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  • early-years-courses
  1. Training
  2. Courses We Offer
  3. Early Years Courses

Early Years Courses

Our Early Years courses are delivered by a range of fantastic Early Years Trainers, including Acorn's Becky Watanabe (Early Years Trainer & Consultant) and Laura Andrews (Senior Early Years Manager), both of whom have been instrumental in achieving 'Outstanding' across all areas in settings they have managed.

With courses that help delegates with creating enabling environment and invitations to play, to courses that help delegates understand how children learn, we are confident that you will be able to find something that meets your needs in the Early Years. Almost all courses utilise a practical, hands-on approach to training, and usually take place in a training room full with inspirational ideas to take back to your setting. 

On occasions, Acorn Training welcomes experts in the field to deliver engaging and inspiring courses, such as our Planning in the Moment course delivered by Anna Ephgrave and SEND courses delivered by Ellie Collar.

Boosting Babies Brains

Delivered by Becky Watanabe - £20pp

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Upcoming Courses:

Dates for the face to face version:

  • TBC

Dates for the online version:

  • Tuesday 5th December 2023 (9:30am - 12:30pm)

Overview:

This exciting, practical workshop explores the importance of attachment and forming secure relationships with a key person in an enabling, sensory rich and nurturing environment.

Consider how to provide a safe yet stimulating environment where a baby feels confident to explore the curiosities, awe and wonder of the world through their senses.

Be sure to leave inspired with new ideas, delving in and enjoying the ride as you explore first-hand developmentally appropriate activities that stimulate all the senses, including two all-important sensory systems that are often overlooked.

We look forward to taking you on an adventurous journey through the senses, unlocking the potential to boosting babies’ brain development.

To book a course, please find the date you desire on our booking page and select 'book now'

Overview:

This exciting, practical workshop explores the importance of attachment and forming secure relationships with a key person in an enabling, sensory rich and nurturing environment.

Consider how to provide a safe yet stimulating environment where a baby feels confident to explore the curiosities, awe and wonder of the world through their senses.

Be sure to leave inspired with new ideas, delving in and enjoying the ride as you explore first-hand developmentally appropriate activities that stimulate all the senses, including two all-important sensory systems that are often overlooked.

We look forward to taking you on an adventurous journey through the senses, unlocking the potential to boosting babies’ brain development.

Published: 4th September, 2018

Updated: 29th August, 2023

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Digging Deeper Into Sustained Shared Thinking

Delivered by: Becky Watanabe - £25 per person

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Upcoming Courses:

Dates for the face to face version:

  • Thursday 2nd November 2023 (9.30am - 12.30pm)

Dates for the online version:

  • TBC

Overview:

This course will provide you with a deeper understanding of Sustained Shared Thinking, what this is and how you can apply it to your practice.

To book a course, please find the date you desire on our booking page and select 'book now'

Published: 11th January, 2023

Updated: 10th August, 2023

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From Good to Outstanding

Delivered by Laura Andrews or Kim Langstaff - £25 per person

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Upcoming Courses:

Dates for the face to face version:

  • Thursday 12th October 2023 (9.30am - 12.30pm)
  • Thursday 14th December 2023 (9.30am - 12.30pm)

Overview:

This session is designed to enhance your provision and practice from achieving Good to being able to recognise how to achieve Outstanding. It will provide you with the opportunity to assess your current provision and identify how you can enhance it further, using the inspection framework. There will be opportunity for discussion, action planning and thinking creatively as a group to further develop your setting considering the specific inspected areas.


This course is perfect for nursery managers, deputy managers or senior’s who want to develop their confidence during an ofsted inspection and want to understand how to achieve an ‘outstanding’ grade.

To book a course, please find the date you desire on our booking page and select 'book now'

Published: 11th January, 2023

Updated: 25th July, 2023

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Invitations to Play & Using Natural Resources

Delivered by Becky Watanabe - £25 per person

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Upcoming Courses:

Dates for the face to face version:

  • TBC

Overview:

This course will provide you with knowledge of how to set up invitations to play and use natural resources confidently whilst being able to discuss and convey your intent, implementation, and impact.

To book a course, please find the date you desire on our booking page and select 'book now'

Published: 11th January, 2023

Updated: 18th September, 2023

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Riding the Waves and Calming the Storm

Delivered by Becky Watanabe - £20pp

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Delivered by Becky Watanabe

Dates for the face-face version of the course:

  • Tuesday 26th September 2023 (9:30am - 12:30pm)
  • Wednesday 22nd November 2023 (9:30am - 12:30pm)

    Dates for the online version of the course:

    • Tuesday 22nd August 2023 (6:30pm - 9:30pm)

    Overview:

    This hands on and interactive course will equip you with the knowledge and skills need to help provide an enabling environment that promotes positive behaviour and tools needed to support children to calm big emotions. This course is aimed at those working with young children. 

    Learning Outcomes:

    • To prepare an enabling environment that promotes positive behaviour
    • Identify what may trigger a child to become dysregulated
    • Be confident to apply effective strategies to support children when experiencing and overcoming big emotions
    • Be confident to use evaluative tools when working in partnership with parents and the wider team to promote positive behaviours

    To book a course, please find the date you desire on our booking page and select 'book now'.

    Published: 31st July, 2019

    Updated: 25th July, 2023

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    Teaching & Learning

    Delivered by Jenny Barber - £25 per person

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    Upcoming Courses:

    Dates for the online version:

    • TBC

    Overview:

    This course is for practitioners working in early years settings and will explore what is meant in practice by quality teaching and learning. It will unpick what exactly is meant by intent, implementation and impact and the role of practitioners.


    Learning objectives:


    • How children learn
    • How we provide an environment for learning ‘the environment cycle’.
    • What teaching in the early years means and how we can do this effectively.
    • How to recognise that learning has taken place and develop and support learning.

    To book a course, please find the date you desire on our booking page and select 'book now'

    Published: 11th January, 2023

    Updated: 20th June, 2023

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    Understanding Compliance

    Delivered by Laura Andrews or Kim Langstaff - £45 per person

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    Upcoming Courses:

    Dates for the face to face version:

    • Friday 6th October 2023 (9.30am - 3.00pm)

    Overview:

    This course is designed for Senior’s, Nursery Managers and Deputy Managers and will allow you to build on your understanding of compliance and Ofsted requirements.

    To book a course, please find the date you desire on our booking page and select 'book now'

    Published: 11th January, 2023

    Updated: 22nd June, 2023

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    Acorn Early Years Foundation

    Unit 47 Waterside Barns, Lodge Farm Business Centre, Castlethorpe, MK19 7ES
    Telephone: 01908 510309

    One of the most established providers of nurseries and childcare in Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

    Charity Registration Number: 1145108. Registered in England: 07703801

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