TTS Talking Early Years: Recent Episodes
TTS
Welcome to the TTS Talking Early Years Podcast. Each week, we’ll be joined by guest experts, early years practitioners, and our in-house educational experts as we discuss everything Early Years!
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We’ll be sharing practical guidance and inspiration for your settings, signposting you to relevant resources, as well as providing exclusive supporting content that will help you inspire the next generation of learners. Our bitesize episodes are the perfect addition to your morning routine or evening downtime, so grab yourself a cup of tea and get comfortable as we unlock the potential for learning in the Early Years.
In this episode, Shaddai Tembo is joined by Joss Cambridge-Simmons, the UK’s leading ‘super manny’ and founder of ‘Jossy Care’, for the first of the conversations on gender and the need for more diversity in the Early Years.
Joss discusses his experiences as a male nanny working in early years and delves into the challenges and biases that some male practitioners face. He explains how patriarchy is part of the reason that more men aren’t working in childcare and that we need to see a change in society so that men can be true to their identity.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
To round up the 4th episode with Professor Gina Rippon, Shaddai asks Gina to share her thoughts on how practitioners can communicate more effectively with parents and the local community to overcome and challenge gender biases.
Parent engagement is critical to make a difference and this regular communication with parents on the initiatives taking place in the setting, ensures that the work continues at home and amongst the wider community.
Sharing guidance and inspiration on simple changes that make all the difference, Gina gives examples such as, ensuring that during the festive period Santa Claus offers gender neutral gifts, instead of categorising by gender. Additionally, when communicating with parents about key dates such as World Book Day, encourage families to think outside of the box, rather than focusing on the gendered stereotypical characters and outfits.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
In this episode, Shaddai Tembo is joined again by Professor Gina Rippon, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre, Aston University, to discuss what early years settings can do to promote a more gender inclusive practice.
Gina shares with listeners some of the practical steps and strategies that can be taken to challenge gender stereotypes that children naturally pick up and are exposed to in the early years. From regularly auditing the environment and resources, using appropriate and inclusive language, to having a gender champion representative within the setting, Gina and Shaddai discuss simple solutions that promote a gender inclusive practice.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
Throughout this episode, Shaddai Tembo is joined again by Professor Gina Rippon, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre, Aston University, to continue the conversation of keeping gender on the agenda in the early years.
Touching on her own research and experience, Gina reiterates just how important the first five years are in shaping a child’s brain. Referring to children as ‘gender detectives’ both Gina and Shaddai discuss how play-based experiences have a huge impact on children’s understanding and perspective of gender and sex differences, as well as their social skills and emotional awareness.
Overcoming gender biases and stereotypes in children’s play is crucial to promoting inclusive practice and this episode offers practical guidance and ideas to help educators challenge gender biases and stereotypes in the early years.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
Throughout this episode, Shaddai Tembo is joined by Professor Gina Rippon, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Neuroimaging at the Aston Brain Centre, Aston University, for the first of the conversations on gender in children’s play and overcoming gender biases.
Before delving into the recent shift changes in research and the neuroscientific knowledge of gender, Gina explains to listeners the difference between the term's ‘gender’ and ‘sex’. Gina shares how recent neuroscience developments have contributed to a much more contemporary understanding of gender and sex differences and why keeping gender on the agenda is so important in today’s modern world.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
Shaddai Tembo is joined by Dr. Sharon Colilles for one final time to wrap up their incredibly insightful discussion on inclusive practice in the early years. Throughout this episode, we explore how practitioners can challenge their practice to make positive changes.
Sharon shares what advice she would give to practitioners trying to implement inclusive pedagogy within their settings.
Reflecting on previous conversations with Shaddai, Sharon touches on the importance of time to reflect, but also the power the resources being used can hold within the learning environment. Do the resources enable children to think about their ethnic origin and culture? Can they see themselves in their environment? It is so crucial for practitioners to reflect on the resources that are already in the setting.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
Throughout this episode, Shaddai Tembo is joined by Dr. Sharon Colilles to discuss why reflective practice is so important when adopting an inclusive approach.
Sharon touches on the power of being present within the moment and really taking time away from the day-to-day routines is crucial to adapt and ensure inclusivity is embedded. The diversity of children is fluid, and it changes all the time. Therefore, the routine and the environment need to change and adapt, which can only be recognised through self-reflection but also peer to peer reflection too.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
Throughout this episode, Shaddai Tembo is joined by Dr. Sharon Colilles, to further explore the topic of inclusive practice in the early years. In this episode, Sharon and Shaddai talk all things observation and reflection, to enable practitioners to incorporate each child’s ethnic and cultural experience in the context of the setting.
Focusing on the voice of the child and how important tuning into the child’s needs are, Shaddai asks Sharon to share her thoughts on how practitioners can learn and adapt their practise to be more inclusive based on children's own knowledge and language.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
For the first episode of this season, Shaddai Tembo is joined by Dr. Sharon Colilles, a senior lecturer in Early Childhood studies at Bath Spa University and associate trainer for Early Education. To kick off the first episode of season 3, Shaddai and Sharon introduce what inclusive pedagogy is and why this is so important in the early years.
