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CONTENTS

Contents ………………………………………………………………………………….. 1

About Kent Early Years and Childcare Improvement Service …………………….. 2

What are the Threads? …………………………………………………………………. 3

Thread of Success Overview …………………………………………………………. 4

Leadership and Management ……………………………………………………… 5-6

Enhancing learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage……………………… 6-11

Holistic Nurture of babies and under Two’s……………………………………… 11-12

Supporting and meeting the needs of two year olds……………………………. 13-14

Improvement achievement award……………………………………………………. 15

Out of School…………………………………………………………………………16-17

Cost models… ………………………………………………………………………… 18

Training commitment forms………………………………………………………….. 19

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Kent Early Years and Childcare Improvement Service

The Kent Early Years and Childcare Improvement Service – Threads of Success is a

chargeable training service for all registered and non-registered childcare providers.

The need for new skills and understanding is important to every provision.

Employers must support their employees to gain confidence and feel secure in their

ability to undertake the task of providing for and meeting all children’s educational

and care needs.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS 2014) statutory framework requires all

provisions to have systems in place to support staff qualifications, training and skills.

By choosing our service to support your improvement agenda you will be supported

by:

local authority advisers who keep up to date with changes in early education,

childcare legislation and childcare policy. Have new ideas and use current

research to inform any support offered and update their own professional

development to ensure highest standards of support are offered

high quality assured training

Threads of Success

Offers the highest quality advice, support and constructive challenge through a range

of core training programmes and tailored support visits:

through Kent CPD online (an online searchable directory and booking system

for professional development and training opportunities)

or

individually through the purchase of training days via a Service Level

Agreement

or

as a collaborative purchase via a Service Level Agreement

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What are the Threads?

Leadership and Management

Training and development programmes to support Early Years owners,

managers and lead practitioners.

Enhancing Learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage

Training and development opportunities designed to support practitioners in

understanding the principles and practices within the Early Years Foundation

Stage.

Supporting the nurture of babies and under two’s

A range of specific workshops to support practitioners develop and understand

the importance of high quality practice.

Supporting and meeting the needs of two year olds

A comprehensive programme of specific workshops for practitioners to develop

understanding and delivery of quality provision for two years olds.

Improvement and Achievement award

A quality improvement scheme to enable practitioners to evaluate and reflect on

practice to secure quality improvement within the setting.

Supporting Out of School

Training programmes and workshops to support out of school leaders and

practitioners develop an understanding of the out of school ethos and principles

of playwork.

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Threads of Success Overview

Leadership and Management

Enhancing learning in the EYFS

Supporting the nurture of babies and under

two’s

Supporting and meeting the needs of two year olds

Improvement and Achievement

Award

Supporting Out of School

Professional Development Programme

Strategic improvement visit

Why love matters Walking in the shoes of giants

For registered Early Years

settings

Are you ready for Inspection?

Outstanding Practitioners Make the

Difference

Introduction to the EYFS Little treasures Heuristic and exploratory play

and Out of School Well-being and involvement

Mentoring and Coaching

Observation, assessment and planning

Routines matter Creating a quiet space to talk

Introduction to play and playwork

Are you ready for Inspection?

Characteristics of effective teaching and learning

Movers and shakers Key-person in action Introducing play theory into practice

Well-being and involvement

Skilful communicators Outdoor play Creative effective indoor and outdoor environments

The key-person approach A place to be Once upon a story Planning for play, monitoring and evaluation

Schema and planning Being creative A place to explore Effective relationships and partnerships

Sustained shared thinking Schema workshop Effective self-evaluation Creative an effective

outdoor learning environment

Leading and championing the needs of two year olds

Strategic improvement visit

Letters and sounds Leading on the physical needs of two year olds

Slugs and Snails; Supporting boys learning

& development

Leading on supporting the emotional needs of two

years olds

Magic of maths Leading the learning of two year olds

Den building

Musical Minors One, two, build a few

Let’s look at literacy Supporting parent’s

involvement in children’s learning

Little Scientist

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Leadership and Management

Professional Development Programme 3 days This programme has been specifically designed to meet the needs of Leaders and

Managers working in early years. The 3 day programme will focus on, understanding

ourselves as leaders and managers, the personal and emotional competencies needed

to be a good leader, the core business of leading high quality learning and the skills

required for leading and managing change.

