EYP update

Here in the Best Practice office, our January 2010 cohort, which again was fully subscribed, is now in full swing with nearly all candidates having completed their Gateway Review. Best Practice has now had 335 EYPS candidates study, be assessed and achieve EYPS with us. There are a further 350 candidates currently at different points of their EYPS programme.

Masters' level study

We know that some of you are considering continuing your studies towards a Master's degree. You might be interested to see information from the University of Hull. Having achieved EYPS, you can enter the programme with 60 credits (of the 180 total needed).

Your newsletter contributions

We would be really pleased to have a contribution from you, it could be just a few lines or a longer piece that you feel would be of interest to other EYPs. Please email your contribution, however short, to maureen.lee@bestpracticenet.co.uk or email Maureen if you have an idea, but would like to discuss it first.

EYE

Have you seen Tania Schmeider's article in the December edition and Tom Guppy's in the March edition? We are planning future articles on the topics below.

The LA role in EYPS
Sustained shared thinking
Integrated working
Beyond EYPS - further professional development

Do you have any experiences or thoughts you'd like to share on these subjects or suggestions for other articles? Please let us know - all contributions welcome!

The significance of the first two years of life

Our EYPS Birmingham conference on 13 November with Marion Dowling was a huge success due to Marion's inspirational presentation style and to the enthusiastic involvement of all the delegates. If you were there, thank you for your valued input.

As you will know if you have been fortunate to spend time with Marion, she challenges our thinking in the most supportive of ways!

Eleanor Hawley came away feeling "determined to research attachment and the role of the key person. I know that this rewarding role is complex and demanding and requires a special kind of person. But, at the same time, it requires an ordinary person who values children and their families and recognises their own enduring contribution to them". Eleanor felt the conference gave "everyone a chance to reflect honestly and most importantly together, on their knowledge, practice and ethos and so refreshed and increased our understanding to enhance our impact on children's lives."

You can read more from Eleanor in the EYPS pages of the February edition of EYE.

Other comments from the day included:

Another fantastic CPD opportunity - thank you
The day has been extremely informative and useful and I would like to thank Marion and the staff - the day went extremely well
Thank you. This was the first conference I have attended and I found Marion inspiring

Look out for next year's conference on 12 November 2010.

Resources to investigate

www.storyphones.co.uk/resources/resources-overview.html - practitioners can find, use and share resources such as information sheets, activities, ideas and other useful websites. You can send your resources/ideas/websites which they will upload to create a very useful area to improve the quality and creativity of audio learning in particular.
Website Development for Early Years Settings, Pre School Learning Alliance, £16.75 non members, £12.60 members.
National Strategies Early Years: Playing, Learning and Interacting as recommended at the Early Years Conference

What impact are you making as an EYP?

Could you spare a few minutes to think about your impact as an EYP? Please complete our online impact evaluation form and let us know if you would like to receive a copy of the summary report when it becomes available.

Books to look out for

There is a new edition of Marion's book on personal and social development. It is entitled Young Children's Personal, Social and Emotional Development and available from Sage Publications. We can recommend it!

Study Visit to Denmark

Following the success of last year's study visit to Denmark, we are looking to repeat the trip in May 2010. If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please email Jo Poole to register your interest.

CACHE Level 3 Award in Playwork

Following the success of the recent Playwork Leadership and Management Programme in the West Midlands and London we are now providing a new course which brings together Playworkers and Early Years Practitioners broadening knowledge across the sector.

The CACHE Level 3 Award in Playwork for Early Years and Child Care Workers is now available for all EYPs who are 16 years of age and above and have a Level 3 Early Years qualification. The courses will be running in the South West, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside as well as London and the South East starting from 15 March 2010.

The programme is free to all eligible participants and will give you, as an Early Years practitioner, greater mobility in your career. If you are interested and want to find out more please contact Karen Brunger (0117 920 9202)

Nursery World show London, 22 and 23 January 2010

The Nursery World Show is a vital source of practical help and information for early years practitioners and decision makers in the public, private and voluntary sectors. This years Nursery World Show was a great success. Thank you to those of you that came and visited our stand. If you are interesting in attending the show in the future, please look at the following website for further details www.nurseryworldshow.com.