POD-CACHE

Join us for this episode about positive parenting, making changes and setting boundaries in challenging environments. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 1 May.

In this episode we meet with Kathy Bowers to talk about parenting, communication and relationship improvement work. Kathy discusses her experience in social care and family support work, highlighting the importance of experience, knowledge, and training in dealing with challenging cases. She emphasises the value of being open and learning from families, as well as asking questions to understand their situations better.

Kathy has worked as a nursery nurse, family support worker, and practitioner in children's settings. She has worked directly with families, including teenagers, to improve their relationships and create harmony. Kathy also discusses the challenges of parenting, including the need for consistency, setting boundaries, and managing emotions. She encourages parents not to compare themselves to others and to learn from their mistakes.

Want to hear more from Kathy?

Website: https://www.life-change-coaching.co.uk/about-kathy

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.

Visitcachealumni.org.ukto join 25,000 members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.

In this episode we meet with Dr Helen Bilton, Author and Professor of Outdoor Learning and Play, to talk about recapturing the lost value of play and independent problem-solving, as well as how different early years settings can support outdoor learning. We also touch on the courses Helen has written for FutureLearn on Supporting Successful Learning in Primary Schools and in Secondary Schools, which explore how we can teach children to navigate risk and how we can reflect upon our own attitudes and perceptions of the outdoors.

Want to hear more from Helen?

Website: https://www.drhelenbilton.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/drhelenbilton

FutureLearn Courses:

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/supporting-learning-primary https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/supporting-learning-secondary

Want to skip ahead?

PART 1:

(0:00-03:15) Introduction to Helen: how her love of outdoor play developed and her book writing journey

(03:15-05:35) What makes ‘outdoor play’ magical and the ‘can-do’ environment

(05:35-09:38) The battle of evidencing outdoor play’s benefits and bias associated with it

(09:38-11:15) How the modern world doesn’t prepare us for the outdoors and our fear of losing comfort

(11:15-12:48) How settings can navigate children’s preparedness for the outdoors

(12:48-17:35) Families’ anxiety of children being ‘on show’, the need to re-think education and language associated with the outdoors

(17:35-20:54) How technology has affected outdoor education & the importance of being ‘present’ outdoors

[CACHE Alumni ad break]

PART 2:

(21:14-26:40) How settings without access to an outdoor space can support outdoor learning

(26:40-32:50) FutureLearn courses on ‘supporting successful learning in primary and secondary schools’ - reflecting on our own attitudes & teaching children to navigate ‘risk’

(32:50-36:45) Challenging own viewpoints and recognising cultural differences in perceptions of ‘outdoor learning’

PART 3:

(36:45-47:00) The lost value of outdoor play and problem-solving, and modern conveniences

(47:00-52:00) Wellbeing and resilience

(52:00-57:08) Tips on how to easily create an outdoor space and final notes

---------------------

Don't forget that you can watch this episode on our website, as well as other video-versions of our previous episodes.

---------------------

You can find our podcast on numerous different platforms, including PodBean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, YouTube, and more.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.

Visitcachealumni.org.ukto join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.

Welcome to the latest episode of POD-CACHE, the award-winning professional development podcast from CACHE Alumni.

Join us for this fascinating conversation with Bethan Harding MBE, a seasoned education professional working to pioneer the 'Winning With Numbers' teaching platform.

In this episode, Bethan shares her professional journey and brings real-world insights from her experiences in various school systems, including the US, and discusses her instrumental role in establishing teaching hubs and support.

We explore Bethan’s dedicated efforts towards the development and support of tools for number fluency and the episode covers in-depth discussions on 'Winning With Numbers'.

Designed to revolutionise primary maths education, this platform provides a comprehensive array of resources for teachers, parents, and students with the objective of making maths simple yet engaging. Bethan highlights the necessity of fostering a strong foundation in education and instilling fluency and confidence in subjects from an early age.

