POD-CACHE

In this episode, James Lane, the Digital Sector Manager at NCFE, and Dr Gray Mytton, from the NCFE Innovation Team, discuss the evolving role of artificial intelligence within education and its broader implications. Join the team as they discuss how AI, particularly generative AI, is currently being used by colleagues, and the wider education sector, primarily for routine tasks and as a creative brainstorming tool. The conversation touches on the ethical considerations of AI, including security concerns and bias in AI training data.  James and Gray also explore the potential future of AI in assessments, emphasising the importance of changing assessment models to integrate AI ethically and effectively. The discussion concludes with insights into NCFE's innovative projects, including a generative AI exam builder and efforts to develop locally hosted large language models, presenting a forward-thinking approach to AI in education. 00:00 Introduction to AI at NCFE 01:50 Conversational AI and its applications 05:53 Exploring free AI tools and their evolution 07:37 Prompt engineering and AI tool comparisons 09:39 Ethical considerations in AI usage 16:19 AI in exam and assessment creation 21:27 Generating and using AI data sets 24:26 Security concerns and open source LLMs 26:31 Exploring user interfaces for local LLMs 28:01 Creating an internal document library 29:34 DIY vs. buying AI solutions 33:33 Training data and quality control 36:45 Using AI in exams and assessments: challenges and opportunities 42:11 Future of AI in Education 47:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts New here? You've joined us in season 6 and, if you've enjoyed this conversation, you might want to visit our episode feed and subscribe to POD-CACHE for more. New episodes are published once a fortnight and there are lots of great conversations to catch up on.  Want to hear more from this week's guests? You can find information about the Assessment Innovation Fund, discussed during the episode, on the NCFE website, and can read the OU Research report on developing robust assessments using generative AI. In addition, you might want to join Gray for this useful recorded session which explores current AI writing detectors, showing why their accuracy measures are hard to understand, the tools available to disguise AI outputs, and practical suggestions for the use of AI writing detectors in education. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,000+ members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

Join us this week as we chat to Dr Kathryn Murray, founder of Future Strong Education and creator of the Brain-SET Environments Formula. In the episode, Kathryn shares how her personal experiences, combined with her research into brain development, led to the creation of the Brain-SET formula, which focuses on designing educational environments that make children feel safe and secure. Reflecting on the principle that "a calm brain is a thinking brain", we explore how these feelings of safety directly impact brain functions like memory, communication, and decision making, and how simple adjustments, such as arranging furniture or creating small, defined spaces can enhance children's learning and wellbeing. We also discuss the adaptability of the Brain-SET formula for children of all ages and how it translates to settings outside of the classroom.  We'll be back with our final episode of the season on 4 September.    Chapters 0:00- Intro 2:30-Kathryn’s interest in brain development and how Brain-SET was born 7:50-What is Brain-SET, how does it work? 15:35-Ad break 16:32-The child’s journey as they move across the classroom environment 21:45-How educators can start their journey with brain development and environment planning 24:05-The educator’s feedback on applying the Brain-SET formula 27:50-Starting with the small changes to avoid being overwhelmed 31:46-Ad break 32:05-How does the formula adapt to the needs of older children 37:47-Observing the success and trusting in your own skillset 41:45-How the Brain-SET formula translates to environments outside the classroom 44:30-The future of brain development 45:35-Final notes and signposting   New here? You've joined us in season 6 and, if you've enjoyed this conversation, you might want to visit our episode feed and subscribe to POD-CACHE for more. New episodes are published once a fortnight and there are lots of great conversations to catch up on.    Want to hear more from our guest? You can learn more about Kathryn and her work by visiting her websites:  https://futurestrongeducation.com/  https://brainsetformula.com/  You can also find Kathryn on her social media channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kathryn-murray-25299314/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurestrongeducation/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/futurestrongeducation  X/Twitter: https://x.com/DrKathryn4    If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,000+ members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.   

