What's On
Please find below what was featured at Childcare Expo 2011. We will let you know what's on at Childcare Expo 2012 soon.
Early Years Outdoors: Magical Journeys
Would you like children to have a go at den building or getting messy in your garden? Maybe snuggling up for a story in a cosy outdoor corner? At Childcare Expo 2011 hundreds of practitioners shared their ideas and experiences with the outdoor play enthusiasts from Learning through Landscapes and TTS. Click here to discover more about the magical journey.
Seminars
Childcare Expo 2011 hosted 10 informative seminars lead by early years experts. Speakers included Patrick Leeson, Director of Education and Care at Ofsted, Desylenne Roberts, Arete Consultancy and Courtney Donaldson, Director of Child Centric Sectors at Christie and Co. The seminars will be packed with essential news and advice for your childcare business. For more information about the seminars please click here.
Play on a Budget Workshops
Trying to find activities for your early years setting that don’t cost the earth? Wondering what you can do with those left over bits and bobs that are hanging around?
The Play on a Budget Workshops at Childcare Expo 2011 helped visitors to discover how to create cost effective yet educational activities for the children in theircare. These inspiring workshops were free to attend.
Friday 16th September
10.30am – 11.30am: Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy with low-cost, no-cost materials
Val Melnyczuk, Networks for Knowledge
At N4K we believe learning should be fun for children and adults alike! This practical workshop will help you to explore how PSRN can be developed using low-cost and no-cost resources in your setting. Find out how you can help children to solve problems, reason for themselves and develop concepts of space, shape, number and measure whatever their age, using the simplest of materials. We will help you to think about innovative and motivating ways to integrate PSRN into your daily routines.
Numeracy will never be the same again!
12pm – 1.15pm: Top Tips from the UK's Leading Children's Creative Activity Company
Sarah Cressall, The Creation Station
Discover low cost creative fun activities; including funky art badges, scrunchy bags, window art, printed banners and much more to inspire imaginations on any budget! For more information visit www.thecreationstation.co.uk
2pm – 4.30pm: Let’s Discover Sensory Play
Sue Gascoyne, Play to Z
Play to Z will provide a stimulating sensory environment for children, parents and practitioners to visit and enjoy. The area will be set up with space for sand and water play; a storytelling area complete with tepee for children and adults to experience Sensory Tales – fantastic multi-cultural books and sensory-rich instruments and artefacts; and a cosy stimulating area for babies to enjoy treasure baskets and sensory play. As well as opportunities to watch and reflect upon children engaging in sensory-rich play, mini-training sessions will also take place to inspire and inform practitioners.
Saturday 17th September
10.30am – 1pm: Let’s Discover Sensory Play
Sue Gascoyne, Play to Z
Play to Z will provide a stimulating sensory environment for children, parents and practitioners to visit and enjoy. The area will be set up with space for sand and water play; a storytelling area complete with tepee for children and adults to experience Sensory Tales – fantastic multi-cultural books and sensory-rich instruments and artefacts; and a cosy stimulating area for babies to enjoy treasure baskets and sensory play. As well as opportunities to watch and reflect upon children engaging in sensory-rich play, mini-training sessions will also take place to inspire and inform practitioners.
2.30pm – 3.30pm: Den Building with free and found materials
Val Melnyczuk, Networks for Knowledge
Active learning in action! A hands-on workshop where participants will have time to create their own den from the free and found materials most of us have lying around. Find out how the ‘nesting instinct’ innate in us all can meet requirements for all four themes within the EYFS ensuring that making and using dens becomes part of your everyday practice. Develop your knowledge and understanding of how to support children in their den building and the importance of this kind of play for promoting creativity and emotional wellbeing.
- Why is den building important for children’s development (especially boys!)?
- How does den building support children in risk-taking?
- Is den making a fair weather activity?
- How can we ensure all children are involved?