Find Winning With Numbers on their website at https://www.wwnumbers.com/ or on their social media pages;

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_WWNumbers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wwnumbers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_wwnumbers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-harding-a84b682a/

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.

Visitcachealumni.org.ukto join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.

Join us as we meet with Yasmin Mukadam and learn about Mindfulness in Early Years. Find out more about the conversation below, and subscribe for more interesting conversations in care, health, early years and education. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 7 February. 00:00 Introduction and Background 01:14 Importance of Mindfulness 05:03 Mindfulness in Early Childhood 06:37 Mindfulness for Practitioners 07:00 Mindfulness in Early Years Settings 14:58 Connection Between Mindfulness and Yoga 19:30 Mindfulness in Transitions and Circle Time 21:27 Making Yoga and Mindfulness Accessible 23:49 Mindfulness during Commute 26:49 Journaling and Reflective Practice 29:44 Benefits of Mindfulness in Early Years 31:58 Practical Tips for Implementing Mindfulness 34:36 Importance of Wellbeing Policies 38:49 Promoting Mindfulness in Early Years 41:50 Book Recommendation and Conclusion Summary In this conversation, Yasmin Mukadam discusses the importance of mindfulness in early years education. She explains that mindfulness is about being in the present moment with awareness and without judgment. Yasmin emphasizes the benefits of mindfulness for both practitioners and children, including improved focus, reduced stress and anxiety, and enhanced social and emotional learning. She suggests practical ways to introduce mindfulness into early years settings, such as mindful walks, breathing exercises, and journaling. Yasmin also highlights the connection between mindfulness and yoga, and the positive impact of mindfulness on transitions and circle time. She concludes by recommending her book, 'Mindfulness in Early Years,' as a resource for implementing mindfulness practices in early years education. In this conversation, we explore the importance of mental health and discuss common mental health issues, stigma, support and resources, and self-care and coping strategies. The conversation emphasises the need to prioritise mental health and provides valuable insights and resources for individuals facing mental health challenges. Takeaways

• Mindfulness is about being in the present moment with awareness and without judgement.
• Practising mindfulness can improve focus, reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance social and emotional learning.
• Mindfulness can be introduced in early years settings through activities such as mindful walks, breathing exercises, and journaling.
• There is a connection between mindfulness and yoga, and both can be beneficial for practitioners and children.
• Promoting mindfulness in early years education can support children's overall wellbeing and help them develop self-regulation skills. Mental health is as important as physical health and should be prioritised.
• Common mental health issues include anxiety, depression, and stress.
• Stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental health can prevent individuals from seeking help.
• There are various support systems and resources available for individuals facing mental health challenges.
• Self-care and coping strategies play a crucial role in maintaining mental well-being.

Find Mindfulness in Early Years on the Routledge website here; https://ww.routledge.com/Mindfulness-in-Early-Years-Strategies-and-Approaches-to-Nurturing-Young/Mukadam/p/book/9780367142087

or via Amazon here;

Mindfulness in Early Years: Strategies and Approaches to Nurturing Young Minds: Amazon.co.uk: Mukadam, Yasmin: 9780367142087: Books

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.

Visitcachealumni.org.ukto join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.

Join us as we learn about behaviour as communication in care with Victoria Bartle. Find out more about the conversation below, and subscribe for more interesting conversations in care, health, early years and education. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 7 February.

This journey into Victoria's day-to-day provides a comprehensive insight into understanding and interpreting the delicate balance in care-receiving and care-giving situations. From tackling discrimination at work to understanding the vital role of non-verbal communication in care settings, Victoria's journey helps us to understand our impact in the professional, social, and personal sphere.

Uncover the physical and emotional issues surrounding people's experiences of disability as Victoria covers the holistic impact of her everyday hurdles.

Learn from her experiences dealing with the complexities of the healthcare and social systems to explore a fresh perspective on the emotional backdrop and behaviours exhibited by people receiving care to help build effective care strategies rooted in humanity and empathy.

