News
Fundraising for Quentin Kynaston School
As December draws nearer with twinkling lights all around and festive jingles playing on the radio again, Best Practice Network is organising a charity gift project. This year we are fundraising for a Christmas gift project for disadvantaged students at Quentin Kynaston (QK) School. Quentin Kynaston School, an 11-19 school in North London, is fund raising to set up QK House to provide a home for students who are rendered homeless during their school careers. These students are often sixth formers for whom the residential options up to now have been hostels in London, often highly inappropriate and don't provide the right environment for students who are working hard to get good A levels and go to university. If you would like to find out more about QK School and the QK House project, please have a look at the website, http://www.qkschool.org.uk/ Because the QK house project is for the medium and longer term - there are current students who won't benefit. So we would like to support them individually this winter. We are planning to buy some good quality gifts for the students, things we know they would like and will enjoy. We really would like your support and are hoping to raise enough money to buy these gifts before Christmas.
How can you help? One possibility is to give the money you would otherwise have spent on Christmas cards to Best Practice Network colleagues or to your wider friends and family. We are also planning to put donations from “Dress Down Friday” at the end of the month to the project – even a small donation of £1 or £2 really can make a difference for these young adults!
We are also hosting a BPN quiz next month (further details on request) and will have a raffle at the BPN Christmas events for some really fantastic prizes!
Alternatively, if you would just like to send a cheque to support this truly worthwhile cause, please make it out to Best Practice Network, and clearly write QK House on the back so that we can make sure that your money goes to the right place! Please send the cheques to Natalie Bartram (QK) at 111-117 Victoria Street, Bristol, BS1 6AX. We will also set up a donation box which will be displayed at the Reception, so that you may donate in cash if you wish. If you have any questions about this, please get in touch with Natalie at nataliebartram@bestpracticenet.co.uk.
An Education Quiz
On Friday 11th November Best Practice Network took part in ‘An Education’, a quiz set-up to raise money for our partner charity PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools). The quiz was hosted by Jeremy Paxman and each team contained a celebrity team captain, celebrities included; Louis Theroux, Deborah Meaden, Bruce Dickinson, Larry Lamb and Charlie Higson. The Best Practice Network team was headed up by author and journalist Marcel Teroux (Louis’ Brother) and, after a valiant effort by all involved, we managed to come a respectable 10thout of the 21 teams that took part.
Alongside the quiz was a charity Auction with all the prizes having been generously donated. Prizes included a double date with TV actor Larry Lamb and his son George Lamb, a Savile Row tailored suit and flying lessons with Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson. The star prize was the honour of naming a classroom at a PEAS school in Uganda. Best Practice Network were one of three bidders to be bestowed the honour. The event also contained a charity raffle with prizes including a years free COSTA coffee, West End show tickets and a signed copy of Michael Palin’s Himalaya.
The evening was great fun for all involved and helped to raise a very impressive £60,000 to support PEAS.
If you would like to learn more about PEAS visit www.peas.org.uk.
EYPS 2012-2015
We’re very pleased to confirm that Best Practice Network is one of eight lead training providers for the delivery of the new EYPS programme from January 2012.
We’ll be recruiting candidates across the following regions:
- South West
- London
- The South East
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire and the Humber
And will be delivering in partnership with our consortium partners:
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- Middlesex University
- Swindon College
- University of Plymouth
- Birmingham City University
- University of Warwick
- Staffordshire University
- University of Wolverhampton
- Harrogate College
- Doncaster College
- Calderdale College
- Leeds Metropolitan University
The timescales and titles of the new pathways are slightly different but continue to offer opportunities for both practitioners and new entrants to the early years sector to work towards EYPS. There is also a greater focus on recruiting candidates from underrepresented groups and those who currently work with, or wish to work with, children and families from more disadvantaged backgrounds. For those wanting to find out more, we’re taking bookings now for free EYPS taster sessions in November - places will be limited so if you have any friends or colleagues interested in pursuing EYPS ask them to get in touch today on eyps@bestpracticenet.co.uk or call 0117 920 9200.
