Many EYFS leaders are conscious that, now more than ever, they need to have total confidence in their YR practice and provision. This course aims to equip leaders with the tools and skills to evaluate the quality of the YR curriculum, teaching and learning and their impact on children during this critical year. This requires a sharp and objective scrutiny of current practice and provision along with the skills to challenge and re-focus it, even when pupil outcomes are good. With a sharp focus on what the reception year should look like, delegates will be introduced to effective, practical tools and strategies for evaluation and improvement.

Benefits

• An informed perspective on what is unique and important in the reception year
• Practical tools for supporting critical evaluation and analysis of current practice and provision
• Strategies for challenge and support, which have a direct and powerful impact on key areas for improvement

Taking on a leadership role in early years is exciting, challenging and rewarding. It offers the opportunity to make a greater difference, being able to influence others by supporting, guiding and mentoring colleagues in developing high quality teaching and learning.

To support new leaders, this two-day course will explore the responsibilities of the role. We will consider effective ways to develop a shared understanding of quality practice and practical strategies to improve teaching across the whole team. The course will be a mixture of input and group learning, enabling participants to gain knowledge, discuss shared concerns and reflect on their own practice.

Benefits

• Confidence to articulate the main features of quality provision
• Tools to support staff development and mentoring to embed quality teaching
• Resources and practical solutions to help manage your new role

This two-day course has been designed to equip teachers who are new to leading Key Stage 1 with knowledge and skills to lead their teams. The sessions draw on current research; child development theories and some of the great pioneers and innovators in early education to unpick the learning needs of our 5 and 6-year olds.

There will be a focus on evaluating current practice and considering realistic and manageable next steps which will impact positively on the learning experience provided for all children.

Benefits

• A clear understanding of the key features of outstanding practice in KS1
• Strategies to support you strategically lead staff development and change in KS1
• Resources to support with monitoring and evaluating practice

To lead a team effectively and inspire a continual drive towards excellence requires high quality leadership skills. To support current EYFS leaders in developing these skills, this four-day course will focus on the multi-faceted nature of their role, covering the key areas involved in leading the EYFS with skill and confidence.

Day One – Establishing Shared Vision + Values
This day will focus on leading by establishing clarity about what we want for young children. The course will ask delegates to explore their own values and motivation as educations and benchmark these in order to establish a clear vision of excellence. Activities will be introduced that leaders can use back with their teams.

Day Two – Exploring Monitoring
Leading practice is the focus of day two with interactive sessions to explore how leaders monitor and drive outcomes based on the depth of their own understanding of best practice and quality provision. The ability to monitor practice of children’s overall development is key – and gap tasks will be introduced to extend development.

Day Three – Securing and Demonstrating Progress
Day three will explore accountability. We will focus on reviewing current approaches to assessment and how data is used to inform practice and provision both responsively and strategically. We will explore ways of clearly identifying and prioritising areas for development, the process of change and its management. Time will also be given to discuss ways of presenting this information to others.

Day Four – Developing the EYFS Team
On this final day we will focus on leading people, considering how to effectively manage and lead others. We will explore models of mentoring, performance management and designing effective staff development programmes. We will spend the afternoon in a local school.

Benefits

• Greater confidence in your role leading and inspiring others to make a sustained impact
• Strategies to support you with successfully leading change
• The opportunity to work collaboratively with other early years leaders

During this in-depth series we will examine the key skills of leadership, focussing on the most effective approaches to leading and sustaining continuous improvement in KS1.  This course has been designed to provide current KS1 leaders with the opportunity to explore the complexities of their role and develop leadership skills, enabling excellence for all learners. Delegates will consider how to develop a shared understanding of quality practice and effective strategies to improve teaching across the whole of the KS1 team.

Day One – The KS1 Learner; Establishing a Vision
During this day delegates will focus on how they can create and embed a vision for learning and teaching which enables excellence for all learners.  We will consider a range of evidence-based approaches to enable quality teaching and learning and will explore how to build a culture of excellence, develop consistency of quality and practical tools to help you achieve your vision.

Day Two – Developing a Successful Learning Environment
Creating and embedding a clear vision for pedagogically appropriate teaching and learning in KS1, whilst ensuring the KS1 curriculum is taught effectively is a challenging task. During this day delegates will explore how a well-organised, challenging environment, underpins effective learning and teaching across the whole curriculum and explore strategies to implement this within the KS1 team.  Inspiring and practical case studies will be shared that demonstrate how schools have had a powerful impact on learning through the development of learning environments.

Day Three – Securing Effective Teaching Across the Team
Schools that know themselves well move forward with confidence and effective strategic planning and review ensures that all they do is fit for purpose. The features of outstanding teaching in KS1 will be explored and time given to delegates to reflect on current practice in their schools and current practice as a leader. We will consider the importance and value of supporting independent learning in order to support children’s progress and reflect on a range of strategies that effectively support and guide children’s creative and critical thinking.