Join us this week as we chat to Cheryl Warren, an award-winning trainer and consultant from Aperion Training, specialising in neurodiversity in the early years.  In the episode, Cheryl discusses her career journey and personal mission, sharing how her lived experience has shaped her professional approach. As a parent, Cheryl offers valuable insights into supporting neurodivergent children and their families, understanding the pressures they face.   As an educator, Cheryl understands the importance of applying a neuroaffirming lens in practice, recognising that each child's needs are unique and embracing their differences. She emphasises the role of the curious educator, seeking to understand the 'why' behind every action, and having a strength-based approach that focuses on what children CAN do.  We also explore the strategies for creating inclusive and supportive environments, including conducting environmental audits that address sensory distractions and sensitivities, and encouraging movement. We'll be back with a whole new episode on 21 August.  Chapters 0:00- Introduction to Cheryl and her career journey 4:35- Cheryl’s personal mission and experience with neurodivergence 7:57- Understanding different individuals’ needs and that it is a spectrum 13:50- How families and educational settings recognise the signs 18:20- Ad break 18:40- How Cheryl’s lived experience informs her professional approach   20:35- Supporting families to navigate a world that doesn’t understand neurodivergence 24:50- Understanding that ALL brains are different 28:05- What is the neuroaffirming lens and why is it important to use it in practice 31:40- Being the curious educator and looking for the ‘why’ 32:40- Letting children be their true authentic selves whilst also providing support 36:16- Practical ways of creating inclusive spaces for all children 40:46- Ad break 41:44- The sensory distractions in the environment and sensory sensitivities 44:55- What motivated Cheryl to start Aperion Training 47:05- Feedback from training 49:20- Making the environment better for everyone 51:48- Advice to anyone starting their career in education and final notes   New here? You've joined us in season 6 and, if you've enjoyed this conversation, you might want to visit our episode feed and subscribe to POD-CACHE for more. New episodes are published once a fortnight and there are lots of great conversations to catch up on.    Want to hear more from our guest? You can learn more about Cheryl and her work by visiting her website: https://www.aperiontraining.co.uk/  You can check out Cheryl's podcast 'Not Your Typical Podcast' here:  https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cheryl-warren7  You can also find Cheryl on her social media channels: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-warren-aperion-training-11568b11b/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aperion_training/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077734505075  X/Twitter: https://x.com/cherylJ_warren    If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,000+ members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

Join us this week as we chat to Jane Maria Harding da Rosa from Enriching ELT about English language learning and teaching. During our conversation, we learn about Jane's fascinating journey from mime and dance to her career in language education. Jane shares her research aimed at making language learning more memorable and engaging with rhythm, chanting and games and explains the nuances of teaching different groups of learners. We also discuss the crucial role of CPD and how Jane's work is supporting EAL teachers to foster their pupils' full potential. We'll be back with a whole new episode on 7 August.    Chapters 0:00- Introduction and career journey 5:05- How teaching in Portugal shaped Jane’s approach to teaching language 7:30- Jane’s research into rhythm and intonation 8:40- Having fun with language learning regardless of age 10:20- Ad break 11:15- Teaching English to native speakers vs. as an additional language 13:25- Referencing your first language to learn a second language 16:45- How past experiences and reason for learning affects language learning 18:42- Importance of other forms of communication 19:45- Teaching teachers vs. traditional students 22:30- How Jane’s EAL course differs to other formal qualifications 25:00- Mini ad break 25:20- How to encourage people to engage in CPD and continue learning 26:23- Triple M framework that inspired Jane’s work 30:38- Mime, dance and language 32:33- Advice for anyone entering a career in teaching language 33:50- Jane’s passion for language learning and signposting   New here? You've joined us in season 6 and, if you've enjoyed this conversation, you might want to visit our episode feed and subscribe to POD-CACHE for more. New episodes are published once a fortnight and there are lots of great conversations to catch up on.    Want to hear more from our guest? Jane will be hosting a 90 minute masterclass for CACHE Alumni on 12 September 2024.  Buy your tickets, or register for your free CACHE Alumni Plus space in the CACHE Alumni Plus Portal; https://cache.learnupon.com/store/3989077-bridging-language-barriers-introduction-to-english-language-teaching-elt-90-mins-jane-maria-harding-da-rosa You can also learn more about Jane and her work by visiting her website: https://enriching-elt.com You can also find Jane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-maria-harding-da-rosa/    If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,000+ members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.   

