Moonbeams – The Next Phase
Developing tomorrow’s leaders in arts and
culture for early years
A continuing
professional development (CPD) course for early years
practitioners
and artists
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1. DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE
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Creativity
in, and through, arts and culture is a prime context for early years
development. Arts Connect recognises the importance of arts and culture in early
years and has prioritised this as part of its 2015-2018 programme. The Moonbeams
programme has different strands, including CPD for early years practitioners
and artists to work together to develop their understanding around
educational development through the arts.
Arts
Connect is working in partnership with Birmingham Nursery Schools Teaching
Schools Alliance; and other partners such as CREC (the Centre for Research in
Early Childhood), to support the development of emerging leaders of arts and
creativity in early years (0-5 years) both from the early year’s settings and
from the arts and cultural sectors.
The
Moonbeams course will involve selected artists and early years practitioners,
from 8 settings in the West Midlands, working in a paired partnership through
a 10 day course of group sessions (eg taught elements on Child Development;
Creativity; Provocations; Documentation; Reflection), co-delivery and action
research in the setting. This will be supported by expert Pedagogistas
(experts in early years education and in arts and culture in early years) and
action researchers, as well as external presenters. The programme will begin
with an introduction and planning day 8th July 2016, commence in
settings from mid-September, and complete by mid-May 2017.
We
are particularly interested in developing the experience and skills of early
years practitioners and artists who have the potential to become advocates
and leaders within their settings and sectors. Part of the course will
include opportunities to deliver CPD, share their work with others, and
contribute to seminars and a conference.
This
is an exciting and unique opportunity and we are interested in participants
from a range of settings (maintained and private nurseries; nursery and
reception classes) and artists with different arts and cultural expertise.
We particularly welcome applications from
people with protected characteristics
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2. Are
you a qualified early years practitioner or an artist working in early years?
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A qualified early years
practitioner
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An artist working with early
years
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Are you interested in developing your skills in arts
and culture?
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Are you interested in developing your skills and
experience, alongside an artist, as the lead for arts and culture in your
setting?
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Do you have the full support of your Head Teacher/Manager
and senior leadership team?
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Have you got experience in working in partnership with
other organisations and agencies, and individuals from sectors other than
education?
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Are you open to challenge your own thinking and
practices, and to challenge the thinking of others?
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Have you already worked in an early years setting but
would describe yourself as just starting out?
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Are you interested in developing your skills and
experience as an artist and a leader of arts and culture in early years?
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Are you open to working with early years practitioners
and senior leaders to develop CPD for staff from early years settings and
other artists?
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Are you prepared to learn about early years pedagogy
and to challenge your own thinking and practices?
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Are you prepared to work with your paired early years
practitioner to document and reflect on your CPD?
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3. COMMITMENTS
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A qualified early years
practitioner
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An artist working with early
years
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Release of the early years practitioner for the course
taught and delivery sessions, and for planning, and reflection with the
artist in-house
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Share practice and learning across whole staff
including a minimum of two CPD sessions with the artist
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Provide appropriate materials, tools and resources to
facilitate activities with children and staff
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Ensuring at all times that Health and Safety, and
Safeguarding (including Publicity Consent) procedures are in place, with
appropriate induction on these policies with the artist
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The DBS check for the artist delivered by the setting
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The Head Teacher / Manager to commit to support the
programme and the practitioner throughout the course
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Early years practitioner commits to attend and deliver
the course, including taking part in the full CPD programme and conference
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Contribute to research and evaluation
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Attend all course sessions and do appropriate home
based research and planning
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Contribute to all reflection and delivery within the
setting
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Document and record the work within the agreed storage
protocols and guidelines for the setting
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Ensuring at all times that Health and Safety, and
Safeguarding (including Publicity Consent) and procedures are adhered to
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Co-plan and deliver, with the early years practitioner,
CPD sessions with staff and others (eg at the conference)
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Contribute to all research and evaluation
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Ensure a high quality process and outcomes in the
delivery of arts and culture
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Deliver a high quality program as contracted.
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4. FEES AND COSTS
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A qualified early years
practitioner
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An artist working with early
years
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The early years setting will need to cover all the
costs of their early years practitioner attending sessions and being released
in-house, including any travel costs
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The early years setting will need to cover all
materials, tools, and resources linked to the activity
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The early years setting will cover the cost of the
artist’s DBS
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All other costs (such as the artist fees) are covered
by the grant from Arts Connect
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The freelance fee to be paid to the artist is £175 per
day for 10 days delivery (including travel and all costs). This fee takes
into account that this is part of a training programme developing the skills
and experience of emerging artists in early years.
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Please note that the DBS will be covered by the early
years setting
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The artist will be contracted by Birmingham’s Nursery
Schools Teaching Schools Alliance
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5. SELECTION PROCESS
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A qualified early years
practitioner
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An artist working with early
years
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Application
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Supporting statement from Head Teacher / Manager
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Application
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CV, including 2 references
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Extended Deadline: 29th
April 2016 (12 noon)
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Notification, if shortlisted, by: 5th
May 2016
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All shortlisted applicants (early years practitioner,
and the Head Teacher / Manager from selected settings, and artists) will be
invited to a selection event on the:
12th
May 2016 at Allens Croft Childrens Centre, Birmingham from
10am -3pm.
Before applying,
please ensure this date is in your diary in the event of being shortlisted.
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Notification of selection to the Moonbeams course: 16th
May 2016
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6. HOW TO APPLY
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When applying be email, please ensure that the subject heading is:
‘Moonbeams
Course – Early Years Practitioner / Artist (whichever is applicable)’
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Please email applications and supporting documents by: 29th April 2016 (12 noon) to:
Lisa O’Connor
Moonbeams
Programme Manager
Allens Croft
Childrens’ Centre
Phone: 0121 675
0362
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Any further enquiries please contact Lisa O’Connor or
Pepita Hanna:
Pepita Hanna
Associate
Director: Partnerships and Investment
Phone: 0121 446
3204
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