Early Years Podcast

Developing Key Skills Through Play

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Catherine Varney

43 articles published

Episode 17: An Introduction to Intergenerational Practice with Liz Ludden & Sue Egersdorff

In this episode, Liz Ludden and Sue Egersdorff, founders of Ready Generations, a charity that supports intergenerational practice and care in the early years, join Alice Sharp to introduce the concept of intergenerational learning and practice. What is Intergenerational Practice? Generations Working Together defines intergenerational practice as: “An approach that aims to bring people together in…

ByCatherine Varney28 June 20230Comments

Early Years Podcast TTS

Meet Podcast Guest: Sue Egersdorff

Sue has always believed in the power of relational connection as a tool for improving learning, health, happiness and productivity. As an educator of very young children, she has watched how they engage and intuitively invite others to reciprocate, explore and be curious about anything and everything! In 2019, she set up Ready Generations as a…

ByCatherine Varney21 June 20230Comments

Early Years Podcast TTS

Meet Podcast Guest: Liz Ludden

Liz is the owner and leader of the multi-award-winning Dukes and Duchesses Nursery in Liverpool. The Nursery has been twice rated as outstanding by OFSTED. As part of Liz's hectic schedule, she also lectures on all aspects of early years practice at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk. The emphasis on family in Liz's Nursery is what led her…

ByCatherine Varney21 June 20230Comments

Early Years Mariana Carazo Podcast TTS

Episode 16: Executive functioning in the Early Years with Mariana Carazo

Mariana Carazo, a play-based learning advocate, joins Alice Sharp for one final time. In this episode, Mariana and Alice discuss the role of executive functions, what they are and what strategies can be used to support children’s executive functioning in the early years. Executive functions EXPLODE through the different types of open-ended play Mariana discusses in…

ByCatherine Varney15 June 20230Comments

Early Years Mariana Carazo Podcast TTS

Episode 14: Developing key foundation skills through play with Mariana Carazo

Alice Sharp is joined again by play-based learning advocate, Mariana Carazo to discuss the impact play-based learning has on developing key foundation skills in the early years. Mariana explains the vital role educators play in opening the door to new opportunities across all areas of learning in the early years. This episode encourages practitioners to follow the relevant…

ByCatherine Varney15 June 20230Comments

Early Years Mariana Carazo Podcast TTS

Episode 15: Creating engaging play spaces with Mariana Carazo

Alice Sharp is joined again by play-based learning advocate, Mariana Carazo to discuss learning environments. How do we enrich, entice and elevate the thinking of our children in the spaces they learn within? Alice asks Mariana to share her guidance on how practitioners can make the environments engaging and exciting. How do we refresh the…

ByCatherine Varney15 June 20230Comments

Early Years Mariana Carazo Podcast TTS

Episode 13: Play never ends with Mariana Carazo

Mariana Carazo, a play-based learning advocate, joins Alice Sharp to explore what play-based learning is and why she believes it is so crucial to develop children’s key skills in the Early Years. Mariana defines play as a universal language. She explains that play evolves over time and never ends. It is an approach that should be…

ByCatherine Varney15 June 20230Comments

Early Years Podcast Simon Airey TTS

Episode 6: The power of connections with Simon Airey

Alice Sharp is joined by Simon Airey, an educator with over 20 years’ experience of teaching, working in specialist provision and the EYFS. In this episode, Alice and Simon explore the language opportunities beyond the setting and how educators can tap into the children’s unique experiences to enhance language development. Building connections: Simon explains the power…

ByCatherine Varney11 May 20230Comments

Podcast Series 1

CPD Topic 2: COMING SOON: Learning through risk

Course content: This topic has been developed with Ellen Sandseter, international researcher and expert in Children’s Risky Play. The course introduces the concept of learning through risk, also referred to as Risky Play, in early childhood. Ellen and Alistair Bryce-Clegg delve into the benefits of learning through risk and practical ways to adopt a more…

ByCatherine Varney10 May 20230Comments

Podcast Series 1

CPD Topic 5: COMING SOON: The Forest School Approach

Course content: This topic has been developed with Mel McCree, a Senior Lecturer within Early Childhood Studies and Sarah Lawfull, who runs her own consultancy, Where the Fruit is, which has delivered training on government-funded projects with the National Forest. Together, they explore the Forest School Approach including the principles of learning, risk-taking and how it…

ByCatherine Varney10 May 20230Comments

World of Education

Catherine Varney

Episode 17: An Introduction to Intergenerational Practice with Liz Ludden & Sue Egersdorff

Meet Podcast Guest: Sue Egersdorff

Meet Podcast Guest: Liz Ludden

Episode 16: Executive functioning in the Early Years with Mariana Carazo

Episode 14: Developing key foundation skills through play with Mariana Carazo

Episode 15: Creating engaging play spaces with Mariana Carazo

Episode 13: Play never ends with Mariana Carazo

Episode 6: The power of connections with Simon Airey

CPD Topic 2: COMING SOON: Learning through risk

CPD Topic 5: COMING SOON: The Forest School Approach

Science Sparks’ Top Primary Science Resources

Having Fun with Computer Control and Programming

Catherine Varney

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