TRAINING FOR TREETOPS IN CARING FOR BABIES
Sixty nursery practitioners from Treetops Nurseries have received training in best practice when working with babies and very young children at The Totem Pole, an Early Years training and consultancy centre in Lincolnshire.
Staff from Treetops Nurseries, a national childcare group based in Derby which operates 31 nurseries across the UK, attended the Beginning With Babies training programme at The Totem Pole.
Award-winning trainer Mary Barlow led workshops to enhance the relationship practitioners have with children up to three years of age and to support practitioners in the development of their practice in working with very young children.
The sessions explored how to develop warm and familiar spaces for children, how to watch and listen to children and build on their interests, and how to recognise, acknowledge and nurture babies as independent active learners.
Isabel Garvey, Director of Childcare at Treetops Nurseries, said the training was very beneficial, particularly for the less experienced practitioners.
“It’s certainly had a positive impact because some of our students who came through the NVQ training route had limited practical experience of caring for babies if they hadn’t chosen the baby option,” she said.
“They liked the demonstration nursery with its dedicated baby room and they enjoyed the hands-on training activities.
“Our staff found the training inspiring and it made them come back to their setting and look at their baby room with fresh eyes,” Isabel added.
“Finding good quality training for those working with the under-twos is very difficult so we’re delighted that The Totem Pole was recommended to us.”
Among the feedback received from those taking part were comments as follows:
“We have taken most of the plastic out of our baby room and replaced it with natural materials – the babies stay longer, exploring our new treasure baskets.”
“Some parents have noticed that we are using more natural and free and found materials, and they are trying out our ideas at home.”
“Since we have been wearing a bit of jewellery we have noticed that the children take more interest in us as adults – it has improved my interaction with babies and older children.”
Mary Barlow, who set up The Totem Pole in the grounds of the Belton Woods Hotel near Grantham in 2009, commented: “It continues to be a pleasure to hear how Treetops as an organisation has moved forwards with its agreed core values and how individual nurseries have been empowered to build on their practice and make it better for children and their families in settings,” she said.
“At the beginning of each day the Early Years managers and practitioners shared their thoughts after reflecting and putting their learning into practice.
“As the participants started to share their thoughts it was evident that there was going to be a fundamental shift in practice for the better back in all the settings. Foundations were being laid to scaffold the practice already in place.”
Notes to editors
- The Totem Pole was established in the grounds of the Belton Woods Hotel in Lincolnshire in October 2009. It is a unique training and resource centre for everybody caring for children which offers individuals a different way of learning.
- Early Years Consultant Mary Barlow has more than 20 years’ experience in child development and develops training programmes underpinned by best practice.
- Mary was named Trainer of the Year at the Nursery World Awards in London this month and The Totem Pole won the People Development category in the Grantham Business Excellence Awards in May 2011.
- To find out more visit www.thetotempole.co.uk
- Established in 1990, Treetops Nurseries provides childcare to over 1,300 children and employs more than 600 childcare professionals. Three of its settings are currently rated outstanding by Ofsted.
- For more information visit www.treetopsnurseries.co.uk
For media information please contact:
Jez Ashberry Tel: 01522 528540 Mob: 07733 230293
jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk [totem07treetops]
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
jez@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @jezashberry
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