Join our PSED Learning Lead and the Bristol PSED team for four networking sessions over the year as we collaborate to discuss key areas of PSED practice. More information will follow about the focus of each session, depending on sector needs and interests. We might even bring along a guest or two!

The networks will be an opportunity to come together and explore aspects of PSED provision, sharing ideas, reflecting and connecting with other settings, coming away full of ideas and tools you can use straight away.

Network sessions will involve 30 minutes of teaching time, 30 minutes for sharing practice and discussion, and 30 minutes back together for action planning. We hope you will leave feeling inspired and with tangible actions you can take.

Please Note: This session is part of what will be regular termly PSED regional networking sessions. So it will involve some CPD and then networking/ discussion time. Participants are encouraged to discuss their learning, what they have or will put into practice, successes and challenges from their settings, and what you’d like future sessions to cover as we build this learning community.

Book with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: PSED Network: Belonging and Transitions

Come and join our team and be part of a reflective conversation about Curriculum.

Together, we will:

• Hear about the St Pauls’ Curriculum journey
• See how it promotes our values and pedagogy
• Understand how it reflects the interests and special characteristics of our children and families
• Reflect on how it is integrated into observation, assessment and planning

During the day, there will be opportunities for:

• A learning walk
• Understand how we have developed our curriculum over a period of time
• Have a look at documentation
• See the curriculum in practice
• Share your thinking about your own curriculum
• Reflect together on our learning about the EYs Curriculum

Book with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Exploring an Early Years Curriculum: Open Study Day at St Pauls Nursery

Early Talk Boost is an evidenced-based, targeted intervention aimed at 3-4 year old children with delayed language: boosting their language skills to help narrow the gap with their peers. The training is for early years practitioners working with small groups of 3-4 year olds in early years settings. 

The course runs 9.30-4pm at Oasis Long Cross Academy, Long Cross, Lawrence Weston, BS11 0LP

Please note: Participants need to have access to the intervention resources (packs cost approx. £600 – purchase from Speech and Language UK Early Talk Boost – Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives).

If your setting has the resources already, then the training is free for any further participants, though you may need to purchase extra participant books. Participants need access to the book during the course.

Contact us for more details via: sirona.sltearlyyearstraininginformation@nhs.net

Due to funding, this course is currently open to Bristol settings only.

If you have to cancel your ticket, please do so at least 24 hours beforehand and preferably a week before the course starts.

Level 1 provides an Introduction to Makaton. You will learn signs and symbols from Makaton Stages 1 and 2 and some additional vocabulary. This is a one day training course provided by a Makaton Tutor from the Bristol Early Years Portage and Inclusion Team. Please note that in order to make this offer available to as many providers as possible across the city, only one space is available to each setting. Please bring your own lunch and lots of enthusiasm! Avonmouth Children’s Centre is located off Bristol Portway and there is generally plenty of on road parking.

There is a cost for this course. It is £25 per person and you will be invoiced after the course

The Communication and Language Network is an informal online networking session designed for early years practitioners to come together, share experiences, and explore key topics related to communication and language in early years settings. Each session will look at a different aspect of practice, providing a space for discussion, reflection, and peer support. More information will follow about the focus of each session, depending on sector needs and interests. These will be run by our new Language leads, and we might even bring along a guest or two!

This engaging session, led by Becky Barnard, alongside Liberty and Anna (our Language Learning Leads), explores how high-quality storytimes can support children’s communication and language development, wellbeing, relationships, and lifelong reading habits. Grounded in research on early brain development, reading for pleasure, and interactive shared reading, the session considers why story experiences matter and the significant role adults play in fostering a love of books from the earliest years.

Participants will reflect on what makes a quality text, examine EEF evidence-informed approaches to interactive storytelling, and consider practical ways to create joyful, responsive, and language-rich story experiences. Through discussion, reflection and shared examples, practitioners will develop strategies to make every storytime more meaningful, engaging and impactful for the children and families they work with

This training is for early years practitioners and leaders working in settings or childminders in our Stronger Practice Hub area (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, North Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire). We will also prioritise settings and childminders in areas of deprivation.

