Early years gets creative
The Learning and Teaching Scotland Early Years team worked with the University of Strathclyde to deliver a two-day Early Years Conference at the University's Jordanhill Campus entitled, 'Curriculum for Excellence – A Creative Curriculum'. The event saw practitioners share knowledge and celebrate innovative early years practices across Scotland and Europe.
Professor Carolyn Pope Edwards, Professor of Psychology and Child, Youth and Family Studies at the University of Nebraska, discussed her studies based on the links between teacher knowledge and attitudes in relation to pupil achievement in early years education, and gave a motivating presentation on the benefits of using documentation diaries to promote literacy.
Bernadette Duffy, Head of the Thomas Coram Centre in Camden, and Chair of the British Association for Early Childhood Education, was second to speak. Drawing upon research at the Thomas Coram Centre, she looked at nurturing creativity and imagination.
Day two featured Harry Harbottle, board member of Play Scotland and an expert in consumer and child safety, and Guenter Beltzig, a connoisseur of playground design. They explored whether creativity is jeopardised by fears over safety during play.
The final presentation came from Helene Guldberg, author of Reclaiming Childhood: Freedom and Play in an Age of Fear. Helene discussed the need for adults to give children space to play, experiment and simply be children.
Offering a wide selection of workshops and the opportunity to gain an insight into early years education in Italy and the Netherlands, the conference was hailed as a great success by all attendees.
Find out more
Curriculum for Excellence - A Creative Curriculum
Write a comment
Fields marked * are mandatory.