Sharon shares her perspective on inclusion and why it’s critical to consider each diverse learner individually. Ensuring their voice is heard and their perspective on decisions that are made about them within the curricular. Sharon adds that it is important to lead with a rights-based approach while also incorporating play as a vehicle for ensuring individual rights are maintained.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
Alice is joined by Liz Ludden and Sue Egersdorff for one final time in the very last episode of series 2! In this episode, Alice asks Liz and Sue to reflect on their experiences of intergenerational practice so far and why they're so passionate about a lifelong future for this approach to learning and care.
Liz and Sue reflect on the joyful moments they continue to experience each day, alongside the enhanced learning outcomes visible in children who are exposed to this approach. Although further research, understanding and resource is needed to roll this out nationally and globally, Liz and Sue are confident that conversations such as this will help to make a difference and transform our approach to early years education.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
In today’s episode, Alice Sharp is joined by Liz Ludden and Sue Egersdorff again to explore the benefits of an intergenerational approach in the early years.
From the key benefits such as improving children's vocabulary and communication skills to forming new relationships and combating social isolation, Liz and Sue explore the multitude of benefits associated with intergenerational practice. From this episode, you’ll discover real-life and heart-warming examples of why this approach is crucial, as well as ideas for integrating this style of learning into your own practice and every day.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
In this episode, Alice Sharp is joined by Liz Ludden and Sue Egersdorff again, but this time, they’re switching their focus to the learning opportunities available through intergenerational care and practice.
Alice asks Liz and Sue to explain what techniques and activities (or invitations as Liz and Sue refer to in this podcast) best support this practice and how easy is it to incorporate this style of learning into settings?
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
In this episode, Liz Ludden and Sue Egersdorff, founders of Ready Generations, a charity that supports intergenerational practice and care in the early years, join Alice Sharp to introduce the concept of intergenerational learning and practice.
Passionate about this approach to learning, Liz and Sue discuss why they believe this approach is so important for child development in the early years.
Liz and Sue explain that although still a relatively new approach in current practice, intergenerational practice is a way of learning that dates to many years ago, where we regularly had communities and generations of all ages interacting with each other. This type of collaboration creates a sense of community and belonging, with also improved wellbeing and development across all parties involved and throughout this episode, Sue and Liz share examples of this in practice.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
Mariana Carazo, a play-based learning advocate, joins Alice Sharp for one final time. In this episode, Mariana and Alice discuss the role of executive functions, what they are and what strategies can be used to support children’s executive functioning in the early years.
Executive functions EXPLODE through the different types of open-ended play Mariana discusses in previous podcast episodes. When children engage into high-level play experiences, children develop critical skills such as the ability to self-regulate, be organised, problem-solve or adapt to change, plus so much more!
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
Alice Sharp is joined again by play-based learning advocate, Mariana Carazo to discuss learning environments. How do we enrich, entice and elevate the thinking of our children in the spaces they learn within?
Alice asks Mariana to share her guidance on how practitioners can make the environments engaging and exciting. How do we refresh the home corners, the construction areas or art stations to invite children to play, collaborate and develop 21st-century skills?
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
Alice Sharp is joined again by play-based learning advocate, Mariana Carazo to discuss the impact play-based learning has on developing key foundation skills in the early years.
Mariana explains the vital role educators play in opening the door to new opportunities across all areas of learning in the early years. This episode encourages practitioners to follow the relevant frameworks (also referred to as standards internationally), but to also be hands-on and immersed in the children’s learning, to scaffold and shape more meaningful experiences.
Mariana highlights 3 key takeaways for educators:
🔑 Collaborative learning is key
️❓ Ask questions and consider at the bigger picture
✍️ Simplify – don't overcomplicate the learning!
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
Mariana Carazo, a play-based learning advocate, joins Alice Sharp to explore what play-based learning is and why she believes it is so crucial to develop children’s key skills in the Early Years.
Mariana defines play as a universal language. She explains that play evolves over time and never ends. It is an approach that should be interpreted differently with each child, learning environment and supporting resource to develop new skills and enhance children’s learning outcomes in the early years.
Alice probes the question as to whether play-based learning should have a structure to it, or whether the play itself is enough to inspire and ignite new learning opportunities.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
In this episode of the TTS Talking Early Years Podcast, Alice Sharp is re-joined by Kate Freeman to inspire you with practical ways to extend children’s vocabulary in the Early Years.
Kate explains the reasons why interaction is so key in the early stages of child development. She talks about this not only from a learning perspective but also from a social and emotional perspective, helping children to engage in society, support with their ability to nurture and make connections, as well as express their feelings and emotions.
The conversation will provide you with insights on simple (but highly effective) techniques to support children with their vocabulary and love for language right from the Early Years.
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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)
Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.
In this episode of the TTS Talking Early Years Podcast, Alice Sharp is rejoined by Kate Freeman, Speech and Language therapist, to discuss the different type of speech and language support and resources that are available for educators and parents when supporting young children.
Knowing what training is available, how to pick what is most appropriate and where to access it can be extremely daunting not only to newly qualified practitioners but experienced too.
This episode has been developed with Kate and Alice to signpost some of the different training, resources and organisations available, as recommended by Kate. From free resources, accessible learning programmes and toolkits to support practitioners on their journey, Kate suggests a variety of different options that will enable continuing professional development and enhance children’s early language development.