What does 'curriculum' mean in early years settings and how can practitioners feel confident to explain their curriculum to others, while maintaining the child-centred approaches that are at the heart of the early years sector? In this session we will examine what 'curriculum' means in the early years, looking at how you can link the work you do in the different areas of learning to what your curriculum looks like. Due to popular demand, this event is a re-run of the sold-out event being held on 1st June 2021.

This event will look at how 'curriculum' in the early years differs from the subject-based curriculum taught in school, looking particularly at the importance of the prime areas. We will examine different options for defining and explaining your curriculum, exploring how you can do this in a setting where you mainly plan 'in the moment', based on the children's current interests, and how you might use topics or themes to create your curriculum structure instead of (or as well as) an 'in the moment' approach. We will look at ways to 'co-create' your curriculum with your children, and what this means in terms of being flexible and adapting your provision.

We will explore the benefits and potential downsides of different approaches, with an emphasis on how to meet all your children's needs and offer a rich, diverse, inclusive and child-centred curriculum in your setting. We will also look at how observation and assessment links in to progression through your curriculum and identifying where individual children need to go next. We will examine ways in which practitioners can create a flexible and responsive approach that minimises paperwork and maximises time spent with the children.

With the introduction of the new Education Inspection Framework, Ofsted are now asking settings to be able to explain the intent, implementation and impact of their curriculum. Practitioner confidence in talking about and explaining how their curriculum works will be central to success at inspection. This event will give you a great starting point for talking with staff about how you intend your curriculum to work, how you put it in place with your children, and how you can demonstrate the impact on the children to both parents and inspectors. We will also explore what the EYFS reforms mean for how you might need to adapt and develop aspects of your current practice, ensuring that it meets the requirements of the new framework.

This session will focus mainly on what curriculum looks like from the viewpoint of PVI early years settings, and on the Early Years Inspection Handbook, rather than on the implementation of the School Inspection Handbook in school based settings. However, it may be of interest to teachers working in Reception, and also to primary school leaders, in terms of understanding the approach of their feeder settings.

If you would like to book multiple tickets and be invoiced at your setting or school, please email sue@suecowley.co.uk.

Sue Cowley is a qualified early years teacher, author, presenter and internationally renowned teacher trainer. She has written over 30 books for teachers and parents. Her latest books are "Learning Behaviours: A Practical Guide to Self-Regulation in the Early Years" (published by John Catt) and "The Ultimate Guide to Mark Making in the Early Years" (published by Bloomsbury). She has helped to run her local voluntary run preschool for the last ten years.

Creating a Curriculum in the Early Years

Follow this organiser to stay informed on future events

Events you might like

Navigating Demand Avoidance in the Early YearsNavigating Demand Avoidance in the Early Years

Autism in the Early YearsAutism in the Early Years

Derbyshire EYSEN - AET Developing Play in the Early YearsDerbyshire EYSEN - AET Developing Play in the Early Years

Navigating Demand Avoidance in the Early Years

Autism in the Early Years

Derbyshire EYSEN - AET Developing Play in the Early Years