Day Four – Demonstrating Progress
School effectiveness is judged not only on the quality of teaching and the impact it has on outcomes, but in the way leaders strives to ensure excellence for every child. During the day delegates will focus on the most effective approaches for leading improvement and monitoring at key stage 1, including building on children’s learning and progress at the Early Years Foundation Stage. Leaders can feel uncertain and may lack confidence to discuss progress and attainment across Key Stages One and Two. Through activities and thought-provoking discussions delegates will build greater confidence in evidencing and articulating children’s progress.

Benefits

• Greater confidence in your role leading and inspiring others to make a sustained impact
• Strategies to support you with successfully leading change
• The opportunity to work collaboratively with other KS1 leaders

With the EYFS profile remaining in place this current academic year, it is essential that practitioners feel confident that the judgments they are making about children’s attainment against the ELG’s are secure.  This half day workshop will explore the principles behind gathering a rich evidence set to inform these decisions.   Drawing on practical examples of best practice, we will consider the different sources of evidence that can help teachers to confidently assess children’s levels of attainment and feel well prepared for sharing this information with others.

Benefits

• A clear understanding of how evidence supports with judgement attainment in the EYFS
• Confidence to better share these outcomes
• Practical ideas to support with evidence gathering

Knowing the quality of your early years is the starting point for a path towards improvement. The quality of teaching in the early years is greatly enhanced by the knowledge of leaders in developing, supporting and challenging best practice. This course will outline the key features of outstanding practice in the early years. It will offer leaders the opportunity to discuss how outstanding teaching can be successfully enabled and how it should be monitored.

By the end of the course delegates should feel more confident as advocates for the educational experiences of the youngest children in their schools and better equipped to lead, develop and champion practice across their team.

Benefits 

• A clear understanding of the key features of quality Early Years practice
• Strategies to support with leading the development of others
• Greater confidence as an Early Years leader

Getting it right from the start is critical for every child. This course has been specifically designed to give newly appointed headteachers with limited early years’ experience a thorough introduction to everything they need to know.

The day will begin by providing delegates with a detailed overview of the statutory requirements for the EYFS; including the safeguarding and welfare requirements. Participants will then explore what is best practice and how to confidently observe learning in the early years.  We will then consider how to give effective and constructive feedback to your early years practitioners.  Time will also be spent supporting you with how to understand and interpret EYFS data in order to enable you to use it effectively for school improvement purposes.

Benefits

• A clear understanding of the statutory requirements for the EYFS
• Knowledge of the key features of continuous provision and planning in the Early Years.
• Resources to support you with monitoring and evaluating practice

Getting it right from the start is critical for every child. This course has been specifically designed to give newly appointed headteachers with limited early years’ experience a thorough introduction to everything they need to know.

The day will begin by providing delegates with a detailed overview of the statutory requirements for the EYFS; including the safeguarding and welfare requirements. Participants will then explore what is best practice and how to confidently observe learning in the early years.  We will then consider how to give effective and constructive feedback to your early years practitioners.  Time will also be spent supporting you with how to understand and interpret EYFS data in order to enable you to use it effectively for school improvement purposes.

Benefits

• A clear understanding of the statutory requirements for the EYFS
• Knowledge of the key features of continuous provision and planning in the Early Years.
• Resources to support you with monitoring and evaluating practice

With such a strong focus on the role of senior leaders in successfully supporting learning in the EYFS, it is essential that senior leaders are knowledgeable about teaching and learning in the EYFS as well as KS1 and KS2. This can be challenging for Leaders, as learning often looks very different for our youngest learners. This can lead to difficulties in identifying good practice and effective action points.
The session will explore the statutory EYFS framework as well as the end of EYFS expectations. Best practice in EYFS will be explored as well as support for monitoring, to ensure that Leaders are able to recognise and develop teaching and learning in the Early Years.

Benefits

• A clearer understanding of the EYFS statutory Framework
• A deeper knowledge of what good practice in the EYFS looks like
• The opportunity to meet with colleagues in a similar role

With such a strong focus on the role of senior leaders in successfully supporting learning in the EYFS, it is essential that senior leaders are knowledgeable about teaching and learning in the EYFS as well as KS1 and KS2. This can be challenging for Leaders, as learning often looks very different for our youngest learners. This can lead to difficulties in identifying good practice and effective action points.
The session will explore the statutory EYFS framework as well as the end of EYFS expectations. Best practice in EYFS will be explored as well as support for monitoring, to ensure that Leaders are able to recognise and develop teaching and learning in the Early Years.

Benefits

• A clearer understanding of the EYFS statutory Framework
• A deeper knowledge of what good practice in the EYFS looks like
• The opportunity to meet with colleagues in a similar role