Assessment in the early years

In the second CPD event, our aim was to provide space for professional dialogue about current issues in early years and to provide professional development inputs about specific areas of child development. The event started with small group discussions about current priorities for assessment and identifying potential professional development activities for future . The second aspect focused on primitive reflexes and was led by Sally Pearse.  There were some fascinating insights into these reflexes role in gross motor development. The event finished with updates relating to EY in general and issues around assessment.  The participants requested for an opportunity for a face to face hands on professional development day for the next event. We would like to invite you to the first early years CPD event of what will be a programme of events across 2021/22. We realise that the last twelve months have been one of unprecedented work and pressure due to the pandemic and we have also had to contend with policy and practice changes and difficulties with recruitment and retention. To provide support the CPD programme we are developing will be shaped by you and your concerns and we hope will provide a space to network and have professional discussions. This means the events will look different with short inputs from a variety of people but with time to talk as well. We do have an overarching theme for the CPD series initially which is assessment processes as this is an aspect of change and priority in the EYFS. At this first session we would also like to hear your views about future CPD events on this issue and others. The session format will be as follows: 5:00 – 5:15 Welcome: Fufy Demissie 5:15 – 5:45 Small group discussions: sharing your current priorities for assessment and identifying potential professional development activities for future CPD events: Fufy Demissie 5: 45 – 6:00 An input on child development theory related to practice ‘What are retained primitive reflexes and why do we need to know about them? Sally Pearse 6:00 – 6:15 Updates relating to EY in general and issues around assessment. Rachel Summerscales