Join us this week as Dean Blewitt, NCFE's Senior Innovation and Investments Manager, chats to Charlotte Jones, Operations and Project Manager from the Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network (GMLPN) and Seamus Mannion, Chief Operating Officer of Digital Advantage. In the episode, Charlotte and Seamus discuss their organisations' work on the Inclusive Pathways Autism Support Project, which provides tailored support to help autistic individuals navigate vocational pathways and secure employment. Charlotte emphasises the project's approach of complementing existing services rather than duplicating them, collaborating with stakeholders like the DfE and National Autistic Society to bridge the gap between education and employment. Seamus shares inspiring success stories, illustrating how their flexible learning environments and innovative approaches have overcome systemic challenges, providing meaningful career opportunities for the people that they work with.  We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 24 July.  Chapters 0:00 - Introduction  3:05 - Primary objectives of the project  5:35 - Seamus' role in the project  8:05 - Challenges/barriers encountered in the project  10:08 - What contributes to the challenges   13:20 - Ad break  14:20 - Overcoming obstacles, navigating different individuals' needs and success stories  21:30 - Highlights of the project and complementing existing services  24:25 - Best practice toolkits and how they were developed  27:37 - Ad break   28:35 - Best practice tips from Seamus  31:55 - Future plans for the project  32:55 - What needs to change in the system  35:23 - Follow up from discussion  New here? You've joined us in season 6 and, if you've enjoyed this conversation, you might want to visit our episode feed and subscribe to POD-CACHE for more. New episodes are published once a fortnight and there are lots of great conversations to catch up on.  Want to hear more from our guests? Find GMLPN's best practice toolkits on the 'inclusive Practice' pages of the CACHE Alumni website; Inclusive Practice - Autism Support You can also find the Inclusive Practice CPD training course on the CACHE Alumni Plus member portal, free for everyone. And, as mentioned by Seamus, the Get Autism campaign website has links to everything else that you might need.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,000+ members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.   

Join us for this throwback episode of POD-CACHE and re-listen to Dr Diane Boyd on sustainability in education and childhood development.    We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 10 July.  00:00 What's Coming Up? 00:36 Introducing Diane Boyd 01:00 Sustainable education and development 14:39 Taking it into practice 25:35 Environmental awareness and skill building 31:02 CACHE Alumni 31:23 Empowering children to learn 21:35 Getting Down To Business 36:54 Connect with Diane Dr Diane Boyd is a Senior Lecturer in Early Years at Liverpool John Moores University. With a focus on making sustainable practice work, Diane and her team have developed a framework for sustainable working in childcare. This podcast interview is chock full of top tips and great ways to navigate the cost, time and development pitfalls of sustainable practice. We also touch on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they can be seamlessly woven into early years education. From fostering empathy and inclusion to promoting environmental awareness, Diane shows us that it's all interconnected. She gives practical tips on how practitioners can start small and build children's natural curiosity and observations. If you're a parent, teacher, or just someone passionate about making a difference, this episode is a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration. Diane's approach is all about collaboration, innovation, and making learning a joyful, impactful experience for learners and practitioners!  If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,500+ members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.  Want more on this topic?  Visit the CACHE Alumni Plus portal to sign up for access to our Sustainability for Practitioners best practice event or focus in on the financials with our event recording sharing tips on working together to navigate rising costs.     