Day 1 - explore the principles and practice of early years leadership & management

Day 2 - understand the key strategies for effective leadership

Day 3 - consider team dynamics and the process of change

Outstanding Practitioners Make the Difference (Available Sept 2016) 5 days

The overarching aim of this programme is to help each practitioner release the enormous potential that is inside them in order to lead highly effective educational provisions for children, as well as understanding how they can build the capacity of those that work alongside them. Day 1 - Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, Mind Sets and Reflective practise. Day 2 - Leading Practice (Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning, child

development and how children learn.) Day 3 - Quality of Teaching and Learning (Observation, Assessment, Planning;

Environment as the Third Teacher) Day 4 - Change Process (leading and management, models and coaching) Day 5 - Securing Continuous Improvement (action planning, measuring impact, system

leadership)

Mentoring and Coaching 3 days

This Programme has been designed to meet the needs of Leaders and Managers working in early years. Mentoring and Coaching supports the development and growth essential to excellent professional performance and setting improvement. This course supports the Leadership and Management to:

develop the staff team

share ideas

become more solution focused

increase self-reflection

be supportive.

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Are You Ready for Your Inspection? 1 day This course supports early years managers in understanding the current Ofsted

inspection framework. Using the Ofsted documentation it explores the main elements of

the inspection process and provides practitioners with the opportunity to reflect on their

current practice and provision in preparation for inspection.

• understand the Ofsted inspection process

• know and understand the documentation that informs the inspection process

• evaluate current practice and provision in relation to the inspection process

Enhancing learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage

The Strategic Improvement Visit 3 hours or 6 hours A visit from an improvement adviser to support your individual provision’s needs. The Strategic Improvement Visit can be tailored to offer a range of strategies to support your continuous improvement. For example: a) Evaluation audits:

The effectiveness of leadership and management Meeting the needs of the range of children who attend The contribution of the early years provision to children’s well-being Ofsted Readiness – evaluation if provision is not yet demonstrating the

characteristics of the ‘good’ grade descriptors within the Ofsted evaluation schedule

Shared Sustained Thinking and Emotional Well-being (SSTEW) Two-year olds Under two’s Safeguarding & Welfare Requirements (SAWR) ITERs/ECERs Peer Observation

b) Support and guidance on:

Mentoring and Coaching for Leadership Team Workforce - building internal capacity, Training Needs Analysis (TNA), Training

and Development Planning Action planning Monitoring systems Policies and procedures In house training – a range of training to support your improvement plan and to

support the building of staff competencies and confidence. A range of purchase options are available. For example:

One strategic improvement day – two half day audits (no reports)

One strategic improvement day – one audit with a report to include how to measure

impact.

When booking a strategic improvement visit discussion with the allocated improvement

adviser can assist you in identifying how best to meet your needs.

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Introduction to the EYFS (for new practitioners) 1 day An effective induction for new starters, designed to support their understanding of the principles and practice of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Practitioners will:

have a basic understanding of what is required of them in supporting children's learning and development

understand how to be compliant in respect of the Early Years Foundation Stage Observation, Assessment and Planning 1 day This training will support practitioners to:

raise awareness and understanding of the importance of an effective observation, planning and assessment cycle, to meet the needs of individual children and plan for gaps in their learning

explore a variety of ways that they can provide children with extended learning experiences, motivational learning environments and resources and routines

identify learning priorities and plan exciting and motivating learning experiences for each child; using the Prime & Specific areas of learning to support them

Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning 1 day This training will support practitioners to:

develop understanding how the Characteristics of Teaching and Learning support everyday practice through

explore how the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning underpin children’s learning and development;

understand links between children’s dispositions and attitudes to learning and the impact on their progress;

discuss how resources and activities impact on the Characteristics of Effective Learning

Well Being and Involvement 2 days or 1 day refresher This 2 day course is based on the work of Professor Ferre Laevers of the University of Leuven in Belgium who has worked closely with the Kent Early Years and Children Service to develop this programme. Delegates will learn how to use to Leuven Wellbeing & Involvement Observation Scales and the Leuven Ten Action Points to improve the quality of provision for children in their setting.