As Victoria shares the raw reality of balancing her desire for control and the necessity to rely on others, she offers precious insights for carers to enhance their technique, forming a beneficial relationship based on clear boundaries, mutual respect, and good communication. Listen in and gain a deeper understanding of the need for excellent communication skills and self-awareness in care-giving encounters.

Want to hear more from Victoria?

Find her on the CACHE Alumni website, her LinkedIn page, via her work with Newcastle University or on her website.

If you'd like to see this podcast as a live video, you can see Victoria and her slides on the (members only) events and video learning page of the CACHE Alumni website, alongside lots of other great CPD.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.

Visitcachealumni.org.ukto join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.

Join us as we meet with Lucy Norris and learn about the Wizzybug. Find out more about the conversation below, and subscribe for more interesting conversations in care, health, early years and education. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 24 January.

00:00 Introduction

00:46 Introducing Lucy Norris and Designability

01:18 What is Wizzybug?

02:46 Age Range for Wizzybug

04:33 Importance of Independent Movement

06:28 Benefits of Wizzybug for Children and Families

08:43 Developmental Milestones and Agency

09:56 Equal Footing with Peers

10:18 Why is Support with Powered Mobility not Widely Available in Early Years?

12:07 Motor Skills and Spatial Awareness

13:32 Story of a Child's Experience with Wizzybug

14:05 Transitioning to Powered Mobility

16:19 Developmental Benefits of Early Mobility

19:38 Loan Scheme and Loan Extension

20:36 Removing Barriers to Applying for support

23:46 Empowerment and Transitioning to Mobility Aids

26:50 Multimodal Mobility and Range of Equipment

28:16 Transitioning to Powered Mobility as an Adult

33:15 How to refer parents to Wizzybug

37:46 Measuring and Setting Up Wizzybugs

42:56 Funding and Support for Wizzybugs

45:22 When Wizzybug is Not Suitable

45:55 Thank You - More Help from CACHE Alumni

Summary Lucy Norris, Partnerships and Engagement Officer for the charity Designability, discusses the Wizzybug, a small powered wheelchair designed for young children with mobility challenges. The Wizzybug enables children to move independently and participate more fully in social activities. In this episode, Lucy and Dawn talk about the importance of independent movement for child development and the benefits of early mobility. Lucy also addresses the current barriers to accessing mobility equipment and talks about the loan scheme provided by Designability.

Takeaways

• The Wizzybug is a small powered wheelchair designed for young children with mobility challenges, enabling them to move independently and participate more fully in social activities.
• Independent movement is crucial for child development, unlocking potential in areas such as language skills, spatial awareness, and self-identity.
• The Wizzybug loan scheme provides free access to the equipment, with families borrowing it for as long as their child needs it.

Find Wizzybug on the Designability website here; https://designability.org.uk/assistive-solutions/wizzybug/

Or on their social media pages; Instagram Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.

Visitcachealumni.org.ukto join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.

Join us for this throwback episode of POD-CACHE and re-listen to Dr Helen Williams' wisdom on making maths playful. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 10 January.

0:00Introduction to Dr Helen J Williams and her journey with maths

2:30Moving from a dislike to a love of maths

4:50Maths' evolution since the 80s and use ofmanipulativesin maths teaching

7:42The challenges of applying more practical approaches

9:20 Challenging perceptions of being good vs. bad at maths and how taking risks translates into development

11:50Problem-solving andPirate's Goldproblem

14:45Break

15:00 How practitioners can recapture the joy of maths

18:40Resources available for teaching maths

20:40 Shape and space (geometry) and recalling vs. applying knowledge

27:18Progress in understanding how primary school children learn maths

30:20 What issubitisingand what activities can help children develop the skill

33:00 Helen talks about her book 'Playful Mathematics: For Children 3 to 7' and final notes

Dawn's been leaning into the magic of Christmas, reading The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus, and can't help thinking back to this magical conversation with Dr Helen Williams about making maths more playful.

