CJ Associates runs a one-day course on:
* Activities for the under-twos. This course covers a range of topics, including using the senses, enhancing communication, appropriate activities and child development.
The Council for Awards in Children's Care and Education (CACHE) runs courses with units that can be taken separately, including:
* Supporting the care and development of babies, in partnership with their parents, (in the Level 4 NVQ).
* Advanced practice in working with babies (in the Level 3 Certificate of Professional Development in Work with Children and Young People).
Crechendo Training is offering the CACHE 60-hour advanced practice course in working with babies. It includes:
* An in-depth knowledge of the principles of practice in the development of babies, understanding attachment theory and how babies learn.
* Gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of care routines in ensuring the safety of babies in your care.
* How to recognise conditions affecting children under the age of 12 months.
* First Aid for babies.
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) defines cot death as 'the sudden and unexpected death of a baby for no obvious reason'. It goes on to state, 'The postmortem examination may explain some deaths. Those that remain unexplained after postmortem examination may be registered as sudden infant death syndrome, SIDS, sudden infant death, sudden unexpected death in infancy, unascertained or cot death.' Seven babies still die every week from cot deathin the UK, while 88 per cent of all sudden infant deaths in England and Wales occur among babies aged under six months, and 60 per cent of sudden infant deaths in England and Wales occur among boys. But since the introduction of the Reduce the Risk of Cot Death campaign in 1991, the number of babies dying as cot deaths in the UK has fallen by nearly 70 per cent. Even so, it is still the leading cause of death in babies over one month old - more common than meningitis, leukaemia, other forms of cancer, household and road traffic accidents.
FSID regularly holds conferences and seminars across the UK for childcare workers, including nannies and childminders, health professionals and parents.
The High/Scope Institute is running a two-day course on:
* Introduction for practitioners working with under-threes, on 14 and 15 January. This course cover an overview of the curriculum, and focus on active learning, room arrangement, daily routine, key experiences, working as a team, and the adult/child relationship.
Maud Giles, a lactation and newborn consultant, holds workshops in London for maternity nannies on:
* Breastfeeding, and coping with common problems, such as colic and reflux.
Participants learn how to help mothers to breastfeed successfully and deal with common problems that new mothers may experience.
Maternity Nanny Training (MNT) runs courses at the University of Reading on:
* The maternity nanny practitioner. This three-day course is for experienced nannies, midwives and nurses wishing to work in maternity positions. It is also suitable for experienced maternity nannies/nurses wanting to update their skills, and gain formally-assessed and accredited training. It covers the care of newborns and postnatal mums, breastfeeding and how to gain employment in the maternity sector.
* Special care mums and babies. This day course covers caring for twins and multiple births, premature and other special care babies, postnatal depression and other special care mums, and leads to a Special Care Certificate.
The Montessori Centre International runs distance learning courses, including:
* Infant toddler course. Stage one of this two-part course covers the theory element of the Montessori approach. It gives an overview of the fundamental issues relating to children in learning from birth to three, and focuses on the management of early years settings. Stage two is achieved by additional practical study in workshops and seminars.
The Centre also runs a:
* Nursery Foundation international diploma in Montessori pedagogy. This is the recommended qualification for all Montessori graduates wishing to open their own schools in the UK. It is awarded to those with the Early childhood international diploma and who have the Infant toddler stage two certificate in Montessori theory and methodology.
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) is Europe's largest childbirth and parenting charity. It provides information and practical support on all aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood, and campaigns for improvements in maternity services in the UK. With 40,000 members in 400 branches, the charity helps 300,000 parents each year through its antenatal classes and its postnatal and breastfeeding support network.
The NCT's professional training arm is NHS-ConNeCT. It runs workshops around the country on a delegate basis, which can be either in-house or hosted. Topics include:
* Teaching and using optimal positions at birth and overcoming obstacles, in Tunbridge Wells on 25 January.
* Running effective teenage antenatal classes, in Leeds on 28 January and Reading on 26 February.
* Breastfeeding.
* Postnatal groups - meeting social and emotional needs.
The National Early Years Network runs in-house day workshops across the UK on:
* Learning and social needs of babies in group care. This workshop reviews the latest research on how babies learn from birth and the implications this has for people in daycare settings.
* Learning and the social needs of one-to three-year-olds in group care.
This workshop defines the special needs of children aged one to three in group daycare, and emphasises the need to follow children's initiative at this age, by developing their sense of identity and self-esteem, rather than directing their learning.
NIPPA: The Early Years Organisation runs courses in Northern Ireland on:
* Working with the under-twos. This day course for nursery, creche, and parent and toddler workers introduces the use of treasure baskets with babies and heuristic play with toddlers, and contrasts the roles of 'commercial toy' and 'alternative' play in child development.
The Pre-School Learning Alliance runs a one-day course in England on:
* Play for under-threes. This course provides training for early years staff who want to extend their provision to include younger children. It explores attitudes and provides an understanding of how to create a supportive learning environment for younger children in a pre-school setting.
The Riverside Early Years Training Centre runs courses in Tyneside on:
* An introduction to special needs, identification and assessment of children aged nought to two. Participants will learn their statutory duties in relation to children with special needs, and when, and how, to refer to outside agencies.
* Treasure baskets and heuristic play for the under-threes. This course gives an overview of the latest research on this age group, reviews current practice and shows how best to plan changes in practice and routines.
The School of Infant Mental Health offers integrated educational and training programmes for professionals, with the emphasis on early intervention. Courses include:
* Foundation course. This 16-hour introduction to infant mental health and parent-infant psychotherapy can be taken on its own or used as a basis for entry into diploma courses.
The diploma options in infant mental health in this two-year course include:
* Infant observation, where participants undertake weekly observations of a baby in order to learn about the development of emotions.
* Infant research. These sessions examine aspects of foetal life, the world of the senses, communication, temperament, individuality and attachment, and explore the parents' mental state.
* Infant psychiatry.
Also available is a:
* Diploma in Parent-Infant Psychotherapy. This course is designed to develop clinical skills in treating parents and infants in distress.
The Scottish Independent Nurseries Association (SINA) is running a course on:
* Paediatric care and baby development, in Glasgow on 27 to 29 May. This three-day course will consider the role of early years carers in providing for babies' wellbeing, including their social, emotional, stimulation and health needs.
Stirling Council Early Childhood Services is running day courses on:
* Curriculum for children under three, on 14 February. This course aims to support staff in the development of best practice with children under three and to consider the role of under-threes curriculum guidelines in this process. There will be suggested strategies to support children's effective communication skills in the early years setting.
* Curriculum for children under three, on 11 March and 22 April. The course will develop strategies to support children's ability to develop interpersonal relationships and in the context of under-threes curriculum guidelines.
* Curriculum for children under three, on 22 May. This course will discuss ways of planning children's learning and suggest practical solutions to issues related to curriculum planning, taking account of children's preferred learning strategies.
Tinies Childcare runs:
* A monthly baby massage training course in London. This introductory course covers when, where and how to massage your baby.
* A six-hour regular professional baby unit course for nurseries wanting to improve their knowledge, techniques and practice for under-twos.