Join us this week as we chat to Claudio Sisera from Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs  In the episode, we discuss equality in early years employment and explore the challenges and opportunities for men working in early years and childcare roles.   We also discuss gender inclusivity at work and the possible reasons that we still see such disparity in the numbers of men entering the early years workforce, with Froebel Trust estimating that there are fewer than 2% of the early years workforce who identify as male, and that that number is currently in decline. What can we do about it?  Claudio has some ideas, and talks us through how Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs are working to make meaningful change.  Come in and join us as we explore the possible solutions and try to better understand how we can help.  We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 26 June.  Chapters (00:00) Introduction and Claudio's career journey in Early Years and childcare (03:27) Gender stereotypes and prejudices at work (7:32) Challenges experienced by male practitioners in settings (11:56) Opportunities for male practitioners in Early Years (14:43) The importance of community and partnership (17:24) Empowering Men in Early Years: Male Child Care and Teaching Jobs (22:07) The Future of Early Years Education: A Vision for Inclusivity (29:47) Final thoughts - thank you for joining us Want to hear more? Find Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs (as well as lots of resources) on their website; https://malechildcareandteachingjobs.co.uk/ You can also find Claudio / Male Childcare and Teaching Jobs on social media:  X (formerly Twitter): @MaleChildcare Facebook: MaleChildcareAndTeachingJobs Instagram: @malechildcareandteachingjobs LinkedIn: /male-childcare-and-teaching-jobs LinkedIn: Claudio Sisera  If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,000+ members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

Join us this week as we chat to Sass Boucher and Kate Collier from SelfCare Psychology, an organisation dedicated to providing support for practitioners at risk of professional trauma and fatigue.  In the episode, we explore the complex challenges faced by those working in care through the lens of SelfCare's 'Umbrella of Professional Trauma and Fatigue', and we examine the strategies for mitigating these issues by following their 'Five Pillars of Protection' framework. We also discuss how to recognise the signs of professional trauma, practical tips for prioritising personal wellbeing, how we can contribute to creating a supportive working environment and much more... We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 12 June.  Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Sass and Kate of SelfCare Psychology (01:30) How SelfCare Psychology came about (05:55) The correlation between burnout and motivation to support others (09:45) The umbrella of Professional Trauma and Fatigue (Stress, Compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, Burnout) (16:30) Ad break (17:30) What are the Five Pillars of Protection? (Awareness, Supervision, Peer support, Trauma informed, Self-care) (18:50) How to spot the signs of Professional Trauma and Fatigue within ourselves and our colleagues (21:50) Becoming more comfortable with taking care of your own wellbeing (25:10) Moving away from 'I'm just doing my job'  (26:35) Influencing the work culture for better employee wellbeing (33:20) Ad break (34:15) Tips for self-care that can be applied in even the busiest of schedules (41:30) Feedback from the pillars framework being implemented (44:55) Dispelling myths and misconceptions about self-care and burnout (49:05) Recognising stress (51:50) How resilience has become commercialised  (53:58) Final notes and goodbye   Want to hear more? SelfCare Psychology Website: www.selfcarepsychology.com You can also find SelfCare Psychology on social media:  X (formerly Twitter): @SelfCarePsy Facebook/Instagram: @selfcarepsychology LinkedIn: /selfcare-psychology If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,000+ members from across care, health, early years and education. Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

Join us this week as we chat to Dr Shelly Newstead, practitioner, trainer, author, editor, publisher and researcher with over 30 years of experience in the playwork field, and the creator of the PARS model of playwork practice.  In the episode, we chat about what PARS is, how it was developed and how pracitioners can start their journey with PARS. We also discuss the importance of creating a relaxed play environment, how practitioners can navigate boundaries and freedom in play, and much more... We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 29 May.  Chapters (0:00-01:35) Introduction to Shelly (01:35-4:00) What is the PARS model? (4:00-6:40) What made Shelly passionate about PARS (6:40-10:05) Why it's important for children to play without adult intervention  (10:05-17:27) Navigating boundaries vs. stepping back when adapting PARS (17:27-18:24) Ad break (18:24-22:12) Deciding if PARS is for you with level 1-4 PARS courses (22:12-25:50) The crossover and differences between PARS and other approaches to play (25:50-31:48) Measuring the approach's success (31:48-34:20) Playwork Mirror Theory and creating a relaxed environment  (34:20-40:05) Building in more freedom into your practice - reflexive practice and necessary 'adulteration'  (40:05-44:25) Wearing different hats when navigating the PARS model and family life (44:25-45:35) Ad break (45:35-50:12) Putting on a PARS hat on when dealing with other adults (50:12-54:00) Managing differing opinions on approaches and challenges to the PARS method (54:00-57:45) Why the model translates so well to different settings globally (57:45-59:05) Final notes and goodbye   Want to hear more about PARS? Website:  https://www.parsplaywork.com/ More support and publications: https://www.commonthreads.org.uk If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,000+ members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

