Fostering children's agency and independence

Putting children first in the context of the standards agenda

This timely and inspirational early years and primary phase conference refocuses our attention on the children - their voices, their learning and their achievements. Whilst recognising the pressure of ‘school readiness’ and the accountability agenda, we will foreground the child at the heart of the curriculum and explore ways to listen to and learn from their interests, document their developing competencies and foster their agency. Drawing on recent OU classroom research, the day will offer new ideas and challenges and will highlight the significance of exploration, conversation and observation in putting learners first and nurturing children’s independence.

We are delighted the author and illustrator Sophy Henn will be joining us! Her first book Where Bear? was nominated for both the Kate Greenaway Medal and shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize (2015). Pom Pom Gets the Grumps won Junior Design Awards Best Book of the Year (2015), and in the same year Sophy won Best Emerging Talent. She was also spokesperson for Save the Children’s Read On, Get On campaign and the World Book Day Illustrator (2015 and 2016).

Target audience:

Practitioners working with children aged 3-11 years from nursery and school settings, advisers/lecturers.
 

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