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Courses and Events for Early Years' Practitioners

Dorking Nursery School and Family Centre

Spring Courses 2024

Check out our brand new face-to-face training courses coming in the Spring term - "Supporting Bilingual Learners in the Early Years" on Thurs 11 Jan 2024 with Dr Rose Drury; the very popular "New to Working in the EYFS for Support Staff" led by our Headteacher Donna Harwood-Duffy; plus both Level 1 & Level 2 Makaton worshops run by Stella Rogers. Book early to avoid disappointment as numbers are limited.

Maximum of 16 attendees (14 for Makaton);

  • A buffet sandwich lunch will be provided along with refreshments throughout the day for all-day courses unless stated;
  • There is no parking on site for attendees - please see separate info re local parking on our 'Contact us' page;
  • Booking via website booking form only

Supporting Bilingual Learners in the Early Years - Thurs 11 Jan 2024

By Dr Rose Drury
£125.00 per person
Thursday, January 11, 2024 - 9:30am to 3:30pm
Dorking Nursery School

New to Working in the EYFS for Support Staff - Thurs 25 Jan 2024

By Donna Harwood-Duffy
£65.00 per person
Thursday, January 25, 2024 - 9:30am to 12:00pm
Dorking Nursery School

Makaton Level 1 Workshop - Fri 9 Feb 2024

By Stella Rogers
£90.00 per person (includes cost of manual)
Friday, February 9, 2024 - 9:00am to 5:00pm
Dorking Nursery School

Makaton Level 2 Workshop - Fri 8 March 2024

By Stella Rogers
£90.00 per person (includes cost of manual)
Friday, March 8, 2024 - 9:00am to 5:00pm
Dorking Nursery School

Past Courses

Autumn Courses 2023

NEW - see our new face-to-face training courses coming in the Autumn term - the very popular 'New to Working in the EYFS for Support Staff' and 'New to Early Years for Teachers' both led by our Headteacher Donna Harwood-Duffy; a Paediatric First Aid 2-day practical course run by Surrey First Aid, with other new courses to come; plus an EARLY EXCELLENCE event that we are hosting at Dorking Nursery School.

Maximum of 16 attendees (14 for Makaton);

  • A buffet sandwich lunch will be provided along with refreshments throughout the day for all-day courses (please note the Paediatric first aid is bring your own lunch);
  • There is no parking on site for attendees - please see separate info re local parking on our 'Contact us' page;
  • Booking via website booking form only

12 hour Paediatric First Aid (2-day course)

£90.00 per person
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - 9:00am to Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - 3:30pm
Dorking Nursery School

New to Early Years (for teachers) - Tues 10 Oct 2023

By Donna Harwood-Duffy
£125.00 per person per course
Tuesday, October 10, 2023 - 9:30am to 3:30pm
Dorking Nursery School

EARLY EXCELLENCE Partnership Event at Dorking Nursery School - Thurs 12 October 2023

Thursday, October 12, 2023
Dorking Nursery School

New to Working in the EYFS for Support Staff - Fri 1 Dec 2023

By Donna Harwood-Duffy
£65.00 per person per course
Friday, December 1, 2023 - 9:30am to 12:00pm
Dorking Nursery School

Summer Courses 2023

NEW - three face-to-face training courses coming in the Summer term - we are pleased to welcome back Anni McTavish (from pre-Covid days!) to run a day's training of Creativity split into 2 half-day sessions so that you can attend one or both sessions - 'Feelings & Behaviour - A Creative Approach' in the morning and 'Making Books - Creating Homemade Books for Children of all ages' in the afternoon; the very popular 'Understanding the EYFS in Practice for Support Staff working in the EYFS' led by our Headteacher Donna Harwood-Duffy; and a Makaton Level 1 workshop run by Stella Rogers who regularly runs Makaton workshops for us.