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The Key Person Approach ½ day This training course has been developed to support practitioners in:

understanding of the importance and meaning of attachment understanding how relationships are central to young children's learning and

development understanding the key person approach to support effective practice in ensuring

that each child has a special person who knows them really well and understands their wants and needs

developing their awareness of how to enable children to learn and develop by providing a secure base for them to explore

tuning in to children's emotional responses and plan for their individual needs to support self-regulation

providing an environment that supports children's emotional well-being Schema and Planning 1 day This training will support practitioners to:

gain further insight into a variety of schematic patterns of behaviour which will enable them to plan for children’s learning and development through

explore and understand a variety of schematic patterns of behaviours:

extend knowledge of a child’s schema to inform your teaching and planning

identifying ways of how you can involve parents to support their children’s schematic play

Sustained Shared Thinking 1 day This training will support practitioners to develop an understanding and knowledge of sustained shared thinking to effectively develop children’s thinking skills by having the opportunity to:

explore what is meant by sustained shared thinking

gain an understanding of the importance of developing children’s thinking skills

understand the role of the adult in supporting and developing children’s thinking skills

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Creating an Effective Outdoor Learning Environment 1 day This is a practical training course to support early years practitioners to:

create an inspirational outdoor learning environment to support children’s individual learning and development needs

provide a rich outdoor learning environment that supports all seven areas of learning and development

understand that activities will differ from what is accessible indoors and will meet the needs of all children particularly those whose preferred learning environment is outside

Letters and Sounds ½ day This training course will support practitioners in:

developing subject knowledge and understand where Phase One fits into the other phases of Letters and Sounds

introducing the Phase One aspects and strands as detailed in Letters and Sounds and consider suitable activities

exploring speaking and listening activities so children will develop their language structures and increase their vocabulary

developing phonological awareness so children will improve their ability to distinguish between sounds, and will become familiar with rhyme, rhythm and alliteration

Slugs and Snails: Supporting Boys Learning and Development ½ day This training course has been developed to support practitioners in:

understanding brain development and how this affects behaviour in boy

providing the right conditions to support boys learning and play with practical ideas

supporting and extending children’s superhero play

supporting and managing weapon play

planning for boys

The Magic of Maths ½ day This training course has been developed for practitioners to gain an understanding and knowledge in how to support learning and development of maths through:

recognising the mathematical potential in the environment, everyday resources and routines, both indoors and outside

reviewing the aspects of mathematical development as contained in the EYFS sharing good practice

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Den Building ½ day

This practical hands on workshop explores the benefits of den making to nurture young children’s creativity and imagination, practitioners will:

Reflect on the potential of den making in promoting young children’s creativity and imagination

Experience, develop ideas, be creative and practice skills in den building Explore suitable materials for den making Identify the role of the practitioner to support children’s den making

Musical Minors ½ day This practical workshop will support practitioners to:

develop musical experiences and environment for all children 0-5 years. share new musical ideas and practical resources to enhance children’s

experiences. make music times and experiences exciting and engaging for the children. explore further ways to enhance musical experiences through movement and

props to support all children’s creativity.

One, Two, Build a Few: Building Blocks for Learning ½ day

This practical workshop will enable practitioners to:

explore the learning opportunities of block play for children's learning and

development

develop a greater understanding of how block play supports mathematical

development

reflect upon, and identify strengths and areas for improvement to enhance the

block play provision in your own setting

Let’s Look at Literacy ½ day

This training course has been developed for practitioners to gain an understanding of,

and knowledge in how to support learning and development of early literacy skills

practitioners will:

explore age appropriate expectations for early literacy

share practical ideas to support children’s early writing

discuss ways to encourage and interest in books and reading

explore ways of working in partnership with parents and families

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Supporting Parent’s Involvement in Children’s Learning ½ day (Underpinning the EFICL principles)

This training session will enable setting staff to develop effective partnerships with

parents and, using their professional knowledge and skills, encourage greater parental

engagement in their children’s learning. The session will support practitioners to:

consider what parents want for their children.

examine the attitudes and barriers that can prevent development of effective

partnerships with parents.

establish what information and knowledge practitioners need to support parents’

understanding of how children learn.

explore the ways in which parents have daily opportunities to support their

children’s learning and development.

design appropriate methods of sharing information with parents that will lead to

greater engagement in their children’s learning.

Little Scientist ½ day

This workshop involves practitioners in hands-on experiments that can easily be

replicated in their settings. The workshop aims to:

identify and understand the information around science within the EYFS

recognise that there is potential to gain scientific knowledge from the

environment, resources and routines, both indoors and outside

gain ideas for providing practical experiences to support children's scientific

learning and language development

develop a confidence with science

Holistic Nurture of Babies and Under Two’s

We offer an exciting range of specific workshops to support high quality practice within this age group: Why Love Matters ½ day This workshop will support practitioners to:

gain understanding and knowledge of what babies need to thrive in their setting explore how every day experiences help to shape a baby’s brain in the context

of relationships

Little Treasures ½ day This workshop will support practitioners to:

gain understanding and knowledge of how Treasure Basket time can support

babies to exhibit the characteristics of effective teaching and learning

explore how these characteristics impact on babies’ learning and development

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Routines Matter ½ day This workshop will support practitioners to:

gain an understanding and knowledge of best practice in relation to personal care routines

explore how these routines support babies play and learning Movers and Shakers ½ day This workshop will support practitioners to:

gain an understanding and knowledge of what and how babies learn through their physical play

develop strategies to effectively support babies’ physical development. explore how practical activities can support these areas and how they can be

implemented within the setting Skilful Communicators ½ day This workshop will support practitioners to: gain an understanding and knowledge of communication and language

development for under two’s consider how practical activities can support communication and language implement exciting practical activities within the setting A Place to Be ½ day This workshop will support practitioners to:

gain an understanding and knowledge of how to provide an enabling environment for babies and under two’s that supports their personal, social and emotional development

Being Creative ½ day This workshop will support practitioners to:

gain an understanding and knowledge of how sensory play supports learning for

babies

have the opportunity to explore practical activities and ideas that can be

introduced into their provision to support babies’ holistic development and

learning

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Supporting and meeting the needs of two year olds

We have a comprehensive offer to support the delivery of high quality provision for two

year olds. Our training will ensure that your setting is providing high quality experiences

for two year olds. The framework meets the needs of the whole workforce, so that they

can provide a rich and inspirational learning environment focused on the specific

developmental needs of our two year olds.

Walking in the Shoes of Giants ½ day

This workshop will support practitioners and room leaders to:

explore what it is like to be two

gain an understanding of how two year olds develop and support them to

‘tune into’ their needs

develop strategies to effectively plan for their development.

Leading on Communication and Language ½ day

This workshop will support those practitioners who lead the learning of two year olds to:

explore how research underpins communication and language

support leaders best practice in communication and language

provide strategies to monitor and develop practice further

Leading on Learning for Two Year Olds 1 day

This workshop will support those practitioners who lead the learning of two year olds to:

discuss the role of the leader in supporting the learning of all two year

olds in their care.

support leaders to reach a deeper understanding of ways to promote the

all round development of two year olds.

Leading on the Physical Needs of Two Year Olds ½ day

This workshop will support those practitioners who lead the learning of two year olds to:

Ensure that leaders have an understanding of providing the right opportunities to

promote two year olds physical development.

Understand the impact of physical development on the developing brain.

Understand the importance of physical development and the role of the

practitioner in supporting this.

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A Place to Explore ½ day

This workshop will support practitioners to:

explore and understand what an enabling environment looks like for a two year

old

support practitioners to create enabling environments, in which a two year old

can explore

Heuristic Play ½ day This workshop will support practitioners to:

discuss the theories relating to the use of natural materials and the principles

which underpin heuristic play.

identify how heuristic play supports further explorations.

explore how exploratory play can help children foster the characteristics of

effective learning.

Outdoors for Two Year Olds ½ day

This workshop will support practitioners to:

create an outdoor learning environment that supports the learning and

development of two year olds

audit the outdoor space and provide practical ideas to support and enhance the

outdoor environment.

identify how outdoors can provide opportunities for learning that differs from the

indoor environment.

Open Ended and Sensory Play ½ day

This workshop will support practitioners to:

review the meaning of open ended play

explore how open ended resources encourage opportunities for two year olds to

display the characteristics of effective learning

discuss ways to enhance the environment to extend learning and support

individual interests

involve parents in open ended sensory

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Improvement and Achievement Award

(1 year commitment, commencing September)

Improvement and Achievement Award is a quality improvement scheme which enables practitioners to evaluate and reflect on their own practice to bring about quality improvement in their own setting and thus improve outcomes for children and strengthen leadership for learning. Entry to the Scheme:

open to all registered early years and childcare settings (except those judged inadequate by Ofsted)

through self-evaluation the setting will decide which one of the three levels is most suitable for them to undertake (Developing, Establishing or Enhancing)

Accreditation takes an academic year to complete and is awarded for a three-year-period. In order to remain accredited an annual monitoring visit must be undertaken to ensure that the improvement achieved is maintained. At the end of the three-year accreditation period, settings will be encouraged to undertake the next level or re-accredit. Each setting is required to:

undertake a piece of action research, including the use of a variety of audit tools complete a reflective journal to support their journey through the award complete a leadership for learning audit participate in network meetings with other ‘Thread of Success’ settings (three

times a year) attend well-being & involvement training and embed into practice (Establishing

and Enhancing levels) Each setting will receive:

dedicated and differentiated mentor support dedicated award training access to a range of resources and audit tools a celebration event to recognise achievement

Impact The Improvement and Achievement Award is built on the success of the Kent Quality

Mark (recognised as validated practice by Centre 4 Excellence and Outcomes). It is

reported that there is a high correlation between settings taking part in the scheme and

an improvement in Ofsted grading. More importantly, the contribution of high quality

early years experiences is critical to ensure the best outcomes for children as they

reach the end of the reception year in school and develop their readiness as lifelong

learners.