Book with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Communication Language and Literacy Network

A Hanen certified, evidenced-based course, which will enable you to “create the kinds of enriched language-learning environments that help children learn best….You’ll discover how to help …promote the social, language, and literacy development of young children (birth to five) using responsive interaction strategies that help all children learn, whether they’re typically developing, have or are at risk for language delays, or are second-language learners.”

Participants must attend a minimum of five teaching workshops, plus 4 video reflection visits to your setting to complete the course. Sessions 1 & 2 are essential.

Teaching sessions:

Wednesdays:

Session 1: 25/11/26, Session 2: 02/12/26, Session 3: 06/01/27, Session 4: 20/01/27 and Session 5: 03/02/27 

Time: 3pm-5.30pm

Venue: Bedminster Children’s Centre, British Road, Bedminster, BS3 3BZ

Video visits to setting – approx 1 hour and are arranged with each participant at the start of the course:

Week beginning: 07/12/26, 11/01/27, 25/01/27, 08/02/2027

Please note: Participants must attend all sessions to complete the course.

This online session will help you support children and young people in understanding the different emotions they experience, why they occur, and how to handle them. We will consider Emotion Coaching as a strategy for supporting children’s behaviour and self-regulation and highlight research that demonstrates the value of an emotion coaching approach. There will be opportunities to explore the tools to practice emotion coaching with children. This session is for Early Years practitioners in settings and childminders.

Part of this event may be recorded.

Book now with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Emotion Coaching to Support Self-Regulation

We invite childminders to come and find out more about the Early Language Professional Development Programme. Facilitated by Bristol & Beyond SPH Early Language Leads, Liberty Fletcher-Gardiner and Anna Morgan, this webinar will give you the opportunity to ask questions about the programme and reflect on how it could boost Early Language Learning for your children and support your own professional development. Come and find out more!

This will be mainly aimed at childminders, although open to all early years practitioners.

Book now with the Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Language PDP Information Session

Interactive Writing is an evidence-informed approach that supports children at the earliest stages of their writing journey. Aligned with the DfE’s Best Start in Life vision and Writing Framework, it recognises the importance of high-quality interactions, language development and shared thinking in building strong foundations for writing.

This session will explore the EEF’s approach to Interactive Writing, where educator and child work together through a purposeful back-and-forth conversation to create a message that can be written and shared. Through this collaborative process, children develop confidence as writers and mark-makers while strengthening their oral language, communication and early literacy skills.

Participants will explore how Interactive Writing can motivate young children to see themselves as writers, while supporting the development of the knowledge, skills and attitudes that underpin later successful writing. Using evidence-informed strategies, practitioners will consider how to make writing meaningful, engaging and accessible for all children.

Participants will:

• Understand the principles of Interactive Writing.
• Explore how talk and shared thinking support early writing development.
• Consider how meaningful writing opportunities can motivate young writers and mark-makers.

Reflect on evidence-informed approaches that strengthen children’s language, literacy and confidence as writers

Book with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub:Interactive Writing

This practical and reflective session explores behaviour through a neurodevelopmental and relational lens, helping practitioners to look beyond behaviour itself and consider what children may be communicating through their actions.

The training will support practitioners to better understand the links between behaviour, communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation and developmental differences in the early years. Delegates will explore supportive, inclusive strategies that help children feel safe, understood and able to engage successfully within their setting.

The session includes practical approaches, visual supports, environmental considerations and regulation strategies that can be implemented immediately within early years practice.

Learning Aims:

• To develop understanding of behaviour as a form of communication
• To explore how communication, sensory processing and developmental differences can impact behaviour
• To increase confidence in identifying possible triggers and unmet needs
• To consider practical strategies that support emotional regulation and positive interactions
• To explore how environments, routines and adult responses can support children’s wellbeing and engagement
• To develop inclusive approaches that help children feel safe, understood and successful within early years settings

Book with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: SEND Network: Looking Beyond Behaviour: Understanding Children’s Needs in the Early Years

Are you co-minding, working with assistants or apprentices, or considering expanding your business in the future? Join us to network with childminders in similar situations and explore ways to empower your team. 

