Pedagogy
Forest Kindergarten
Dates and Times: 5, 6 and 7 October ( with induction on the evening of 23 September) or 28, 29 and 30 October (with induction on the evening of 28 September)
Target Audience: Play Practitioners; Childminders; ELC staff – Council, Private, Voluntary (all staff); OOSC – Council, Private, Voluntary (all staff); Wraparound Care; School HT’s to pass onto teachers
Perth and Kinross Council in partnership with Perth College are running a number of Forest Kindergarten trainings this year.
This qualification meets the needs of practitioners who would like to set up regular off-site visits to a local wood or nearby green space for children in their care. The National Work-based Award in Forest Kindergarten at SCQF level 7 recognises the value of woodlands as an integral part of the learning process for children and covers the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to develop a forest kindergarten.
This qualification will be run via online learning materials which take a flipped classroom approach followed by an intense 3 day outdoor experience. This is a substantial time commitment, please ensure before completing an application form that you have the support from your Head Teacher, or Manager and you can be released to undertake the 3 day outdoor experience.
The participants will be able to:
- Identify suitable woodland and practical step to ensure a setting can be used.
- Plan and consulting with children and adults to prepare, inform and educate staff, children and parents about woodland visits.
- Set up and lead Forest Kindergarten sessions, to develop and extend children’s experiences playing in the woods.
As places are limited and notes of interest must be submitted before Sunday 19 September. Applicants will be invited to share their note of interest with a panel ahead of the induction and places allocated to successful individuals.
For further information about the training please visit https://www.perth.uhi.ac.uk/courses/cpd-award-forest-kindergarten/
Loose Parts Play
Date and Time - 9 September 2021 - 4.00pm - 5.30pm or 6.30pm - 8.30pm - more dates coming soon
Target Audience - All ELCC
Presenter - Pauline Linn and Shona O'Connor
90minutes with a presentation to be viewed prior to attending
Aims and Outcomes - Raise awareness of the value of loose parts in children’s play. Provide practical examples about loose parts play to those who work with children. Advocate the use of loose parts as an approach to developing high quality play opportunities.
Understand the benefits of embedding the use of loose parts to enrich children’s play learning and development. Make connection with loose parts play and getting it right for every child, including during COVID-19.
0-3 Being Me in PKC
Date: 13, 20, 27 September 6pm-7.30pm (all 3 sessions must be attended) FULL
1, 8, 15 November (all 3 sessions must be attended) Booking open
14, 21, 28 March 2022 (all 3 sessions must be attended) Booking not open
Course Presenter - Catriona Roberts and Sophie Lowe
Aims and Outcomes- Provide an overview of the local and national policy and practice guidance which underpins working with children 0-3. Explore how Realising the Ambition underpins high-quality practice (E.g., Attachments, Transitions, UNCRC, Schematic Play), Share with you some practical examples of high-quality environments and experiences for our youngest children. Explore examples of planning. Explore the use of Personal Learning Journals. Provide practitioners with a chance to network, discuss and share examples of good practice of working with and supporting children.
Please book here (scroll to the month of the training and book all 3 sessions individually)
Realising the Ambition
Date and Time - 4 October 2021 - 4.00pm - 5.30pm or 5 October 2021 - 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Target Audience - All ELC Staff Support Workers Practitioners Lead Practitioners Childminders
Presenter - Pauline Linn, Shona O'Connor and Linda Reid
Aims - Increase practitioner knowledge and understanding of Realising the Ambition: Being Me National Practice Guidance. Provide an introduction to how the document can support practitioners in delivering what babies and young children need most to give children the best start in life. Encourage own reading and reflection around the document and attend a virtual session to engage in professional dialogue.
Outcomes - Increased ability to make links between practice, theory and policy guidance to reinforce aspects of high-quality provision and the critical role practitioners play. Increased knowledge and understanding of how to use the practice guidance to self-reflect and improve quality
Risk in Play
Date and Time - 22 September 2021 - 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Target Audience - All ELCC Staff Support Workers Practitioners Lead Practitioners Childminders
Presenter - Shona O'Connor
Aims - This is a virtual session that explores, our own play experiences while growing up. The session allows participants to be involved in discussions around a risk benefit approach and the importance of managing risk. There is the opportunity for discussion and the sharing of top tips around developing risk assessments with children. The course also looks at local and national guidance that support risk in play.
Outcomes - By the end of the course participants will have more knowledge and understanding about the risk benefit approach to play. Participants will have opportunities to explore their values and thresholds to risk and reflect on this in their current practice. Participants will have a greater understanding of the Risk-Benefit Approach and how this can be used to support practitioners to balance the benefits of an activity with any inherent risk, taking, into account the risks while recognising the benefits to children and young people.
Anyone wishing to book a space on any of these courses must do the following unless a link has been specified.
If you are a PKC Employee
Log onto My View with your pay number and password
If you are a Partner Provider or External to PKC
You will need to complete the course application form which must be emailed to ecslearninghub@pkc.gov.uk
Course Application For - Click Here