaviour and early language development of babies and children aged 0-5 and is a highly skilled trainer with a passionate and infectious style.
A qualified teacher with a degree in Drama, Debbie has been working in the early years since 2007. She has an MA specialising in working with families and the emotional development of infants from the world-renowned Tavistock clinic and is a joint winner of The Louise Emanuel Essay Prize (2019), an award presented for an outstanding piece of writing in the area of Infant Mental Health.
She sits on the executive committee of AIMH UK. She is part of the First 1001 Days movement, advocating that national and local decision-makers do more to value and invest in babies’ emotional wellbeing and development in the first 1001 days.
Living in West London with her husband and two teenage boys, Debbie is passionate about empowering parents and carers in their crucial role of communicating and bonding closely with their children.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

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Talking About... is a series of informal, one-hour online networking sessions designed for early years practitioners to come together, share experiences, and explore key topics related to babies in early years settings. Each session focuses on a different aspect of practice, providing a space for discussion, reflection, and peer support.

Aug

7

Virtual Event

9:30 am - 10:45 am BST

Talking About… Babies, Identity, Belonging and Representation

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Sleep Support for SEND Families: A Course for Early Years Professionals
2025-08-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Research estimates that around 86 % of children with SEND needs might have problems with sleep. Furthermore, disabled children are more likely to have sleep disorders.
This online session is for early years practitioners, to help you to better support parents of children with SEND with better sleep practices.
This session will explore common causes of sleep difficulties and average sleep needs. It will develop your understanding of why sleep is essential for young children – how it supports physical health and boosts the immune system, helps the brain process and store daily experiences and learning, releases growth hormones, leads to better attention, behaviour, memory and emotional wellbeing. And you will learn practical tips to help you advise parents on better sleep practices for young children.
This session is being delivered by SPH Partner, Springboard Opportunity Group, which runs several Specialist schools in North Somerset.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Building Eco-Empathy in the Early Years With Millie Colwey
2025-08-04 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-07-07 10:00 - 12:00 | St. Pauls Nursery School and Children’s Centre, Little Bishop Street, Bristol, BS2 9JF, United Kingdom
Stronger Practice Hub Event
Are you a bit daunted by the DFE’s Sustainability Strategy? Are you not sure where to start with developing a Climate Action Plan for your setting? As you move forward with this, it is very important to understand the need for it and to do it in a way that is appropriate for the early years, so that we build eco-empathy not eco-anxiety. This session will help participants to:

Understand what is meant by ‘the Anthropocene’ and its impact on childhood.
Understand ‘Education for Sustainability’ in early childhood.
Consider how we might design pedagogies that help babies, toddlers and young children shift from eco-anxiety to eco-empathy as they grow older.

This research-informed session will link with DFE guidance and the need for settings to develop Climate Action Plans. It will also help participants make links between sustainability and children’s learning and development.
We will also be finding out about your interest in a sustainability network and the possibility of online follow-up sessions.
This workshop is face to face. Check the location before you book. Spaces will be limited, however there are two sessions to choose from.
If this event is sold out, you can request to be added to our waiting list by emailing sph@beyth.co.uk.
Millie Colwey is delivering this workshop. She leads an outdoor early years setting in Bristol and is an SPH Partner. Millie has years of experience working as a childminder and outdoor educator, and engaging with systems leadership beyond her own settings. She is currently doing postgraduate research into early childhood education for sustainability.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Tuning in to Babies
2025-07-15 18:15 - 20:15 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
These sessions will explore educators’ role in tuning in to babies, reflecting upon listening to their voice, supporting co-regulation and tuning in during the settling period. We will consider the key person’s role in deeply tuning in to babies’ identities, making links with babies’ experiences outside of the setting. The sessions will explore the barriers to tuning in to babies’ parents and carers. The sessions will support educators in building a toolbox of strategies to tune in to babies, such as serve and return, schemas, and sensory development. Finally, the sessions will reflect upon how babies learn, how they plan for their unique children, and the role of the enabling environment. These sessions work best when educators have already attended Getting it Right for Babies and Talking with Babies but it can be done as a standalone.
Please note: This is a two-part event on Tuesday, July 15th, 2025, and Tuesday, July 29th, 2025, from 6:15 pm to 8:15 pm. Attendees are required to attend both events.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Identifying and Supporting Speech, Language and Communication - July 2025
2025-07-14 16:00 - 17:30 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
This session is for all Early Years practitioners, including Early Years settings, schools, and childminders.
This online workshop will involve input about typical language development from speech and language therapists, followed by supportive discussion around strategies for support and useful resources.
Please Note: This is one of series of SALT surgery sessions, with a mixture of input and discussion time. Each event is an individual session with unique content!
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Sessions in this Series

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This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Physical Development - The 8 Sensory Systems With Helen Battelley
2025-07-08 18:00 - 20:00 | Online Course
Stronger Practice Hub Event
As early years professionals, you play a crucial role in laying the foundations for children’s lifelong learning, and understanding the body’s sensory systems is key to that mission.
On this webinar, we’ll go beyond the five senses we’re all familiar with and dive into all eight sensory systems—including proprioception, vestibular, and interoception—and explore how they influence a child’s physical development, behaviour, and ability to engage with the world around them.
This session is packed with practical insights and real-life strategies you can immediately implement in your classroom or setting. We’ll explore movement-based learning, sensory-rich environments, and simple ways to support every child’s unique sensory needs through everyday routines and activities.
Get ready to reflect, interact, and maybe even move a little!
About this Series
Welcome to our comprehensive professional development series focused on Physical Development (PD) in the Early Years, designed to support educators, leaders, and practitioners in building confident, evidence-informed practice aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and Development Matters.
This series brings together research, theory, and hands-on strategies across key areas of early movement, play, and pedagogy. Whether you engage in one session or the full series, this training is designed to deepen your understanding, strengthen your provision, and equip you with the tools to deliver meaningful, movement-rich experiences that support every child’s development from babies and infants to reception children.
Please Note: The webinar will be recorded and available online afterwards.
The session will involve a 30-minute networking/discussion session, during which participants are encouraged to discuss their learning, what they have put into practice, successes, and challenges as we build this learning community. The network section of this event will not be recorded.
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Helen Battelley is an internationally renowned consultant, trainer, author and speaker in Physical activity/movement in Early and Primary Education with an MA in Early Childhood Physical Activity. The movement philosophy Helen promotes is to embed movement within the curriculum and framework to enable a movement philosophy. Young children learn through movement, and early years practice must adopt an approach which is accessible to all. Learn more about Helen here.

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.
