smalltalk - Summer 2015

smalltalk…supporting the early years sector in Wales for over 30-years.

Published quarterly since spring 1986 and mailed free of charge to all Early Years Wales formerly Wales PPA members, smalltalk is the must-read title for early years education and childcare providers in Wales.

Our 24-page, full colour magazine is packed full of articles to inspire you to embed and inform high- quality practice, whilst continuing to run a successful business.

To sum things up in a summery summary: we have a mix of yours and our news, an update on changes within the Foundation Phase and some in-depth features on children’s emotional wellbeing and everyone’s favourite topic: play.

In more detail: on pages 4 and 5 we find out about a setting’s recent Ofsted inspection, the Care Council for Wales update us on early years qualifications and their new resource, and our chief exec informs you on current projects here at Wales PPA.

For Foundation Phase: Talking Point, Kelcie Hurley shows you changes in the early years curriculum in the coming months and how they affect you and your setting. There’s a useful flowchart for you to visualise developments.

In our special feature this quarter we welcome the return of Deborah Fielden who has written an interesting piece on schemas: what they are, how to identify them and how they can help you in your work.

Do you know what Skogsmulle is? Well we didn’t either until the people at Cyfleon Ltd got in touch. It’s a forest creature that teaches children in Sweden. Intrigued? Flip to pages 12 and 13 to find out more.

There are these articles and much more, so before you head to the beach pack your copy to soak in the info as well as the sun.