We will discuss key workers in childminding settings, supervision, and maintaining professional working relationships. This is a great opportunity to share experiences, gain insights, and build connections with other childminders.

Book now with the Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Childminder Network: Leading a Team

This is an opportunity to spend a morning in a ‘trauma-informed’ school.

Knowle West Nursery School invites you to come along and find out about trauma-informed practices and how they are embedded into their pedagogy. Hear about how they have developed a relationship-led curriculum and whole school culture of safety and belonging.

You will have the opportunity to meet with the Trauma Informed Practice Leads and spend time in the classrooms observing practice and provision. There will be time to reflect and ask questions.

Knowle West Nursery School is the first Early Years setting in the country to achieve the ‘Trauma Informed Schools Award’.

Book with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Trauma Informed Practice Study Morning at Knowle West Nursery 

We’re excited to introduce a brand-new regional online network designed specifically for early years leaders in PVI settings, taking place online once every term.

Leadership Matters is your space to connect, collaborate, and grow alongside like-minded professionals across our region. Whether you’re looking to share best practices, explore new ideas, or build supportive professional connections, this network is for you.

Why join?

• Connect with fellow early years leaders
• Share experiences and practical strategies
• Stay informed on current priorities and developments
• Strengthen your leadership practice in a supportive environment

Book now with the Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Leadership Matters Network

Positive relationships with parents and carers are at the heart of high-quality baby provision. In this session, we’ll reflect on how we build trusting relationships with families, share babies’ experiences and learning in meaningful ways, and navigate sensitive conversations with confidence and compassion. Together, we’ll explore practical approaches that keep babies, relationships and care at the heart of our partnerships with families.

Book with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Talking About Babies: Talking to Parents and Carers

This session explores how shared book experiences can promote language development and meaningful interactions. We will share practical strategies to make book sharing engaging, responsive and accessible, supporting attention, turn taking, vocabulary development and connection across everyday reading opportunities.

Please Note: This is one of series of SALT surgery sessions, with a mixture of input and discussion time. Each event is an individual session with unique content!

These sessions are for all Early Years practitioners, including Early Years settings, schools, and childminders. Each online workshop will feature input from speech and language therapists followed by a supportive discussion on strategies for support and valuable resources.

Book with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Supporting Language Development Through Book Sharing: SALT Session

Childminding environments offer something incredibly unique within early childhood: warm, relational, home-based spaces where movement can be naturally embedded into everyday life. Drawing on current research this practical and interactive webinar explores how childminders can transform ordinary home environments into rich movement spaces that support children’s physical development, confidence, wellbeing and learning.

This session is designed to empower childminders to recognise the enormous value of the home environment as a place where movement, play and learning naturally belong together.

Note: This session may be recorded.

Helen Battelley is an internationally renowned consultant, trainer, author and speaker in physical activity and movement in early and primary education, with an MA in Early Childhood Physical Activity. Her philosophy is to embed movement within the curriculum, recognising that young children learn through movement and that practice must be accessible to all.

Her sessions build practitioners’ confidence, motivation and core movement skills, enabling them to create their own movement activities as part of everyday planning. Staff often describe the courses as reigniting a spark to become more physically active in their own lives.

Book with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: My Home as a Playground with Helen Battelley: Supporting Movement Play and Physical Development in Childminding Settings

Concept Cat (2023/24 trial) | EEF (educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk)

We know that many children entering early years settings do not have the vocabulary to access learning.

This whole setting Word Aware approach, supports children to learn vocabulary in the everyday activities and environments within their setting.

Participants will be taught how to identify and teach suitable vocabulary to their pre-school or reception classes. They will be introduced to practical and inspiring ideas, which can be easily applied to busy early years settings.

This course is suitable for staff working with children ages 3-5yrs and is best delivered as a whole setting approach.

The Maths Network is an informal online networking session designed for early years practitioners to come together, share experiences, and explore key topics related to maths in early years settings. Each session will look at a different aspect of practice, providing a space for discussion, reflection, and peer support. More information will follow about the focus of each session, depending on sector needs and interests. These will be run by our new Maths lead, in collaboration with our local maths leaders, and we might even bring along a guest or two!

Book with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Maths Network 

Play is fundamental to how young children learn, develop and make sense of the world around them. Aligned with the DfE’s Best Start in Life vision, this session explores how a continuous provision approach can create rich, inclusive and engaging opportunities for all children to learn through play.

Drawing on research and evidence-informed practice, participants will explore how continuous provision supports children’s learning and development across the EYFS. We will consider how enabling indoor and outdoor environments can be carefully designed to promote curiosity, independence, language development, thinking and problem-solving.

The session will also examine the role of the educator as a skilled play partner, exploring how high-quality interactions and responsive teaching can deepen children’s learning, extend their interests and support progress through play.

Participants will:

• Understand the principles and research underpinning a continuous provision approach.
• Explore how enabling environments support learning, development and wellbeing.
• Consider the role of play in supporting children’s knowledge, skills and understanding.
• Reflect on the role of the adult as an effective play partner.
• Develop strategies to create high-quality learning experiences that contribute to giving every child the best start in life.

This session is suitable for practitioners and leaders who want to strengthen their understanding of playful learning and develop effective continuous provision that meets the needs of all children.

Book with the Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Learning Through A Continuous Provision Approach – Strengthening Early Years Teaching

This session focuses on understanding the emotional environment in Early Childhood Education and Care settings and its impact on leadership and children’s personal, social, and emotional development. Participants will explore key concepts such as mirror neurons, mentalisation, polyvagal theory, epigenetics, and trauma-informed practice, alongside ideas such as emotional ecology, the ethics of care, and professional love.

The session aims to equip leaders with strategies to create emotionally safe environments, manage emotional labour, and lead with authenticity, while supporting resilience, distress tolerance, and secure attachments in children. Practical tools such as mindfulness, breathing techniques, and reflective exercises will help practitioners enhance wellbeing and foster positive emotional climates, ultimately improving leadership effectiveness and children’s holistic development.

Suitable for staff at all levels.

Book now with Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Things I Wish I Knew About the Emotional Environment of Early Years Settings

Wednesday 13th January, Wednesday 10th February and Wednesday 10th March 2027 (1:00-3:30pm) – Attendees are expected to join all 3 sessions

This is a 3-part training programme, and you need to commit to all three sessions.

Join Bristol PSED experts as we discuss all things behaviour. We will support a returning group of practitioners through the journey of behaviour and wellbeing, equipping you with evidence-based practical tools and knowledge to take back to your settings. Over the three sessions, we will cover the timeline of behavioural incidents, helping you to know what to do before, during and after behaviour happens. We will cover all of the behaviours you might see in Early Years settings.

Over the sessions, you will learn about trauma-informed practice, attachment, SEND and sensory needs, the PACE approach, co-regulation, relationship mapping and much, much more. You’ll come away with increased confidence, strategies to use, and everything you could need to become a champion of children’s personal, social and emotional development.

Book now with the Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Behaviour CPD Programme

Join us for two practical training sessions and a video coaching session exploring how core boards can be used to support communication development for all children including those with speech, language and communication needs.

You need to attend both sessions. Video coaching visits will be organised with you.

The 2 sessions will run 9.30-12pm on 13th & 27th January 2027 and will include:

• The principles of aided language use
• Modelling core vocabulary during naturally occurring interactions
• Supporting communication during play, routines and shared activities
• Encouraging participation, turn-taking and social engagement
• Practical strategies linked to the Hanen More Than Words approach

Ideal for early years settings, family hubs, nurseries and reception classes supporting all children with language and social communication development.

We use core boards to provide children with a visual language model that helps them understand, participate and communicate more independently.

If you want to put your young mathematicians in the mathematics driving seat, come and explore with us at Sefton Park.

Together, we will look at ways of unlocking the mathematician in every pupil and get the best possible results.

During the day we will:

• Discuss theories of early mathematical development in children
• Play with innovative and high-quality maths resources, including those at Sefton Park and Montessori mathematical equipment, such as the Numbers to 9,999 study box, the Montessori Pink tower, the Understanding Addition study box, and the Equality study box.
• Explore how you create a learning environment where young mathematicians thrive
• Understand how the Reggio approach can be incorporated into the teaching of mathematics
• Create high-quality mathematical resources to use within independent learning, including supporting children with SEND
• Observe children developing mathematical understanding in high-quality independent learning

You will leave with:

• A resource you’ve made that you can use immediately with your children
• A range of ideas for developing high-quality creative mathematics within your independent learning.

The morning will explore pedagogical approaches to mathematics, the anatomy of rapid mathematical development, and the range of resources used to stimulate mathematical play.

The afternoon will include designing and making resources for all children, including those with SEND, and the exploration of strategies to introduce rigorous mathematical learning in independent play.

Book now with Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Creative Mathematics Study Day at Sefton Park School

This immersion day offers practitioners the opportunity to explore how a communication-rich, inclusive curriculum can support all children to participate, learn and thrive within a mainstream nursery setting. Visitors will see how strong partnerships with parents and carers enable us to identify children’s strengths and needs early, develop shared understanding, and implement timely support that is aligned with everyday learning. Our approach is rooted in the belief that every child should experience a genuine sense of belonging and be supported to participate successfully within their classroom community.

Practitioners will observe how communication support, visual strategies and curriculum-led interventions are embedded across the nursery. They will see how staff adapt provision through approaches such as visual supports, Makaton, core boards, scaffolding, backwards chaining and hand-over-hand guidance to enable children to access learning alongside their peers. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore how sensory environments and interventions support communication, regulation, engagement and participation.

Learning Aims/Intended Outcomes

Participants will:

• Understand how an inclusive curriculum can be adapted to support children with a wide range of needs within a mainstream nursery setting.
• Explore strategies for building strong, collaborative relationships with parents and carers that support early identification and intervention.
• Observe how communication-supportive approaches, including visuals, core boards and Makaton, can be embedded across the nursery day.
• Develop understanding of how interventions can be aligned with curriculum outcomes to support communication, engagement, regulation and participation.
• Explore practical strategies that enable children to participate alongside their peers and experience a strong sense of belonging.
• Reflect on how sensory environments can be used purposefully to enhance communication, regulation and engagement.

About Our Setting

Ilminster Avenue Nursery School is a fully inclusive mainstream nursery school serving the South Bristol community. More than 37% of our children are identified as having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and we are committed to ensuring that every child is known, understood and supported to participate, learn and thrive.

Strong relationships with parents and carers are central to our approach. We work closely with families to identify strengths, needs and interests, enabling us to put timely support in place and remove barriers to learning as early as possible. This collaborative approach helps us develop a shared understanding of each child’s needs and ensures support is meaningful and responsive.

As a mainstream setting, we have developed a range of inclusive approaches and environments that support children with diverse needs. Children have access to a sensory room, soft play provision and a large hall used for sensory circuits, all of which are used purposefully to support communication, regulation and participation.

Our SEND interventions are carefully aligned to our curriculum and include approaches such as sensory singing, sensory stories, bucket time, sensory circuits and TacPac. These interventions are designed to complement high-quality universal provision rather than replace it, supporting children to transfer skills into everyday classroom learning.

Throughout the nursery, practitioners use communication-supportive strategies including visuals, core boards and Makaton, adapting teaching and group experiences so that children can engage at their own level while remaining part of the wider nursery community. Our aim is simple: every child belongs.

Book now with Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: SEND Immersion Day: An Inclusive Curriculum and Communication with Parents

This immersion day offers practitioners the opportunity to explore how a communication-rich, inclusive curriculum can support all children to participate, learn and thrive within a mainstream nursery setting. Visitors will see how strong partnerships with parents and carers enable us to identify children’s strengths and needs early, develop shared understanding, and implement timely support that is aligned with everyday learning. Our approach is rooted in the belief that every child should experience a genuine sense of belonging and be supported to participate successfully within their classroom community.

Practitioners will observe how communication support, visual strategies and curriculum-led interventions are embedded across the nursery. They will see how staff adapt provision through approaches such as visual supports, Makaton, core boards, scaffolding, backwards chaining and hand-over-hand guidance to enable children to access learning alongside their peers. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore how sensory environments and interventions support communication, regulation, engagement and participation.

Learning Aims/Intended Outcomes

Participants will:

• Understand how an inclusive curriculum can be adapted to support children with a wide range of needs within a mainstream nursery setting.
• Explore strategies for building strong, collaborative relationships with parents and carers that support early identification and intervention.
• Observe how communication-supportive approaches, including visuals, core boards and Makaton, can be embedded across the nursery day.
• Develop understanding of how interventions can be aligned with curriculum outcomes to support communication, engagement, regulation and participation.
• Explore practical strategies that enable children to participate alongside their peers and experience a strong sense of belonging.
• Reflect on how sensory environments can be used purposefully to enhance communication, regulation and engagement.

About Our Setting

Ilminster Avenue Nursery School is a fully inclusive mainstream nursery school serving the South Bristol community. More than 37% of our children are identified as having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and we are committed to ensuring that every child is known, understood and supported to participate, learn and thrive.

Strong relationships with parents and carers are central to our approach. We work closely with families to identify strengths, needs and interests, enabling us to put timely support in place and remove barriers to learning as early as possible. This collaborative approach helps us develop a shared understanding of each child’s needs and ensures support is meaningful and responsive.

As a mainstream setting, we have developed a range of inclusive approaches and environments that support children with diverse needs. Children have access to a sensory room, soft play provision and a large hall used for sensory circuits, all of which are used purposefully to support communication, regulation and participation.

Our SEND interventions are carefully aligned to our curriculum and include approaches such as sensory singing, sensory stories, bucket time, sensory circuits and TacPac. These interventions are designed to complement high-quality universal provision rather than replace it, supporting children to transfer skills into everyday classroom learning.

Throughout the nursery, practitioners use communication-supportive strategies including visuals, core boards and Makaton, adapting teaching and group experiences so that children can engage at their own level while remaining part of the wider nursery community. Our aim is simple: every child belongs.

Book now with Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: SEND Immersion Day: An Inclusive Curriculum and Communication with Parents

This training is being delivered by Lucy Driver, lead of the Stronger Practice Hub.

This session will offer you the opportunity to consider your beliefs, values and ambitions for leadership within the context of leadership theories and frameworks, and particularly through times of change. We will encourage you to reflect on what you yourself bring to the team, and support you to consider ways in which you can empower your team members both collectively and individually, to build resilient and sustainable distributed leadership.

These leadership courses are for early years setting leaders and managers, room leaders and those aspiring to be leaders. Childminders working with assistants may also find it useful.

Book now with Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Authentic, Ambitious and Values-Based Leadership

Join our PSED Learning Lead and the Bristol PSED team for four networking sessions over the year as we collaborate to discuss key areas of PSED practice. More information will follow about the focus of each session, depending on sector needs and interests. We might even bring along a guest or two!

The networks will be an opportunity to come together and explore aspects of PSED provision, sharing ideas, reflecting and connecting with other settings, coming away full of ideas and tools you can use straight away.

Network sessions will involve 30 minutes of teaching time, 30 minutes for sharing practice and discussion, and 30 minutes back together for action planning. We hope you will leave feeling inspired and with tangible actions you can take.

Please Note: This session is part of what will be regular termly PSED regional networking sessions. So it will involve some CPD and then networking/ discussion time. Participants are encouraged to discuss their learning, what they have or will put into practice, successes and challenges from their settings, and what you’d like future sessions to cover as we build this learning community.

Book now with Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: PSED Network

This session offers early years professionals the opportunity to pause and reflect on the role we each play in creating equitable and inclusive practice. Together, we’ll explore identity, positionality, bias and belonging, considering how our own experiences and perspectives influence the decisions we make every day. Through case studies and reflective activities, participants will develop greater self-awareness and leave with practical strategies to move from good intentions to meaningful, sustained action.

