How can Local Authorities promote a Summer of Play to enhance learning, health and school readiness?

WEBINAR TITLE

How can Local Authorities promote a Summer of Play to enhance learning, health and school readiness?

As very young children return to a more open society and life beyond the home, following Covid restrictions, developing their confidence and independence has never been more important.

Hear how, by promoting 50 Things within the Home Learning Environment (both indoors and outdoors), local authorities can support young children's play, early development, and conversation skills, nurturing independence and school readiness.

Welcome and Introduction

Christian Bunting, 50 Things To Do Before You're Five

What is the ‘Summer of Play’?

Anita Grant, Play England

The importance of green spaces and play out of lockdown

John Wright, Bradford Institute for Health Research

Building social skills through cultural partnerships

Rachael Dennis, 50 Things To Do Before You're Five

Questions

Guest Speakers

Dr John Wright

Bradford Institute for Health Research

As a clinician and epidemiologist, Dr John Wright specialises in hospital medicine and public health. A regular contributor to the BBC, John leads the Bradford Institute for Health Research and Wolfson Centre for Applied Research and established the Born in Bradford cohort study which documents the lives of 13,000 families and their children. Informed by his health expertise John will be addressing issues surrounding children’s physical activity during lockdown and the importance of outdoor play in their development.

Anita Grant

Play England

Anita Grant is the Chair of Trustees at Play England, and the Chief Executive at Islington Play Association. Prior to this Anita managed the Hoxton Sure Start programme, offering support, advice, childcare and family support services to families in Hackney. Recently, she joined together with academics in calling for a ‘Summer of Play’ for children in England to recover from the stress of lockdown and a year of Covid upheaval. Anita will be giving an overview of the Summer of Play Campaign which is set to launch in May 2021.

Rachael Dennis

50 Things To Do Before You’re Five

Rachael Dennis is the Project Officer for 50 Things To Do Before You’re Five in Bradford. She has been a 50 Things Enthusiast since 2018 and has been working with Bradford schools and Early Years Foundation Stage providers to promote the initiative. Rachael will be talking about 50 Things’ collaboration with Bradford Museums and Galleries to facilitate outdoor play and creativity in our Walk, Talk, Discover and Draw sessions, which are encouraging families to engage with local opportunities, including play!

Who should attend?

Local authorities
Health Professionals
Education Advisers
Early Years Professionals
Community Outreach

Why you should attend?

Impoverished life experiences in the early years can put a child at a disadvantage against their peers. Research shows that many children never recover from this early disadvantage, which impacts on their attainment, confidence, aspirations, and life chances.

This webinar will demonstrate how Local Authorities are using 50 Things to Do Before You’re 5 to enrich lives and improve the future of young children especially in light of the current challenging circumstances.

Discover how to engage parents and foster whole family approaches to health and wellbeing
Find out how to combat social disadvantage through this initiative
Help different cultures engage with community and environment
Provide early years education to encourage children to be happy and healthy, and learn while having fun
Support public health initiatives such as, combating obesity, diabetes, coronary and respiratory diseases
Prepare under-5s for future learning and school readiness

Led by the team at St Edmund's Nursery School and Children’s Centre in Bradford and rolled out in conjunction with Local Authorities across the UK, 50 Things To Do is an exciting initiative that helps parents and carers connect with their children through meaningful activities designed to have a positive impact on learning and health, so that their children can thrive through a range of low or no cost fun local activities.

PREVIOUS WEBINARS

Effective strategies to support Public Health in the Early Years

Establishing healthy habits early means children are more likely to lead active lives and therefore lessen the risk of serious health concerns down the line.

Blending a universal and targeted approach to Early Years to achieve ‘Levelling up’

Find out how your local authority can meet the Government’s “Levelling up” agenda by reducing inequalities at the Early Years development stage.

How to include young children’s voices in your arts and culture strategy

The 50 Things team, along with some very special guests, will be providing inspiration for how your local authority can reach families with young children to encourage better use and engagement with arts and culture.

How can Local Authorities promote a Summer of Play to enhance learning, health and school readiness?

How will Local Authorities Promote Healthy Development During Early Childhood?

Hear health experts talk about how communities can work together to promote changes in lifestyles, and how a local 50 Things offer can support that shift in behaviour.

Placing families and early years at the heart of your COVID recovery strategy

This webinar will demonstrate how Local Authorities are using 50 Things to Do Before You’re 5 to enrich lives and improve the future of young children especially in light of the current challenging circumstances.

How your local authority can improve the lives of your under 5's

This webinar will demonstrate how Local Authorities are using 50 Things to Do Before You’re 5 to enrich lives and improve the future of young children.