In-Setting Professional Development Series
Our in‑setting professional development and learning series offers early years practitioners an opportunity to reflect on their practice.
Each resource is created in response to identified themes and will often link to our termly in‑person network meetings, recognising that not everyone can attend but may still wish to explore the topic in their own setting.
Practitioners are encouraged to use the booklets as practical, cyclical tools.
Engage & Reflect
Take the time to read the material and use the live links to explore further. Identify the ideas that resonate, the challenges that arise, and the connections to your own children, setting, and curriculum intent, implementation, and impact.
Share & Discuss
Use the content to spark professional dialogue. Share insights with colleagues, compare approaches, and explore examples together. This helps build a shared understanding of what strong practice looks like across your team.
Plan & Take Action
Translate reflection into meaningful change. Choose one small, immediate improvement and one longer‑term development goal. Identify the support or evidence you’ll need and agree how you’ll monitor the impact on teaching and learning.
Spring Term 2026: Positive Transitions
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Supporting Smooth Starts and Confident Steps: Ensuring positive transitions for young children in Birmingham
This booklet aims to support children, their families and early years practitioners in Birmingham to feel secure, prepared, and well‑connected through each stage of transition.
It will help you to:
Explore key everyday and milestone transitions experienced by young children
Reflect and share practical, child‑centred strategies that promote smooth, confident transitions.
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Curriculum Conversations: Positive Transitions Resource Booklet
This booklet brings together additional resources, research, professional development, and further reading on Positive Transitions from:
Birmingham Early Years Networks
Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
Dingley's Promise
Department for Education (DfE)
Birth to 5 Matters
Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs
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Autumn Term 2025: Early Years Curriculum Under the Lens
Curriculum Conversations: Early Years Curriculum Under the Lens
This booklet brings together key guidance on:
Leadership of Curriculum and Teaching
Early Years Curriculum Design
High‑Quality Teaching
Inclusive Curriculum and Teaching
It’s designed to help you reflect on what you do, refine your curriculum thinking, and strengthen the learning experiences you offer every child.
