Latest News
Considering the value of a ‘hybrid pedagogy’ for the EYFS
In a recent fascinating email dialogue with Julie Fisher, she asked us to clarify what we meant by the term ‘Hybrid Pedagogy’, which we refer to in our recent literature review ‘Getting it Right in the Early Years Foundation Stage: a Review of the Evidence’ .
Children at the heart- an open letter to party leaders
29-Nov-2019
We are joining 140+ organisations in a call to all political parties to put children and young people at the heart of this General Election
Spaces of imagination for early years- developing creativity to broaden the curriculum
Making and thinking with materials: how can you foster creativity and critical thinking with 0 - 5 year olds though art experiences to ensure progression? How can you link exploration of materials to the Ofsted framework and plan to develop culture capital for our youngest citizens?
A highly qualified workforce? Issues in professional development for the early years sector
Following discussion at recent CREC Board of Trustees meetings, the Trustees would like to share with you this paper which highlights the current challenges and workforce issues impacting on the EY sector.
Early years music project comes to Birmingham early years music consortium (BEYMC)
Birmingham Forward Steps and a group of consortium partners has been awarded £149, 000 by Youth Music Charity to support music in the Early Years. Over the next two years (2019-2021) the project, called Sounds of Play, aims to improve music provision for birth to 5-year olds and their families.
Creativity and the arts in early childhood education
Debi Keyte-Hartland, joint lead tutor of our Creativity and the Arts in Early Childhood MA pathway, explores our understanding of creativity in the early years and how we, as practitioners, can effect change in ways that will nurture the creativity of young children.
Free SCITT event - July 2019
If you are thinking about kick-starting an exciting new career in teaching then we have just the event for you!
The first five years - physical activity in early childhood
Pete Sturgess, lead tutor of our Physical Activity in Early Childhood MA Pathway, looks at why positive early childhood experiences of physical activity, sport and exercise are so important.
Funded places available for BME and/or male teachers - aspirant leaders programme 2019/2020
For the fourth year running, the Birmingham Nursery Schools TSA, working in conjunction with the Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC), is offering a fully-funded* leadership development programme for ambitious teachers who wish to develop their leadership skills and confidence in order to gain promotion. This course is open to all teachers working in Nursery or Primary Schools in the Birmingham area.
Scouts early years project
We're delighted to announce that we're working with the Scouts to help them explore their early years provision. We'll be helping them research, pilot, and evaluate different models of reaching young children under the age of 6.
The unique and hidden value of Birmingham’s maintained nursery schools
In partnership with Birmingham’s 27 Maintained Nursery Schools, we have produced an in-depth report which captures the range of additional activities and vital services the Maintained Nursery Schools in our city offer to children and families, above and beyond the levels of funding that they receive.
Enrol on one of our early years MA modules starting September 2019
Join one of our part-time postgraduate courses to enhance your career prospects and improve outcomes for children. With only 5-7 face-to-face days where attendance is required, our modules can be fitted around a busy, full-time working life or built into your formal CPD plan.
Happy new year - director’s message 2019
As many of you return to work this week after the Christmas break, CREC directors, Dr Chris Pascal and Dr Tony Bertram, share their New Year's message for the CREC family...
What Does a Teacher Trainee Need to Succeed? Advice from a SCITT Student Mentor
In the latest of our teacher training blog series, one of our SCITT student mentors shares what she thinks a trainee teacher needs to succeed in their training and become a successful, confident early years or primary teacher!
NYMAZ bursary launched for CME:EC course
NYMAZ have launched a new bursary for their Early Years Music Network members who wish to undertake our Level 4 Certificate for Music Educators (CME): Early Childhood!
Bold beginnings: discussions with HMI’s at CREC
The Birmingham Branch of Early Education will be hosting a free event at CREC next week to discuss the Bold Beginnings document.
Call for graduates - NPQICL graduates
Many of you will be all too aware of the loss of children’s centres across the country and the severe financial constraints faced by those that continue to operate, starkly highlighted in recent research published by The Sutton Trust.
Learning circle reflections: bridging home, school and community - March 2018
This was another fantastic session that tonight had us looking at ideas around bridging the home-school and community perspectives around the child with a focus on both local and global perspectives. We were treated by a talk from Gopinder Kaur Sagoo who has recently reached the end of her PhD, who shared her research with us.
CREC awarded British academy grant funding for new research project
A new report on the crisis in the early years workforce has revealed that without immediate intervention, the sector is at risk of becoming unsustainable.
ECSDN event: international early learning and child well-being study (IELS)
CREC directors, Professor Chris Pascal and Professor Tony Bertram, are to attend an event next week that will examine the forthcoming OECD International Early Learning and Child Well-Being Study (IELS).