Conference 2011 workshops
NCMA Annual Conference workshops
The playful
childminder by Marvellous Productions
The workshop focused on developing relationships, supporting
communication and using imagination. Through paired and group
exercises, this workshop helps childminders get in touch with their
enjoyment of play and sense of curiosity. Participants will work
with movement, voice, stories and make believe to explore their
creativity and develop empathy with others.
The workshop supports reflective practice, increases confidence
and improves knowledge in order to extend and support children’s
play. No experience was necessary, just a willingness to play.
Dinosaurs and dolls – exploring child development and
gender by Childcare Consultancy
An opportunity for all childminders to explore the developmental
similarities and differences between boys and girls. The workshop
cross-referenced discussions with the EYFS, identifying ways of
meeting the unique developmental needs of children and how practice
should reflect these needs. The workshop also looked at how to plan
activities and experiences that support both boys’and girls’
learning and developmental needs.
Low-tech multi-sensory sessions by SENsible
Educational Services
The workshop showed how to carry out fun and effective
multi-sensory learning sessions without the need for expensive
equipment or a purpose built sensory room. It will explore and
demonstrate ways of making and using low-tech and low-budget
sensory equipment which can help to enhance a child’s ability to
learn about and enjoy the world around them using all their senses.
The workshop was of interest to anyone who wants to create
multi-sensory play sessions on a limited
budget, particularly those supporting children with special
educational needs, or with an autistic spectrum disorder or sensory
impairment.
Aiming high in number by Early Education
We know that play underpins learning and we all want our
children to be actively and playfully involved in a whole range of
maths experiences. The best way to encourage children to be number
confident problem-solvers is to use children’s own interests as a
springboard for learning, and to trigger their curiosity with talk
and discussion. The key issue is how to do this successfully. There
are small changes that can be made that will have a big impact on
children’s access to mathematical ideas, enriching their learning
and supporting the development of their knowledge, skills and
creativity. In this workshop participants:
- explored experiences, activities and resources that provide a
rich maths learning and problem-solving environment
- reviewed stimulating play-based games and ideas which make a
difference to children’s level of success in number
- looked at how to develop a rich learning environment, both
indoors and out, that challenges children’s maths
understanding
- developed understanding of Problem Solving Reasoning and
Numeracy in the EYFS.
Exploring the future of the EYFS by Step by Step
Training
During this one-hour workshop participants heard about the
proposed changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and how
this affects childminding practice. The workshop was also a chance
to talk about best practice and share ideas with fellow
childminders through group discussions.