Nursery World Awards 2011
We were very pleased to sponsor the award for Early Years Professional of the Year at the Nursery World Awards in London on September 30th. Maureen Lee and Nicky Oram attended the very special ceremony and were delighted to present the award to Leanne Henderson from Kidsunlimited 'Campus Kids' at the University of Surrey.
We’d also like to make a special mention of our friends at Snapdragons Nurseries (Bath and Wiltshire) who won the award for Website of the Year and Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre in Leeds, finalists for the “Enabling Environments Award”.
Well done and congratulations to all finalists and award winners! We’ll be looking for nominees for next year’s awards so watch this space… it could be you next year!
Our Special Visitor
This week the early years team at Best Practice was delighted to welcome our programme adviser Marion Dowling to visit us in our Bristol office.
In our discussion Marion highlighted the value of reflective practice and how all practitioners should always endeavour to consider the effectiveness of outcomes of their policy and provision and try to really focus their thinking on how children learn. We also discussed the important areas of working with families, particularly vulnerable families, and the very important area of multi-agency working.
These two areas are set to become a greater focus for early years continuing professional development programmes, including EYPS. One of the strategic priorities for the new EYPS programme is to ensure that the work of Early Years Professionals is of most benefit to children in areas of disadvantage and in greatest need.
Accelerated Leader - Autumn Schedule published
Accelerated Leader will be running in Bristol, Birmingham, Newcastle, York, Exeter, London (Newham), Crewe, Manchester, Durham, Sheffield, Nottingham, Coventry and Cambridge during November 2011. The programme combines the use of a 360° assessment tool, group workshop activities and one-to-one coaching to maximise the potential for leadership development, impacting upon individuals, leadership teams and schools. It has been designed to support aspiring school leaders in the 5 areas identified by the National standards: leading the organisation, leading teaching and learning, leading in the community, leading people and leading strategically. For more information email our School Improvement Team or call 0117 920 9427.
House of Lords
Mike Ion, Best Practice Network's National Director for School Improvement Solutions was recently invited to speak at a high profile meeting in the House of Lords. At a meeting held in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords on June 15 Mike addressed the annual gathering of the Progressive Muslim Forum. Mike, a previous deputy National Director for school improvement with DfE National Strategies spoke about the challenges facing the English education system in terms of ensuring both equity and excellence for all children. Other speakers at the event included the former Education Minister Lord Jim Knight, Tarique Ghaffur CBE and Niall Dickson who is currently the Chief Executive of the General Medical Council.
Increasing Learning Power
Our recent ILP programme with school champions from Sandwell has been a great success. Based on ELLI (Effective Lifelong Learning Inventory), this tool developed by Vital Partnerships emerged from research at Bristol University which identified key seven dimensions found in really powerful learners. These seven dimensions can be introduced to children through animal metaphors and stories. Practitioners find this to be great framework for developing powerful learning.
The learning power animals are a really excellent way for young children to develop their self esteem as learners. We have been using animal masks and the children love putting them on when they need the help of a learning power. They are talking about learning spontaneously here and at home and the parents are really excited too.Carolyn Spencer Learning Power co-coordinator, St James Primary School Surrey
If you would like to find out more about this exciting programme, telephone 0117 9209 203 or email ilp@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Bridges to Africa
Would your students enjoy taking part in a national sponsored walk along with thousands of other students to help build schools for children in Africa? If you have a class or a teacher that would like to get involved, then please encourage them to join the PEAS 'Bridges to Africa' sponsored walk.
PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools) is a charity that aims to expand access to secondary school education in Africa. Since 2004 PEAS has built 8 schools in Uganda and are working on 7 more in 2011. To find out more please visit www.peas.org.uk.