  • Maximum of 16 attendees (14 for Makaton);
  • Current government guidance will be followed regarding the wearing of face coverings;
  • A buffet sandwich lunch will be provided along with refreshments throughout the day for all-day courses;
  • There is no parking on site for attendees - please see separate info re local parking on our 'Contact us' page;
  • Booking via website booking form only

Understanding the EYFS in Practice for Support Staff

By Donna Harwood-Duffy
£65.00 per person per course
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 - 9:30am to 12:00pm
Dorking Nursery School

Two half-days = 1 Whole Day of Creativity: Morning session - 'Feelings & Behaviour - a Creative Approach'; Afternoon session - 'Making Books - Creating Homemade Books for Children of all ages'

By Anni McTavish
Friday, June 16, 2023 - 9:00am to 4:30pm
Dorking Nursery School

'Feelings & Behaviour - a Creative Approach' - morning session of Creativity day

By Anni McTavish
£65.00 per person per half-day course, or £125 for both sessions (including lunch). The discount for the 2 sessions will be reflected in your invoice.
Friday, June 16, 2023 - 9:30am to 12:30pm
Dorking Nursery School

'Making Books - Creating Homemade Books for Children of all ages' - afternoon session of Creativity day

By Anni McTavish
£65.00 per person per half-day session or £125 for both sessions (including lunch). The discount for the 2 sessions will be reflected in your invoice.
Friday, June 16, 2023 - 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Dorking Nursery School

Makaton Level 1 Workshop

By Stella Rogers
£85.00 per person per course
Thursday, June 29, 2023 - 9:00am to 5:00pm
Dorking Nursery School

Spring Courses 2023

We have two new face-to-face courses this term - 'Following the Leader ... Leadership & Management in the Early Years' run by Tamsin Grimmer and a 'Makaton with Singing' half-day workshop.

Fri 17 March - 9.30-3.30 - 'Following the Leader ... Leadership & Management in the Early Years' - Tamsin Grimmer

We are excited to welcome back one of our previous trainers from pre-Covid times! Tamsin is an experienced early years consultant, passionate about young children’s learning who believes that all children deserve educators who are inspiring, dynamic, reflective and loving. Your feedback was excellent from her previous Leadership courses - 

  • Tamsin is very knowledgeable about the subject which made the course enjoyable as well as interesting;
  • The course has come round at the perfect time for me and was so relevant it reassured me that I am on the right track and has given me the confidence in areas I have been unsure on during our recent changes and merger with another school. Lots to take back and reflect on. Thank you!

Tues 21 March - 9.30 - 1.00 - 'Makaton with Singing' half-day workshop - Stella Rogers

Stella regularly runs our Makaton workshops and the Singing one is particularly useful and fun!  It is helpful for early years practitioners - teachers and classroom assistants as well as parents.

Click on the arrows below for further details of the courses.


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  • For our all day courses, a buffet lunch will be provided along with refreshments throughout the day or for half-day workshops, refreshments throughout the session;
  • There is no parking on site for attendees - please see separate info re local parking within walking distance on our 'Contact us' page;
  • Booking via website booking form only.

 

Following the Leader ... Leadership & Management in the Early Years - Fri 17 March 2023

By Tamsin Grimmer
£125.00 per person per course
Friday, March 17, 2023 - 9:30am to 3:30pm
Dorking Nursery School

Makaton with Singing (half-day workshop) - Tues 21 March 2023

By Stella Rogers
£45.00 per person (includes cost of manual)
Tuesday, March 21, 2023 - 9:30am to 1:00pm
Dorking Nursery School

Autumn Courses 2022

NEW - three training courses coming in the Autumn term - the very popular 'New to Early Years' for teachers and 'Understanding the EYFS in Practice' for Support Staff working in the EYFS. We are also running a Makaton Level 2 workshop for those of you who have already completed your Level 1 training.

