EYFS introduction courses?

[Ruthierhyme]

Anyone been contacted about guidance courses for the new early years foundation stage and are they being offered free?

i think we will get them free, but hampshire do all of our training free! so we are lucky
but not heard anything about them as yet, am waiting for the letter so we can book straight away

[Ruthierhyme]

Sarah do you know if they are including or altering the FD to cover the new eyfs framework ?

we havent been told, but we dont really "learn" about the curriculum as such as there is a wide range on people on the course. from us (preschool) right up to year 6 lsa's. also we have 1 childminder, and 2 childminder coordinators and also one health visitor coordinator. so a real mix on our course, which is fab and so interesting.
Although i will say that they do seem to be right up there with knowledge and we have chatted about it before now.
we are expected to reference our own curriculums and standards docs in our course work as necessary.

sorry not much help really,
(thinking i might do an overview of the course so far.... later on what do you think? useful?)

Hi Local authorities should be offering briefings to all providers now, with the role out of training from September. contact your Early years department they should be able to advise.

i have an intro course on this next week now, just 2 hours, but should be interesting

[joshie]

I have the eyfs pack and have gone through it myself. None of the actual development steps have changed, its more a case of putting it all together so that we are all singing from the dame hymn sheet as it were. I personally like it as a childminder, plus i have worked with birth to 7 yrs olds in the past and think it will just run more smoothly. Our training dates are coming soon and will be free.

[sally23]

Yep I have done my 1 1/2 hours introductory course this week. We basically went over the pack looking at the different themes and headings. From what I can see its just a case of pulling together the curriculum and birth to 3 should make it much easier. One different heading is the mathmatical development is now called something similar (my pack is in the car!!)
HOWEVER..... One person did spot that the colour coding hadnt been matched up properly which the course tutors had spotted and were a bit embarrased about. I wonder whos going to take the flack for that!!
Training starts in Sept in this area

[sarahnev707]

I went to my 2 hour introduction last week - it was interesting.... they said they're organising the training at the moment for later in the year - In Cheshire

2 things struck me -

1st they pointed to the 16 areas - 4 for unique, 4 for learning & development, 4 for positive relationships & 4 for enabling environemnts and said they were all equally important and learning and development is 1/16th of the areas..... so the other 15/16 have to be given equal consideration

2nd they were talking about the unique child and planning - and seemed to suggest we observe, look at next steps then plan for each child each day - which they said would be easier for us childminders as that's what we do anyway (just got to start writing it down) but harder in schools where there are more children - she said to a reception teacher who was there -'gone are the days when you can plan the year in the summer holidays - you will be able to have overarching themes but the rest will be unique to each child'. The teacher went a funny colour and muttered something about enjoying challenges!!

Exciting stuff!! Oh, and I got a letter from Ofsted telling me -

However, although the EYFS is not yet compulsory, it is available for you to use now if you prefer or if parents express a wish for it, so you are able to start new children on the EYFS. Other useful information and resources can be found by telephoning the DFES on: 0870 000 2288. I hope this information helps. Regards, Carrie Vickers. Customer Service Advisor
Ofsted - National Business Unit – TEL: 08456 404040

Sarahx

[sparky]

Have only seen the pack briefly!

Swindon are rolling out the training in September. They have told us not to panic as we have a whole year to get to know it !!!