Join us as we listen back to this popular episode from Season 4 of POD-CACHE and take some time to look through our catalogue on your favourite podcast platform. Are there other gems that you've missed?

Dr Helen J Williams is the author of the award-winning 'Playful Mathematics: For Children 3 to 7', who shares her journey towards becoming passionate about mathematics and her mission to change perceptions of maths as a dry and uninteresting subject. Dr. Williams also provides practical recommendations for educators and families on how to make maths lessons more fun and engaging for young children.

You can hear more from Helen on her twitter@helenjwc

Links mentioned in podcast:

British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics -https://bsrlm.org.uk/

Association of Teachers of Mathematics -https://www.atm.org.uk/

Early Childhood Mathematics Group -https://earlymaths.org/

NRICH Maths Resources -https://nrich.maths.org/

Helen's Book -Playful Mathematics: For Children 3 to 7

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.

Visitcachealumni.org.ukto join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.

00:00 Introduction - Welcome to POD-CACHE, the portable professional development podcast from CACHE Alumni

00:48 Fey Cole - An introduction to Fey

02:24 Why intergenerational practice? Fey explains how she first got involved with bringing intergenerational learning to an educational setting

03:50 Making the project student-led and establishing an intergenerational café

04:50 Embedding existing learning aims and outcomes into the project delivery

06:00 The impact of lockdown on intergenerational learning and the café group

07:09 Intergenerational Practice in Schools and Settings - Fey's book proposal

08:53 The benefits of intergenerational care - Collaborating with Health and Social Care teams and the community

10:35 Engaging partners and participants in intergenerational projects

13:10 Why write a book? Fey talks about her own career progression and enjoyment of writing and journaling for reflection

15:35 Intergenerational learning means intergenerational support - our own experiences support those around us and we can learn from those we teach

16:43 POD-CACHE

17:06 Project-based learning - finding structure to support our curiosity

18:21 Community learning - advocating for our project and acting on feedback

19:27 The community online - growing your own personal learning network and building your community

21:50 Using Facebook as a teaching tool - Fey wins an award for her use of social media in education

24:00 How do you manage it all? Fitting passion projects around work and life

26:20 Staying accountable to your audience and to yourself to avoid overwhelm and manage self-care

28:42 Saying yes more: making time to enjoy life

29:55 Setting priorities, understanding your values and deciding what to say no to

32.20 Play is important for everyone - Why we should get grown ups involved in play for creativity, problem solving and wellbeing

34:20 What did Fey learn through the intergenerational learning project? Taking a step back and learning about community together

36:55 What’s the worst that could happen? - Developing confidence and empowering learners, the wider community and yourself

39:00 Start your own intergenerational learning project - the many benefits of our café for learners and how to find support

40:15 Thanks for listening!

Fey Cole is an Early Years lecturer, and a Teaching and Learning Advisor for the Confucius Hub, which allows her to support teachers who come to work and share practice in the UK from China. Her book, Intergenerational Practice in Schools and Settingsprovides guidance through the many approaches in education that bring generations together.

Join Dawn as she chats to Fey about inter-generational learning, project-based learning and engaging students and the community in learning, practice and play.

Want more?

Find articles about animals in education and care setting written byFey Cole in CACHE Alumni's quarterly member magazine,Aluminate, or listen to another episode of POD-CACHE as we talk reflection with Annie Pendrey.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues or take time to click like, subscribe and leave us a review to help us grow.

Visitcachealumni.org.ukto join 24,000+ members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to a host of member benefits, including our quarterly member magazine, Aluminate.

(00:00) Introduction - Welcome to POD-CACHE, the portable professional development podcast from CACHE Alumni

(00:48) Jenny Phillips - An introduction to Jenny

(02:52) They say never to work with children or animals... Jenny's dream job

(04:52)A love of animals - Bringing animals into the classroom

(05:28) George the Cat - The teaching power of animals

(06:46) Making the unpredictable understandable - The process behind introducing children to animals and animal therapy.