Join us for this episode about navigating the food landscape, the relationship between food and wellbeing, and the importance of nutrition in the early years. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 15 May.  Louise Mercieca, a nutritional therapist and early years nutrition consultant, emphasises the intricate relationship between food and our overall wellbeing. Moving beyond simply labelling food as 'good' or 'bad', she urges a focus on how different foods affect us. Highlighting the critical impact of early years nutrition on children's long-term health, she stresses the value of educating children about the connection between food and health and engaging them in projects such as allotments and community farms. Louise also addresses the influence of the food industry and the importance of taking ownership over our food choices.  Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Overview 03:04 The Impact of Food on Performance and Health Outcomes 08:32 Challenges in the Current Food Landscape 13:54 The Food Industry 16:01 Access to Healthy Food in the Cost of Living Crisis 21:04 Educating and Shifting Mindsets for Better Nutrition 23:15 Distinguishing Real Food from Ultra-Processed Foods 25:08 Going Back to Basics: Colour and Natural Ingredients 25:37 The Importance of Protein for Feeling Full and Satisfied 26:34 Challenges Faced by Shift Workers and the Role of Planning 28:40 Educating Children about Food and Health 39:24 Re-Engaging Children with Food through Allotment and Gardening Projects   Want to hear more from Louise? Website: https://www.thehealthkick.co.uk/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisemercieca/ If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.   

Join us for this episode about positive parenting, making changes and setting boundaries in challenging environments. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 1 May.  In this episode we meet with Kathy Bowers to talk about parenting, communication and relationship improvement work.  Kathy discusses her experience in social care and family support work, highlighting the importance of experience, knowledge, and training in dealing with challenging cases. She emphasises the value of being open and learning from families, as well as asking questions to understand their situations better. Kathy has worked as a nursery nurse, family support worker, and practitioner in children's settings. She has worked directly with families, including teenagers, to improve their relationships and create harmony. Kathy also discusses the challenges of parenting, including the need for consistency, setting boundaries, and managing emotions. She encourages parents not to compare themselves to others and to learn from their mistakes. Want to hear more from Kathy? Website: https://www.life-change-coaching.co.uk/about-kathy If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 25,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

In this episode we meet with Dr Helen Bilton, Author and Professor of Outdoor Learning and Play, to talk about recapturing the lost value of play and independent problem-solving, as well as how different early years settings can support outdoor learning. We also touch on the courses Helen has written for FutureLearn on Supporting Successful Learning in Primary Schools and in Secondary Schools, which explore how we can teach children to navigate risk and how we can reflect upon our own attitudes and perceptions of the outdoors.   Want to hear more from Helen? Website: https://www.drhelenbilton.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/drhelenbilton FutureLearn Courses: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/supporting-learning-primary  https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/supporting-learning-secondary    Want to skip ahead? PART 1: (0:00-03:15) Introduction to Helen: how her love of outdoor play developed and her book writing journey (03:15-05:35) What makes ‘outdoor play’ magical and the ‘can-do’ environment (05:35-09:38) The battle of evidencing outdoor play’s benefits and bias associated with it (09:38-11:15) How the modern world doesn’t prepare us for the outdoors and our fear of losing comfort (11:15-12:48) How settings can navigate children’s preparedness for the outdoors (12:48-17:35) Families’ anxiety of children being ‘on show’, the need to re-think education and language associated with the outdoors (17:35-20:54) How technology has affected outdoor education & the importance of being ‘present’ outdoors [CACHE Alumni ad break] PART 2: (21:14-26:40) How settings without access to an outdoor space can support outdoor learning (26:40-32:50) FutureLearn courses on ‘supporting successful learning in primary and secondary schools’ - reflecting on our own attitudes & teaching children to navigate ‘risk’ (32:50-36:45) Challenging own viewpoints and recognising cultural differences in perceptions of ‘outdoor learning’ PART 3: (36:45-47:00) The lost value of outdoor play and problem-solving, and modern conveniences (47:00-52:00) Wellbeing and resilience (52:00-57:08) Tips on how to easily create an outdoor space and final notes   --------------------- Don't forget that you can watch this episode on our website, as well as other video-versions of our previous episodes.  --------------------- You can find our podcast on numerous different platforms, including PodBean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, YouTube, and more.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