Book now with Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: It Starts With Us – Reflection on Bias and Positionality

Wednesday 27th January 2027 and Wednesday 10th February (6:15-8:15pm) – Attendees are expected to join both sessions

Babies communicate from birth through their movements, expressions, sounds, emotions and relationships with others. Tuning in to babies means being curious about who they are, what they are communicating and how we can respond in ways that help them feel safe, understood and valued.

Across these two sessions, we’ll explore the principles of attunement and what it means to be emotionally available and responsive to babies. We’ll reflect on how practitioners understand babies ’behaviour, crying and communication, and how co-regulation supports babies to develop a sense of security and wellbeing.

Together, we’ll consider the important role of the key person, the adult’s role in actively tuning in, and how responsive care, learning environments and everyday interactions support babies ’learning and development.

We’ll explore how attuned practice connects with babies ’learning, and how working in partnership with families helps us build a deeper understanding of each baby’s unique experiences, needs and relationships.

Across both sessions, we’ll reflect on the barriers that can make tuning in to babies and their families more challenging, and explore practical approaches to strengthening attuned, relationship-based practice so that every baby feels seen, heard and understood.

Book now with Bristol and Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Tuning in to Babies CPD Programme

Join us for two practical training sessions and a video coaching session exploring how core boards can be used to support communication development for all children including those with speech, language and communication needs.

You need to attend both sessions. Video coaching visits will be organised with you.

The 2 sessions will run 9.30-12pm on 13th & 27th January 2027 and will include:

• The principles of aided language use
• Modelling core vocabulary during naturally occurring interactions
• Supporting communication during play, routines and shared activities
• Encouraging participation, turn-taking and social engagement
• Practical strategies linked to the Hanen More Than Words approach

Ideal for early years settings, family hubs, nurseries and reception classes supporting all children with language and social communication development.

We use core boards to provide children with a visual language model that helps them understand, participate and communicate more independently.

Transforming everyday moments into powerful opportunities for learning.

Join us for an engaging, practical and inspiring one-day workshop that will help you unlock the power of high-quality interactions in your setting. Grounded in the latest evidence from the Education Endowment Foundation’s work on high-quality interactions, this roadshow focuses on the small moments that make the biggest difference to children’s communication, thinking, confidence and long-term outcomes.

The Best Start in Life strategy recognises that high-quality interactions are one of the most powerful ways to improve outcomes for all children, particularly those who may be experiencing disadvantage. Every conversation, shared moment and meaningful interaction can help build children’s language, self-regulation, sense of belonging and readiness for learning.

Through videos, reflection, discussion and hands-on strategies, you will explore how simple changes to everyday practice can strengthen children’s language, deepen learning and ensure that the children who need us most receive the rich interactions they deserve. The workshop brings the Quality Interactions Toolkit to life through practical approaches such as ShREC, scaffolding and sustained shared thinking.

You will leave with:

• Ready-to-use strategies that can be applied immediately.
• Greater confidence in supporting communication, language and thinking.
• Practical tools to strengthen interactions across the day.
• Ideas that benefit all children, while helping to close gaps for those facing disadvantage.
• A shared language and approach that can transform practice across your whole team.

Because the practitioner is the intervention. When adults tune in, respond sensitively and make every interaction count, children’s learning flourishes. This is CPD that doesn’t stay in a folder—it changes what happens tomorrow. Discover how the smallest moments can create the biggest impact.

SAVE THE DATES!

Tickets will be available once venues have been confirmed.

Times TBC.

Book now with Bristol & Beyond Stronger Practice Hub: Quality Interactions Toolkit Roadshow

Level 1 provides an Introduction to Makaton. You will learn signs and symbols from Makaton Stages 1 and 2 and some additional vocabulary. This course is £25 and you will be invoiced after the course Level 1 provides an Introduction to Makaton. You will learn signs and symbols from Makaton Stages 1 and 2 and some additional vocabulary. This is a one day training course provided by a Makaton Tutor from the Bristol Early Years Portage and Inclusion Team. Please note that in order to make this offer available to as many providers as possible across the city, only one space is available to each setting. Please bring your own lunch and lots of enthusiasm! Cost and Payment: Participants will be sent an invoice for £25 following the course