Following Government advice, the format of the day is generally the same as pre-Covid, with a few 'tweaks'.  At the time of sending this out, the format will be as follows and we will update this if further guidance is issued:

Maximum of 16 attendees instead of 20 to reduce numbers in the training room;
Current government guidance will be followed regarding the wearing of face coverings;
A buffet lunch will be provided along with refreshments throughout the day;
There is no parking on site for attendees - please see separate info re local parking on our 'Contact us' page;
Booking via website booking form only

Understanding the EYFS in Practice - for support staff working in the EYFS

By Donna Harwood-Duffy
£65.00 per person per course
Tuesday, September 27, 2022 - 9:30am to 12:00pm
Dorking Nursery School

Makaton Level 2 one-day Workshop POSTPONED

By Stella Davis
£85.00 per person (includes manual)
Thursday, October 6, 2022 - 9:00am to 5:00pm
Dorking Nursery School

New to Early Years

By Donna Harwood-Duffy
£125.00 per person per course
Tuesday, October 11, 2022 - 9:30am to 3:30pm
Dorking Nursery School

Summer Courses 2022

Two NEW FACE-TO-FACE training courses this term - the very popular 'New to Early Years' and a one-day 'Makaton Level 1' Workshop. 

Following Government advice, the format of the day is generally the same as pre-Covid, with a few 'tweaks'.  At the time of sending this out, the format will be as follows and we will update this if further guidance is issued:

Maximum of 16 attendees instead of 20 to reduce numbers in the training room;
Current government guidance will be followed regarding the wearing of face coverings;
A buffet lunch will be provided along with refreshments throughout the day;
There is no parking on site for attendees - please see separate info re local parking on our 'Contact us' page;
Booking via website booking form only;
 

New to Early Years

By Donna Harwood-Duffy
£120.00 per person per course
Tuesday, June 21, 2022 - 9:30am to 3:30pm
Dorking Nursery School

Makaton Level 1 one-day Workshop

By Stella Rogers
£85.00 per person per course
Thursday, July 7, 2022 - 9:00am to 5:00pm
Dorking Nursery School

Autumn Courses 2021

At last! We are very excited to be making plans to return to our face-to-face early years training in the Autumn term. The first course on Thursday 7th October 2021 will be one that has been very popular in the past - 'New to Early Years' - run by our Headteacher, Donna Harwood-Duffy. It is aimed at newly qualified staff, those who are moving to the early years, or perhaps returning after a career break. Cost is £125 per person per course.

We will be re-assessing the situation at the start of the Autumn term and following guidance issued by the Government at that time.  In the meantime we have made a few adaptations, but the format of the day is generally the same with a few 'tweaks'.  At the time of sending this out, the format will be as follows and we will update this if further guidance is issued:

  • Maximum of 12 attendees instead of 20 to reduce numbers in the training room;
  • Current government guidance will be followed regarding the wearing of face coverings, please note this may be mandatory in communal areas and corridors;
  • A buffet lunch will be provided along with refreshments throughout the day;
  • There is no parking on site for attendees - please see separate info re local parking;
  • Booking via website booking form only;
  • Our cancellation charges have been amended to make allowances for Covid, as follows:
    • less than one calendar month – 50% charge
    • less than 10 working days – 100% charge
    • less than 10 working days, but cancellation due to Covid (illness or self- isolating) - no charge, but evidence of Covid isolation/illness will be required
    • We reserve the right to cancel a conference, in which case full refund will be made.

 

New to Early Years

By Donna Harwood-Duffy
£125.00 per course per person
Thursday, October 7, 2021 - 9:00am to 3:30pm
Dorking Nursery School

Partnership with Early Excellence

 

We are delighted to be working in partnership with Early Excellence to offer a series of practical and informative workshops.

Courses and Events for Early Years' Practitioners

 

Cancellation charges:

  • Cancellation notice period charges:
    • Over 4 weeks – full refund
    • Between 10 working days and 4 weeks – 50% refund
    • Less than 10 working days – no refund
  • We reserve the right to cancel a conference, in which case full refund will be made