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Out of School

Many of our workshops and training programmes that have been listed previously are suitable for Out of School leaders and practitioners; however we acknowledge that the following are very specific to an Out of School ethos and the principles of Playwork. Are you Ready for Your Inspection? 1 day

• understand the Ofsted inspection process

• know and understand the documentation that informs the inspection process

• evaluate current practice and provision in relation to the inspection process

Well-being and Involvement 2 days or 1 day refresher This 2 day course is based on the work of Professor Ferre Laevers of the University of Leuven in Belgium who has worked closely with the Kent Early Years and Children Service to develop this programme. Delegates will learn how to use to Leuven Wellbeing & Involvement Observation Scales and the Leuven Ten Action Points to improve the quality of provision for children in their setting

Introduction to Play and Playwork ½ day

This training will support new and existing practitioners to discover what play and

playwork is and understand the role of the playworker in Out of School settings. The

theory of the playwork principles and their importance in influencing playwork practice

will be explored and of how they effectively link with the EYFS characteristics of

effective learning

Creating Effective Outdoor and Indoor Environments ½ day

• create an outdoor learning environment that supports learning and development through play

• audit the outdoor space and provide practical ideas to support and enhance the outdoor environment.

• identify how outdoors can provide opportunities for learning and development that differ from the indoor environment

Planning for Play, Monitoring and Evaluation of Play Opportunities 1 day

• understand what play is

• explore the role of the Playworker

• understand different types of play

• develop practitioners understanding of the Playwork Principles and how to apply them in their own setting

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Effective Relationships & Partnerships ½ day Supporting managers, owners practitioners and school to develop and embed effective

communication strategies that will support meeting the children’s needs across the

whole day and within Out of school provision. It will highlight the importance of effective

engagement and partnerships working with schools in relation to children’s transitions

and how to ensure that these transitions are embedded into effective practice that

meets the needs of children and their families. Owners, managers and practitioners will

gain an understanding of the importance of parental engagement in their children’s

learning and development and how to foster a culture of communication and

involvement. This training supports practitioners to understand the meaning of

attachment and how relationships are central to children’s learning and development

and will support the development of the key person approach to support effective

practice.

Effective Self-Evaluation 1 day Exploring the process of effective self-evaluation and systems for monitoring and

reviewing the quality of the Out of School Practice. Out of School owners, managers

and practitioners will have support to develop strategies to identify how priorities for

improvements are identified through effective monitoring and self-evaluation and how

effective improvement planning can support the planning of challenging and

inspirational goals leading to transformation of provision to realise your vision.

Strategic Improvement Visit (audits include SACERs) see information on page 6 Improvement and Achievement Award see information on page 15 Leadership and Management Professional Development Programme

see information on page 5

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Cost Models

Training and workshops will be delivered to a maximum of 25 practitioners at a venue

of your choice.

Purchase of training does not include venue hire. Any associated costs related to the

venue hire will be met by your setting.

Payment Methods

Number of days

Cost per day (6 hours)

Cost per practitioner, per day. (if 25 attend)

One off payment via BACS

Monthly by Direct Debit

12 monthly payments

1 £400 £16.00 £0.00

3 £1,050 £14.00 £87.50

6 £1,980 £13.20 £165.00

9 £2,790 £12.40 £232.50

12 £3,480 £11.60 £290.00

Purchasing Training

Training/ support can be purchased by completing the form on page 19 and return to

email address provided

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Early Years & Childcare Improvement Services EYCImprovementServices@kent.gov.uk

Setting Name / Collaboration lead name: Name: Position: Ofsted URN No: Tel No: Business E-Mail:

I confirm that I wish to purchase:

√

Cost per day Total Payable

I day (6 hours)

£400

3 days*

£350.00 £1,050.00

6 days*

£330.00 £1,980.00

9 days*

£310.00 £2,790.00

12 days*

£290.00 £3,480.00

*Through a service level agreement

I would like to pay:

By Direct Debit - monthly payment

One off BACS payment

Signature:

Date: