Rich Learning Opportunities

Autumn Term 2007 conference and further professional development days- open to all

2008 conference at Snape 'What Matters to Children'

Conferences audiences

Conferences are designed to suit the needs of individual clients. Audiences previously addressed include: headteachers, managers, senior advisory staff, school staff, foundation stage educators, private voluntary and independent sectors, childminders, play workers, community workers and many more.

A specific conference focus

A conference may have a specific focus, for example: creativity, speaking and listening, inclusion and many more. Whatever the focus, the key principles below will be underpin each conference, inset cluster and further professional development session.

Day conferences with workshops

promote first hand experiences for all children

examine some of the principles that are the basis of effective learning and teaching

are aimed at all those who work with children aged 3-8 and beyond.

Conference principles

All days are underpinned by the principles which underpin the work of the What Matters to Children team. These are the basis of effective learning and teaching and include

children as powerful learners: people who think and feel for themselves and who use their hands, eyes, ears, and their whole bodies to explore the world and everything and everyone in it

first hand experience as one of the necessary and significant elements in learning and childhood

intellectual engagement and emotional involvement: what matters to children

adult involvement in learning: what educators can do to provide, organise, and value worthwhile first hand experiences

educators think for themselves, making choices that will ensure worthwhile learning, learning that matters to children

celebrating the diversity of the world’s resources and using them as a springboard for children's learning.

©Rich Learning Opportunities and the What Matters to Children team 2007

Conference workshops

Workshops explore the ‘food and exercise’ of children’s learning, the big ideas they encounter, questions worth asking and what matters to children.

Workshops are delivered in two-parts.

one part involves practical hands on experience and reflection

one part involves discussion, debate and reflection.

At two-day conferences a third workshop may involve exploration of the outdoors.

©Rich Learning Opportunities and the What Matters to Children team 2007

Sample programme

9.00-9.30 Arrival/coffee/registration
9.30 Welcome from host
9.40 An introduction to the What Matters to Children team
9.45 Key note presentation 1

First hand experience: what matters to children

10.30-11.00 Refreshment break and move to workshops
11.00-12.30 An alphabet of learning from the real world (workshop session)

Group A workshop pairs	Group B workshop pairs
A1 W is for water (a.m.)	B1 Y is for yesterday (a.m.)
A2 Q is for questions (a.m.)	B2 T is for thinking (a.m.)

12.30-1.30 Lunch
1.30-3.00 An alphabet of learning from the real world (workshop session)

Group A workshop pairs	Group B workshop pairs
A1 Q is for questions (p.m.)	B1 T is for thinking (p.m.)
A2 W is for water (p.m.)	A2 Y is for yesterday (p.m.)

3.00 Refreshment break and return to hall
3.20 Key note presentation 2 A is for afterwards
3.50 Conference close/evaluation/depart
4.00 End

Further professional development days

*Further professional development days with workshops can be designed for those who have attended First hand experience: what matters to children conferences at the Science Learning Centre for the East of England or elsewhere in the UK.

The book First hand experience: what matters to children can be purchased in advance for all conference delegates.

click here to order First hand experience: what matters to children