Welcome to the latest episode of POD-CACHE, the award-winning professional development podcast from CACHE Alumni. Join us for this fascinating conversation with Bethan Harding MBE, a seasoned education professional working to pioneer the 'Winning With Numbers' teaching platform. In this episode, Bethan shares her professional journey and brings real-world insights from her experiences in various school systems, including the US, and discusses her instrumental role in establishing teaching hubs and support. We explore Bethan’s dedicated efforts towards the development and support of tools for number fluency and the episode covers in-depth discussions on 'Winning With Numbers'. Designed to revolutionise primary maths education, this platform provides a comprehensive array of resources for teachers, parents, and students with the objective of making maths simple yet engaging. Bethan highlights the necessity of fostering a strong foundation in education and instilling fluency and confidence in subjects from an early age. Find Winning With Numbers on their website at https://www.wwnumbers.com/ or on their social media pages; Twitter: https://twitter.com/_WWNumbers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wwnumbers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_wwnumbers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-harding-a84b682a/ If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

Join us as we meet with Yasmin Mukadam and learn about Mindfulness in Early Years.  Find out more about the conversation below, and subscribe for more interesting conversations in care, health, early years and education. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 7 February.   00:00 Introduction and Background 01:14 Importance of Mindfulness 05:03 Mindfulness in Early Childhood 06:37 Mindfulness for Practitioners 07:00 Mindfulness in Early Years Settings 14:58 Connection Between Mindfulness and Yoga 19:30 Mindfulness in Transitions and Circle Time 21:27 Making Yoga and Mindfulness Accessible 23:49 Mindfulness during Commute 26:49 Journaling and Reflective Practice 29:44 Benefits of Mindfulness in Early Years 31:58 Practical Tips for Implementing Mindfulness 34:36 Importance of Wellbeing Policies 38:49 Promoting Mindfulness in Early Years 41:50 Book Recommendation and Conclusion   Summary In this conversation, Yasmin Mukadam discusses the importance of mindfulness in early years education. She explains that mindfulness is about being in the present moment with awareness and without judgment. Yasmin emphasizes the benefits of mindfulness for both practitioners and children, including improved focus, reduced stress and anxiety, and enhanced social and emotional learning. She suggests practical ways to introduce mindfulness into early years settings, such as mindful walks, breathing exercises, and journaling. Yasmin also highlights the connection between mindfulness and yoga, and the positive impact of mindfulness on transitions and circle time. She concludes by recommending her book, 'Mindfulness in Early Years,' as a resource for implementing mindfulness practices in early years education. In this conversation, we explore the importance of mental health and discuss common mental health issues, stigma, support and resources, and self-care and coping strategies. The conversation emphasises the need to prioritise mental health and provides valuable insights and resources for individuals facing mental health challenges. Takeaways Mindfulness is about being in the present moment with awareness and without judgement. Practising mindfulness can improve focus, reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance social and emotional learning. Mindfulness can be introduced in early years settings through activities such as mindful walks, breathing exercises, and journaling. There is a connection between mindfulness and yoga, and both can be beneficial for practitioners and children. Promoting mindfulness in early years education can support children's overall wellbeing and help them develop self-regulation skills. Mental health is as important as physical health and should be prioritised. Common mental health issues include anxiety, depression, and stress. Stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental health can prevent individuals from seeking help. There are various support systems and resources available for individuals facing mental health challenges. Self-care and coping strategies play a crucial role in maintaining mental well-being. Find Mindfulness in Early Years on the Routledge website here; https://ww.routledge.com/Mindfulness-in-Early-Years-Strategies-and-Approaches-to-Nurturing-Young/Mukadam/p/book/9780367142087 or via Amazon here; Mindfulness in Early Years: Strategies and Approaches to Nurturing Young Minds: Amazon.co.uk: Mukadam, Yasmin: 9780367142087: Books If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

