Critical issues for pre-school education: seminar 1
The first seminar in the series took place on 26 October 2007 and was hosted by the Scottish Government. This seminar focused on the rationale for a distinctive phase of pre-school education, considering the benefits for individuals and society that can be expected from pre-school education, what can be learned from neuroscience about how 3-5-year-olds learn and how ideas about children and childhood shape thinking about pre-school education.
The reports here are summaries of the presentations and the discussion prompted by each talk. These reports have been prepared by the seminar team to be a record of the first seminar in this series and to allow people who were not able to attend the event to get a flavour of the debate.
Keynote presentations
Developing Early Years Policy and Provision in Scotland
Don McGillivray (Head, Early Education and Childcare Division, Scottish Government) spoke of the shift in Scotland towards provision that supports a wider age range and to working with and alongside families.
Making Educational Provision for Pre-school Children: Evidence from Neuroscience
Sue Pickering posed the question 'How can neuroscience and cognitive psychology help to inform the design of effective pre-school programmes for children aged 3-5?'
The Distinctiveness of Educational Provision for Young Children
Noirin Hayes spoke on provision of early education and childcare within an Irish context.
Developing the Welsh Foundation Phase for 3-7-year-olds
Iram Siraj-Blatchford examined findings from the evaluation of the pilot Welsh Foundation Stage.
ESRC 'Critical issues for pre-school education' - Seminar 1
This seminar focused on the rationale for a distinctive phase of pre-school education, considering the benefits for individuals and society that can be expected from pre-school education, what can be learned from neuroscience about how 3-5-year-olds learn, and how ideas about children and childhood shape thinking about pre-school education.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in England
Joyce Miller described the aims of the Early Years Foundation Stage, due to be implemented across England by September 2008.
The Global Explosion in Early Education and Care
Helen Penn spoke on how national policies and ideologies shape the development of early years services.