Level 1 provides an introduction to Makaton. You will learn signs and symbols from Makaton Stages 1 and 2 and some of the vocabulary.

Are you working with babies in an early years setting or as a childminder? Join our Baby Practitioner Network Meetings for an opportunity to visit a different setting, connect with fellow practitioners, and share both the celebrations and challenges of working with our youngest children.

Organised by the Bristol and Beyond Early Years Stronger Practice Hub in collaboration with Bristol Early Years Area Networks, these sessions offer:

• Inspiration from seeing a range of provision types
• Focused discussions on key topics relevant to your work with babies
• Reflection time to consider what’s working well in your setting and where support might be needed
• Networking opportunities to build ongoing relationships with other practitioners, share ideas, and seek advice beyond the meetings

Each session is designed to be both practical and supportive, helping you strengthen your practice through shared experience and collaboration. Facilitated by local specialist leaders for birth to three years, Rachel Pirie and Cassie Holland.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/baby-practitioner-network-meeting-tickets-1500308034719?aff=oddtdtcreator

Our city’s data tells an important story: we’re proud of our rich diversity, but we also know that some children still face barriers to equal opportunities. This programme is about changing that—together. 

Why does this matter? 

Because inclusion isn’t just a box to tick. Every child deserves to feel valued, respected, and supported from the very beginning of their learning journey. When we embed equity and diversity in Early Years practice, we lay the foundation for lifelong success.  

This Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme will support settings to meet not only their professional and moral responsibilities, but also their statutory duties. It aligns EDI practice with the Ofsted Inspection Framework and draws on key national and local guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026), Birth to 5 Matters, Bristol Belongings strategy, and the Best Start in Life. 

What’s on offer? 

This six-part programme supports early years practitioners across Bristol to deepen their understanding of identity, inclusion, and anti-racist practice. Through reflection, practical strategies, and engagement with policy, curriculum, and national guidance — including Birth to 5 Matters — we explore how values, environments, and everyday decisions shape children’s sense of belonging. Each session offers space to learn and lead, building confidence to create settings where every child and family feels seen, valued, and supported. 

While sessions can be attended individually, they have been thoughtfully designed to complement one another, offering a deeper and more cohesive learning experience when attended as a full programme. 

Be part of the change. 

Be part of the change. 

Join us in shaping a more inclusive future for our city’s youngest learners. 

1. It starts with us – personal reflection on bias and positionality. 

Anyone working with 3-4 year olds in an Early years setting or school in a Bristol school 

To connect, establish a sense of place and empower the professional voice of Nursery Educators and practitioners based in Bristol.  To reflect on the quality of EYFS provision and pedagogy, share best practice, ambition and strengthen leadership. To create a professional development community that offers opportunities for collaboration, ideas, support, research and specialism to benefit children.

Welcome to Our City‑Wide Early Years Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Offer 

Our city’s data tells an important story: we’re proud of our rich diversity, but we also know that some children still face barriers to equal opportunities. This programme is about changing that—together. 

Why does this matter? 

Because inclusion isn’t just a box to tick. Every child deserves to feel valued, respected, and supported from the very beginning of their learning journey. When we embed equity and diversity in Early Years practice, we lay the foundation for lifelong success.  

This Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme will support settings to meet not only their professional and moral responsibilities, but also their statutory duties. It aligns EDI practice with the Ofsted Inspection Framework and draws on key national and local guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026), Birth to 5 Matters, Bristol Belongings strategy, and the Best Start in Life. 

What’s on offer? 

This six-part programme supports early years practitioners across Bristol to deepen their understanding of identity, inclusion, and anti-racist practice. Through reflection, practical strategies, and engagement with policy, curriculum, and national guidance — including Birth to 5 Matters — we explore how values, environments, and everyday decisions shape children’s sense of belonging. Each session offers space to learn and lead, building confidence to create settings where every child and family feels seen, valued, and supported. 

