1. Welcome to the launch of our Early Learning and Childcare Academy

2. 10.15am
Welcome
10.30am
Key note speech
11.00am
Workshops
12.00pm
Launch of the ELC Academy Website
12.15pm
Facilitated discussion
12.45pm
Closing Remarks

3. Maria Walker Director of Education and Children’s Services Aberdeenshire Council

4. Launch of the Early Learning and Childcare Academy
6th March 2018
Dr Stella Louis

5. Theorists Fredrick Froebel (1887) Lev Vygotsky (1978)
Susan Isaacs (1930)
Jean Piaget (1969)
These theorists showed me possibilities about the detail that might be noticed in my observations, as well as the absence of behaviours that they thought of as significant.
For me, what is important about these theorists is that they all based their understanding of children on observing them,as opposed to only relying on a developmental checklist.

6. Network for learning First hand experience Competence Wallowing
Metacognition
Storying
Play
Games
Representation

7. Play, representation and schemas
Coordinates learning
Brings together different learning in the network
Helps children to understand and make sense of what they have been learning in ideas, feeling, relationships
Helps children to realise what they know and understand, and to make connections
Representation
A process that culminates in a product, through which children show their view and understanding of the world.
Representation needs to be based on the child’s own first hand experiences.
Schemas
Putting bricks in the truck
Play always has a goal; there is always a challenge

8. How The Academy Can Help
Knowledge of child development
Develop skills in observation, assessment and evaluation
Knowledge of schemas
Every day experiences
Developing play and encouraging creative activities
Sharing knowledge of children’s learning with parents

9. Thank you for listening!
Further reading
Athey, C (1990) Extending thoughts in young children sage.
Building the Ambition (2014). National Practice Guidance on Early Learning and Care. Scottish Government.
Louis, S. Beswick, C. Magraw, L and Hayes, L. (2012) Understanding schemas in young children: Again! Again! Edited by Featherstone, S.
Louis, S. (2014) Schemas and the characteristics of effective learning. Early Education.
Bruce, T., Louis, S., and McCall, G. Observing Young Children (2015), Sage.
Louis, S. (2018) Schemas for Parents available from

10. Workshop 1: Main Ballroom “Again, Again
Workshop 1: Main Ballroom “Again, Again! An Introduction to Schemas” Workshop 2: Star Ballroom “2 year olds, Getting it Right!” Workshop 3: Northern Lights “Beyond the boundaries: the role of outdoor nursery provision as a context for improving outcomes for our youngest children.” Workshop 4: Promenade Suite “Promoting Curiosity, Creativity and Inquiry using digital technology”

11. Early Learning and Childcare Academy Website
Sacha Will
Early Years Service Manager
Aberdeen City Council

12. Scottish Government ELC Recruitment Campaign
Phase one launched October 2017
Focussed on school-leaver audience and included:
Cinema adverts
Video on demand adverts
Social media
Radio
Phone boxes
Dedicated website
PR work
Road-show
Initial results are positive:
72,407 unique visits to the website
312,000 views of digital advertising
Just under 5,000 young people engaged with at road-show events

13. Scottish Government are working to:
Develop a Workforce Delivery Plan
Increase the diversity of the ELC workforce
Increase training capacity in colleges and universities
Develop an online national programme of continuous professional learning opportunities to help the early learning and childcare sector identify developmental support available once qualified.

14. Resources page on website includes:
Stakeholder tool-kit
Printable posters and leaflets
Social media images
Please use and share!

15. Question 1: What are the priority actions to help to grow the workforce? (ie attract new people into the sector) Question 2: What are the priority actions to help to develop the current workforce? (are there gaps in skills/knowledge that currently affects the quality of Early Learning and Childcare provision, what can we do together to close these gaps?) Question 3: How can we develop the ELC Academy website to support growth & development of the workforce? What should be included in the website?

16. Laurence Findlay Corporate Director
(Education and Social Care), Moray Council
Northern Alliance Regional Improvement Lead