Nursery World North: Ferre Laevers heads our masterclass line-up

Quality in early education: defining, assessing and delivering with Professor Ferre Laevers is on Saturday 6 May from 9.30am-12.30pm.

Prof Laevers is regarded as one of the most significant sources of innovation in early education in recent years. Central to his contribution to early years practice has been his research on ‘well-being’ and ‘involvement’, which he has identified as the twin and fundamental traits underpinning a child’s successful development and early learning. This masterclass will reflect on their importance and the implications for practice.

He is director of the Research Centre for Experiential Education at the University of Leuven, Belgium. Co-presenting will be Jan Dubiel, national development manager at training and resources company Early Excellence.

Prof Laevers will look at 'Well-being and involvement: their essential role in children’s learning' and at observing and assessing using the Leuven scales.

Jan Dubiel will give an overview of action points that determine quality, with a focus on ‘challenging’ environments, the adult role and activities that explore behaviour, feelings and values

On Friday, our masterclass is Early Maths: no problem? with Linda Pound, Anne O'Connor and Tom Weaver.

These are exciting times in early years maths! Brain research is advancing our knowledge of how we learn about mathematical concepts, even when and why we make mistakes. The findings challenge formal methods of teaching and strengthen the case for experiential, play-based learning. To make sense of number, space, shape and measure, children have to ‘do’ maths – using their bodies and their minds – and in the right rich and supportive enabling environment, they can sidestep ‘maths anxiety’ to become part of a generation of confident maths learners.

Linda Pound will give an introduction to maths in the EYFS, unpicking the early years goals to establish key concepts and language within early maths. She will also look at the essential skills for understanding maths, for children to become confident and enthusiastic maths learners.

Anne O'Connor will explain how we engage body and mind in mathematical learning, and the implications for early years practice in 'maths on the move'.

And Tom Weaver, programme lead for BA Early Years Education (QTS), University of Northampton, senior lecturer in early years maths will offer strategies for supporting early maths learning, including:

• Big World maths outdoors
• Giving children a sense of ownership of their resources and learning, and
• Understanding mistakes and the neuroscience of how to respond to them
  
  
• Book masterclass tickets at http://www.nurseryworldshow.com/liverpool/seminar-and-masterclass