(11:18) We are nature - Jenny's relationship with animals, professional curiosity and the theory behind farm and animal therapy.

(12:57) The micropig experience - Working with teacup pigs and other animals to help children to develop relationships, provide therapeutic intervention in hospitals and experience the 'humanity' of animals.

(16:32) Purring chickens - The physiological impact of animal interactions on mental and emotional health

(17:40) Who says you can't cuddle a snake? - Book recommendations from Jenny and signposting to other resources supporting farm therapy

(19:00) CACHE Alumni signposting

(19:16) Risk assessing animal interactions - Finding the way through controlled exploration

(22:05) Never work with children or animals - Exploring Jenny's passion for animals and education

(24:55) Jenny's advice on finding (or inventing) your own career path through academic research and study

(27:32) Find your passion and unlock your real potential - Mixing and matching career paths to make a perfect career.

(30:00) Overcoming objections and articulating ideas - Jenny explains how she draws her own boundaries and factors in health and safety and costings to her planning

(34:27) 'No' is not the end. It's a starting point for conversation - Practising professional conversations to construct an argument or business case

(37:24) Jenny's dreams for the future

'Don't let anyone tell you that you can't… you might get there a bit slower, but you'll get where you need to be' - Jenny Phillips is a highly qualified early years and education professional with lots of experience of working with animals to provide the best possible care and support.

Join Dawn as she talks to Jenny about the way that animal and human care intersects, Jenny's passion for care farming and shaping her own career to fulfil her dreams.

Want more? Find articles about animals in education and care setting written by Jenny Phillips in CACHE Alumni's quarterly member magazine, Aluminate, or listen to another episode of POD-CACHE with Dr Helen Bilton, Professor of Outdoor Learning and Play.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.

Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.

00:00 Introduction - Welcome to POD-CACHE, the portable professional development podcast from CACHE Alumni

00:50 Alix Robertson - Alix introduces herself and the Centre for Education and Youth

01:18 Sarah introduces herself and Big Education

02:08 Meet PEPA - What is the Primary Extended Project Award?

04:30 Project-based learning

05:24 Choosing a project - Collaboration, theme setting and helping children to find their interests

06:53 Flexibility by design - Creating opportunities to signpost to learning that excites and engages little learners

08:22 Looking beyond the curriculum and making links with life - The role of the expert

11:27 It's not all about the project outcome - Finding links back to the curriculum, evidencing soft skills and career pathways

14:32 Research, teaching and assessment - Friendly but rigorous

15:00 It's OK not to be good at things, but to enjoy them anyway

15:52 Accessible by design - The PEPA is for everyone

16:42 Empowering young people - the value of guiding your own learning, shaping your own skill-set and owning your own future

18:35 CACHE Alumni

18:52 Non-linear learning and trying new things - Feeling safe in exploration

20:34 PEPA is a commitment - Successfully embedding the PEPA into schools

23:08 Support materials and delivery support for streamlining implementation

24:24 How did the PEPA project begin? Teachers coming together to solve challenges and jump into opportunities to benefit primary students

27:20 The benefits of the EYFS in holistic education - Enabling enquiry and project based learning throughout education

31:00 Find out more about PEPA, get in touch and get involved in the project

32:47 Thank you and signposting

The Primary Extended Project Award (PEPA), developed byThe Centre for Education and Youth (CfEY) and multi-academy trust Big Education, will give pupils the chance to be more creative and take control of their own learning.

Created with support from the educational charity and leader in technical and vocational learning NCFE through itsAssessment Innovation Fund, the PEPA aims to address specific problems in the ways primary pupils are currently assessed.

Join Dawn as she talks to Alix Robertson and Sarah Seleznyov from the PEPA Project and find out more about how they've been able to challenge the overemphasis on summative assessment that’s linked to school performance measures.

CfEY and Big Education are now looking to prototype elements of the PEPA programme with a small number of year six pupils ahead of a large-scale impact pilot.You can discover more about the pilot project and read the final report here.

If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.

Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.