Join us as we learn about behaviour as communication in care with Victoria Bartle.  Find out more about the conversation below, and subscribe for more interesting conversations in care, health, early years and education. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 7 February. This journey into Victoria's day-to-day provides a comprehensive insight into understanding and interpreting the delicate balance in care-receiving and care-giving situations. From tackling discrimination at work to understanding the vital role of non-verbal communication in care settings, Victoria's journey helps us to understand our impact in the professional, social, and personal sphere. Uncover the physical and emotional issues surrounding people's experiences of disability as Victoria covers the holistic impact of her everyday hurdles. Learn from her experiences dealing with the complexities of the healthcare and social systems to explore a fresh perspective on the emotional backdrop and behaviours exhibited by people receiving care to help build effective care strategies rooted in humanity and empathy. As Victoria shares the raw reality of balancing her desire for control and the necessity to rely on others, she offers precious insights for carers to enhance their technique, forming a beneficial relationship based on clear boundaries, mutual respect, and good communication. Listen in and gain a deeper understanding of the need for excellent communication skills and self-awareness in care-giving encounters. Want to hear more from Victoria? Find her on the CACHE Alumni website, her LinkedIn page, via her work with Newcastle University or on her website.  If you'd like to see this podcast as a live video, you can see Victoria and her slides on the (members only) events and video learning page of the CACHE Alumni website, alongside lots of other great CPD.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

Join us as we meet with Lucy Norris and learn about the Wizzybug.  Find out more about the conversation below, and subscribe for more interesting conversations in care, health, early years and education. We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 24 January.    00:00 Introduction 00:46 Introducing Lucy Norris and Designability 01:18 What is Wizzybug?  02:46 Age Range for Wizzybug 04:33 Importance of Independent Movement 06:28 Benefits of Wizzybug for Children and Families 08:43 Developmental Milestones and Agency 09:56 Equal Footing with Peers 10:18 Why is Support with Powered Mobility not Widely Available in Early Years? 12:07 Motor Skills and Spatial Awareness 13:32 Story of a Child's Experience with Wizzybug 14:05 Transitioning to Powered Mobility 16:19 Developmental Benefits of Early Mobility 19:38 Loan Scheme and Loan Extension 20:36 Removing Barriers to Applying for support 23:46 Empowerment and Transitioning to Mobility Aids 26:50 Multimodal Mobility and Range of Equipment 28:16 Transitioning to Powered Mobility as an Adult 33:15 How to refer parents to Wizzybug 37:46 Measuring and Setting Up Wizzybugs 42:56 Funding and Support for Wizzybugs 45:22 When Wizzybug is Not Suitable 45:55 Thank You - More Help from CACHE Alumni   Summary Lucy Norris, Partnerships and Engagement Officer for the charity Designability, discusses the Wizzybug, a small powered wheelchair designed for young children with mobility challenges. The Wizzybug enables children to move independently and participate more fully in social activities. In this episode, Lucy and Dawn talk about the importance of independent movement for child development and the benefits of early mobility. Lucy also addresses the current barriers to accessing mobility equipment and talks about the loan scheme provided by Designability.   Takeaways The Wizzybug is a small powered wheelchair designed for young children with mobility challenges, enabling them to move independently and participate more fully in social activities. Independent movement is crucial for child development, unlocking potential in areas such as language skills, spatial awareness, and self-identity. The Wizzybug loan scheme provides free access to the equipment, with families borrowing it for as long as their child needs it.   Find Wizzybug on the Designability website here; https://designability.org.uk/assistive-solutions/wizzybug/ Or on their social media pages; Instagram Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme. 

