Month: December 2018

Do you work with children in early years settings in the UK? At the ESRC Language and Communicative Development Centre, we are trying to identify what tools are used to monitor children’s language and communication development in different settings throughout their first few years. Click the here to complete our questionnaire and share your experiences with us.

National Portage Association (NPA)

Would you like to develop your skills, knowledge and confidence to support children with SEND and their families?The NPA provide training and support to the early years workforce to develop Portage practice.

Portage Workshop – A Small Steps Approach to Learning for Children with SEND

Recently updated to support the implementation of Portage principles within early years settings.

If you are interested in accessing the training or developing Portage in your area please contact:

administrator@portage.org.uk (NPA Administrator)

kerry.bailey@portage.org.uk (South)

Further information can also be found here.

The NPA Stamp of Approval Scheme

This award is available to early years settings (including childminders and foster carers) whose staff have completed the Portage Workshop and demonstrate that they deliver high quality, inclusive early years education, based on the Portage model and Portage principles.

For criteria and application information visit our website here.

 

Do you know parents/carers who may need help or support in the evenings and weekends? If so, please circulate details of our free Digital Parent Support Service. Through our parent helpline, befrienders and counselling service, we can provide emotional and practical support and guidance on all aspects of parenting.

• Freephone 0808 802 0222
• Text: 07537 404 282
• Email NDPSS@family-action.org.uk
• Open weekdays 6pm to 10pm, weekends 10am to 1pm
• Available for parents and carers across England

Find out more here.

We have had new donors this quarter who have donated some wonderful resources. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for the resources they have offered to us.

We now have a dedicated driver for the Scrapstore Van so we are able to collect and deliver the more bulky items to the schools and nurseries who have the Lets Play package. Lots of Play sheds have been filled with resources for Play in the playgrounds around the city.

The Jewellery Quarter Scrapstore has been very successful in its Argent Centre setting and has provided the opportunity for crafters, schools, nurseries, childminders and other childcare providers or community artists to collect lots of arts and craft resources. The Yardley store has been packed to the rafters with a huge range of open ended resources to offer wonderful play opportunities as well as also supplying the local artists.

Watch this space for news in the coming months regarding our opening times and keep an eye on the facebook page; The Scrapstore Birmingham, for articles about the new resources that come in to the store. You can also find us on Twitter!

A Big Thank You to our Scrapstore Volunteers who regularly give their time to support the work we do. We couldn’t function without the help you give and we really appreciate what you do. If you would like information about Volunteering for us please call the office – 0121 236 2917

The Morsbag Pod has seen a huge number of bags produced to supply local initiatives with re-usable fabric bags. If you are interested in joining the Pod and making Morsbags for your community please get in touch. We can provide you with fabric which has been saved from land fill, and the Morsbag labels. Just call the office for more information.

We would like to wish you a happy and prosperous New Year 2019