UWTSD Leads ‘Playful Pedagogies’ Workshop to Empower Welsh Educators.
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has recently led a series of professional training workshops, requested by Pembrokeshire Education Authority, to promote play-based learning across Welsh schools. The workshops, titled “Playful Pedagogies”, were developed and facilitated by UWTSD lecturers Paul Darby and Natasha Jones from the Early Years Team, following a successful presentation delivered to Challenge Advisors and Local Education Representatives across Wales.
This one-day interactive workshop centred on the importance of authentic, hands-on learning experiences both indoors and outdoors in primary education settings.
The importance of playful learning experiences and effective environments framed the workshop. The learning environments were developed to incorporate hands on experiential activities that could be taken back to practice. The content was supported with a robust theoretical framework linked to the Curriculum for Non maintained Settings in Wales.
Paul Darby, Early Years Lecturer at UWTSD said:
“These workshops have been a real inspiration, the enthusiasm and passion that the practitioners bring to supporting children is amazing. The partnership with these staff and the Education Authority is very positive and it is particularly important for me that what we learn together is influencing practice. I think that Tash and I are learning as well and each session brings new perspectives and evolves the content. Thank you to everyone who has made this such a valuable experience.”
UWTSD Early Years Lecturer, Natasha Jones added:
“Play is at the heart of early childhood development, and these workshops are about empowering practitioners to understand its full potential. Through hands-on learning experiences, we explore innovative ways to create playful and engaging environments, where children can thrive and grow. We hope that all practitioners leave these sessions feeling confident and assured that it’s okay to play, in fact, its fundamental in supporting children’s lifelong love for learning. I look forward to continue with these workshops, to inspire others and to be inspired. “
The “Playful Pedagogies” workshop saw over 100 attendees across eight sessions, including executive headteachers, heads and deputy heads, teachers, teaching assistants, and early years practitioners. Attendees praised the workshop for its balance of theoretical and practical content, with feedback highlighting the opportunity to reflect on and improve their practice.
Feedback from Pembrokeshire Education Authority further underscored the workshop’s success, noting its positive impact on schools, including two that were previously under special measures but have since improved their early years practices as a result of the training. Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales, took particular interest in the programme, commending the Authority for focusing on child development.
The workshops’ success has led to ongoing collaboration between UWTSD and Pembrokeshire Education Authority, with future training sessions planned.
For more information about Early Years Courses at UWTSD please visit: Youth Work and Early Years Studies | University of Wales Trinity Saint David (uwtsd.ac.uk) or contact Glenda Tinney g.tinney@uwtsd.ac.uk