Best Practice Network are working in partnership with PEAS to bring 'Bridges to Africa' to Bristol. 'Bridges to Africa' is a national sponsored walk involving students from schools across the UK. Students join together to complete bridge walks in Bristol, London, Manchester and Birmingham. Previously this event has attracted the attention of the former PM Gordon Brown and Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow who both attended to show their support. This year celebrities from the Bristol area will be joining the children to help raise money. Over 5000 students have walked the bridges of the UK on our behalf, helping to raise £100,000 and counting.
Why should I get involved?
- A great way to make learning about Africa more meaningful for young people
- A fun day out - and a fantastic walk for your students
- Demonstrates the school's commitment to the community
- You will be helping to increase educational opportunities for young people in one of the most disadvantaged parts of the world
We understand how busy life in school can get, so we do all we can to simplify the event for you, including providing a school pack with generic risk assessments and parental consent letters as well as posters, DVD, sponsorship forms, and certificates.
We would be delighted to have your school take part on Saturday 14th May 2011 so register today by visiting website the PEAS website or email us on bridges@peas.org.uk or telephone 020 3117 1918.
Best Practice Network congratulates their 500th Early Years Professional
On 28th March Sharon Colilles from Bradford celebrated becoming Best Practice Network's 500th Early Years Professional (EYP). Maureen Lee, our programme leader, together with Sharon's tutors Ann Littlewood from Best Practice Network and Chelle Davison from Leeds Metropolitan University's Carnegie Faculty presented her with a special award at her nursery setting, Fun4tots in Ossett. Sharon says, "What a surprise being the 500th EYP - it’s been a great journey. It has been challenging but very rewarding developing my leadership and personal practice with the children but worth it, as I genuinely want to make a difference to the lives of the children and their families. Early Years Professional Status certainly sets the bar!”
Before working with young children, Sharon worked for more than 20 years in policy, learning and development at Jobcentre Plus. She then decided to change direction completely and follow her passion for improving things for very young children. With the experience of working with a wide range of people at Jobcentre Plus, Sharon was confident she could develop a team to support the needs of parents. But most importantly she was convinced that she could bring something special to support the developmental needs of children’s learning by making sure they have fun.
Sharon’s husband was also convinced about her career move and in 2005 together they purchased their day care setting, Fun4Tots, in Wakefield.
Sharon takes great pleasure in seeing the positive impact her work has had. “I have dedicated my time and efforts into developing a setting that is rich in learning resources, effective policies and procedures and like minded people who want to make early years education a joy for babies and young children”.
Her huge personal commitment to learning has meant she has had to balance a busy life at work with graduate level study. Sharon graduated with a BA in Childhood Studies in 2010 and is now stepping up to an honours degree, at the same time as collecting all the evidence she needed for Early Years Professional Status. She has tried to lead by example, encouraging others to want to learn more.
I believe that my ethos of investing in the learning and ongoing development of the nursery team, listening to the needs of parents and most importantly valuing and respecting the voice of the children has helped me to achieve a remarkable setting.
Developing her skills in a supportive environment with other colleagues in Best Practice Network’s Early Years Professional group in Leeds was an aspect of the programme that Sharon found particularly rewarding. She praises the support she has had from her tutors:
I am very proud of and grateful to all the people that have helped me to achieve my dreams.
Sharon’s setting Fun4tots is in Ossett. Registered for 39 children from 0-5 years and with the support of a dedicated team, Fun4tots offers a rich variety of resources to stimulate and support children’s early learning and development. They welcome families from diverse backgrounds and cultures and work closely with parents and carers to achieve their mission statement ‘Putting children at the centre of what we do.’
Thom Crabbe, CWDC National Manager for Early Years and Disability said "Many congratulations to Sharon who as well as being the 500th Early Years Professional supported and developed by Best Practice (Network) is joining the nearly 7000 EYPs who have reached this gold standard. Everyday throughout the country graduate EYPs are working with our under 5s and leading and supporting their colleagues to be the best they can. We pay tribute to their determination and commitment and thank Best Practice Network and all our other training providers for the vital support and commitment they give to the programme".
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