While sessions can be attended individually, they have been thoughtfully designed to complement one another, offering a deeper and more cohesive learning experience when attended as a full programme. 

Be part of the change. 

Be part of the change. 

Join us in shaping a more inclusive future for our city’s youngest learners. 

2. Inclusive environments – from mirrors to windows – reflection on the messaging of our environments 

This practical, reflective session invites early years educators to explore how their environments — physical, emotional, and relational — communicate powerful messages about identity, belonging, and inclusion. Drawing on current research and lived experiences, we’ll examine how our own values and assumptions shape the spaces children encounter, and how we can create settings where every child feels seen, understood, and safe. Participants will leave with renewed confidence to embed authentic representation and cultural responsiveness into everyday practice. 

The meeting offers EYFS updates and a theme that has been identified as a current priority for schools. We often showcase good practice and share case studies from Bristol schools. We also consider research that supports effective practice and pedagogy in the unique role of EYFS leadership in schools. It is a fantastic way of networking with other leaders in a supportive environment

Welcome to Our City‑Wide Early Years Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Offer 

Our city’s data tells an important story: we’re proud of our rich diversity, but we also know that some children still face barriers to equal opportunities. This programme is about changing that—together. 

Why does this matter? 

Because inclusion isn’t just a box to tick. Every child deserves to feel valued, respected, and supported from the very beginning of their learning journey. When we embed equity and diversity in Early Years practice, we lay the foundation for lifelong success.  

This Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme will support settings to meet not only their professional and moral responsibilities, but also their statutory duties. It aligns EDI practice with the Ofsted Inspection Framework and draws on key national and local guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026), Birth to 5 Matters, Bristol Belongings strategy, and the Best Start in Life. 

What’s on offer? 

This six-part programme supports early years practitioners across Bristol to deepen their understanding of identity, inclusion, and anti-racist practice. Through reflection, practical strategies, and engagement with policy, curriculum, and national guidance — including Birth to 5 Matters — we explore how values, environments, and everyday decisions shape children’s sense of belonging. Each session offers space to learn and lead, building confidence to create settings where every child and family feels seen, valued, and supported. 

While sessions can be attended individually, they have been thoughtfully designed to complement one another, offering a deeper and more cohesive learning experience when attended as a full programme. 

Be part of the change. 

Be part of the change. 

Join us in shaping a more inclusive future for our city’s youngest learners. 

 3. Inclusive curriculum: decolonising the early years curriculum. 

This session introduces practical, meaningful ways to diversify and decolonise the early years curriculum. We’ll examine how stories, resources, and pedagogical choices shape children’s developing identities and worldviews, and how to move beyond tokenism toward authentic representation. Participants will explore strategies for embedding diverse voices, experiences, and knowledge systems into everyday learning, ensuring all children see themselves — and others — reflected with respect and depth.  

Welcome to Our City‑Wide Early Years Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Offer 

Our city’s data tells an important story: we’re proud of our rich diversity, but we also know that some children still face barriers to equal opportunities. This programme is about changing that—together. 

Why does this matter? 

Because inclusion isn’t just a box to tick. Every child deserves to feel valued, respected, and supported from the very beginning of their learning journey. When we embed equity and diversity in Early Years practice, we lay the foundation for lifelong success.  

This Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme will support settings to meet not only their professional and moral responsibilities, but also their statutory duties. It aligns EDI practice with the Ofsted Inspection Framework and draws on key national and local guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026), Birth to 5 Matters, Bristol Belongings strategy, and the Best Start in Life. 

What’s on offer? 

This six-part programme supports early years practitioners across Bristol to deepen their understanding of identity, inclusion, and anti-racist practice. Through reflection, practical strategies, and engagement with policy, curriculum, and national guidance — including Birth to 5 Matters — we explore how values, environments, and everyday decisions shape children’s sense of belonging. Each session offers space to learn and lead, building confidence to create settings where every child and family feels seen, valued, and supported. 

While sessions can be attended individually, they have been thoughtfully designed to complement one another, offering a deeper and more cohesive learning experience when attended as a full programme. 

Be part of the change. 

Be part of the change. 

Join us in shaping a more inclusive future for our city’s youngest learners. 

4. Anti-racist practice – digging into a proactive approach to challenging racism in the everyday. 

Welcome to Our City‑Wide Early Years Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Offer 

Our city’s data tells an important story: we’re proud of our rich diversity, but we also know that some children still face barriers to equal opportunities. This programme is about changing that—together. 

Why does this matter? 

Because inclusion isn’t just a box to tick. Every child deserves to feel valued, respected, and supported from the very beginning of their learning journey. When we embed equity and diversity in Early Years practice, we lay the foundation for lifelong success.  

This Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme will support settings to meet not only their professional and moral responsibilities, but also their statutory duties. It aligns EDI practice with the Ofsted Inspection Framework and draws on key national and local guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026), Birth to 5 Matters, Bristol Belongings strategy, and the Best Start in Life. 

What’s on offer? 

This six-part programme supports early years practitioners across Bristol to deepen their understanding of identity, inclusion, and anti-racist practice. Through reflection, practical strategies, and engagement with policy, curriculum, and national guidance — including Birth to 5 Matters — we explore how values, environments, and everyday decisions shape children’s sense of belonging. Each session offers space to learn and lead, building confidence to create settings where every child and family feels seen, valued, and supported. 

While sessions can be attended individually, they have been thoughtfully designed to complement one another, offering a deeper and more cohesive learning experience when attended as a full programme. 

Be part of the change. 

Be part of the change. 

Join us in shaping a more inclusive future for our city’s youngest learners. 

5. Fundamental British Values – exploring the policy, its ethos and implementation with an inclusive perspective.   

This session unpacks the ethos, intentions, and challenges of the Fundamental British Values policy, exploring how it can be implemented in ways that genuinely promote inclusion and belonging. We’ll examine common misconceptions, consider how the values connect to children’s lived experiences, and identify approaches that avoid stereotypes or exclusion. Participants will leave with practical ideas for embedding the values meaningfully, respectfully, and in alignment with anti‑racist practice. 

The meeting offers EYFS updates and a theme that has been identified as a current priority for schools. We often showcase good practice and share case studies from Bristol schools. We also consider research that supports effective practice and pedagogy in the unique role of EYFS leadership in schools. It is a fantastic way of networking with other leaders in a supportive environment

This Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme will support settings to meet not only their professional and moral responsibilities, but also their statutory duties. It aligns EDI practice with the Ofsted Inspection Framework and draws on key national and local guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026), Birth to 5 Matters, Bristol Belongings strategy, and the Best Start in Life. 

What’s on offer? 

This six-part programme supports early years practitioners across Bristol to deepen their understanding of identity, inclusion, and anti-racist practice. Through reflection, practical strategies, and engagement with policy, curriculum, and national guidance — including Birth to 5 Matters — we explore how values, environments, and everyday decisions shape children’s sense of belonging. Each session offers space to learn and lead, building confidence to create settings where every child and family feels seen, valued, and supported. 

While sessions can be attended individually, they have been thoughtfully designed to complement one another, offering a deeper and more cohesive learning experience when attended as a full programme. 

Be part of the change. 

Be part of the change. 

Join us in shaping a more inclusive future for our city’s youngest learners. 

6. Strategic EDI Leadership – Building structures & empowering leaders to embed and sustain effective EDI provision  

Anyone working with 3-4 year olds in an Early years setting or school in a Bristol school 

To connect, establish a sense of place and empower the professional voice of Nursery Educators and practitioners based in Bristol.  To reflect on the quality of EYFS provision and pedagogy, share best practice, ambition and strengthen leadership. To create a professional development community that offers opportunities for collaboration, ideas, support, research and specialism to benefit children.