Join us for this throwback episode of POD-CACHE and re-listen to Dr Helen Williams' wisdom on making maths playful.   We'll be back with a whole new episode on Wednesday 10 January.  0:00 Introduction to Dr Helen J Williams and her journey with maths 2:30 Moving from a dislike to a love of maths 4:50 Maths' evolution since the 80s and use of manipulatives in maths teaching 7:42 The challenges of applying more practical approaches  9:20 Challenging perceptions of being good vs. bad at maths and how taking risks translates into development  11:50 Problem-solving and Pirate's Gold problem 14:45 Break 15:00 How practitioners can recapture the joy of maths  18:40 Resources available for teaching maths  20:40 Shape and space (geometry) and recalling vs. applying knowledge 27:18 Progress in understanding how primary school children learn maths  30:20 What is subitising and what activities can help children develop the skill 33:00 Helen talks about her book 'Playful Mathematics: For Children 3 to 7' and final notes Dawn's been leaning into the magic of Christmas, reading The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus, and can't help thinking back to this magical conversation with Dr Helen Williams about making maths more playful.  Join us as we listen back to this popular episode from Season 4 of POD-CACHE and take some time to look through our catalogue on your favourite podcast platform.   Are there other gems that you've missed?  Dr Helen J Williams is the author of the award-winning 'Playful Mathematics: For Children 3 to 7', who shares her journey towards becoming passionate about mathematics and her mission to change perceptions of maths as a dry and uninteresting subject. Dr. Williams also provides practical recommendations for educators and families on how to make maths lessons more fun and engaging for young children. You can hear more from Helen on her twitter @helenjwc  Links mentioned in podcast: British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics - https://bsrlm.org.uk/ Association of Teachers of Mathematics - https://www.atm.org.uk/  Early Childhood Mathematics Group - https://earlymaths.org/  NRICH Maths Resources - https://nrich.maths.org/  Helen's Book - Playful Mathematics: For Children 3 to 7  If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.   

00:00 Introduction - Welcome to POD-CACHE, the portable professional development podcast from CACHE Alumni 00:48 Fey Cole - An introduction to Fey 02:24 Why intergenerational practice? Fey explains how she first got involved with bringing intergenerational learning to an educational setting 03:50 Making the project student-led and establishing an intergenerational café 04:50 Embedding existing learning aims and outcomes into the project delivery 06:00 The impact of lockdown on intergenerational learning and the café group 07:09 Intergenerational Practice in Schools and Settings - Fey's book proposal 08:53 The benefits of intergenerational care - Collaborating with Health and Social Care teams and the community 10:35 Engaging partners and participants in intergenerational projects 13:10 Why write a book?  Fey talks about her own career progression and enjoyment of writing and journaling for reflection 15:35 Intergenerational learning means intergenerational support - our own experiences support those around us and we can learn from those we teach 16:43 POD-CACHE 17:06 Project-based learning - finding structure to support our curiosity 18:21 Community learning - advocating for our project and acting on feedback 19:27 The community online - growing your own personal learning network and building your community 21:50 Using Facebook as a teaching tool - Fey wins an award for her use of social media in education 24:00 How do you manage it all? Fitting passion projects around work and life 26:20 Staying accountable to your audience and to yourself to avoid overwhelm and manage self-care 28:42 Saying yes more: making time to enjoy life 29:55 Setting priorities, understanding your values and deciding what to say no to 32.20 Play is important for everyone - Why we should get grown ups involved in play for creativity, problem solving and wellbeing 34:20 What did Fey learn through the intergenerational learning project? Taking a step back and learning about community together 36:55 What’s the worst that could happen? - Developing confidence and empowering learners, the wider community and yourself 39:00 Start your own intergenerational learning project - the many benefits of our café for learners and how to find support 40:15 Thanks for listening! Fey Cole is an Early Years lecturer, and a Teaching and Learning Advisor for the Confucius Hub, which allows her to support teachers who come to work and share practice in the UK from China. Her book, Intergenerational Practice in Schools and Settings provides guidance through the many approaches in education that bring generations together. Join Dawn as she chats to Fey about inter-generational learning, project-based learning and engaging students and the community in learning, practice and play.   Want more?  Find articles about animals in education and care setting written by Fey Cole in CACHE Alumni's quarterly member magazine, Aluminate, or listen to another episode of POD-CACHE as we talk reflection with Annie Pendrey. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues or take time to click like, subscribe and leave us a review to help us grow. Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000+ members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to a host of member benefits, including our quarterly member magazine, Aluminate. 

(00:00) Introduction - Welcome to POD-CACHE, the portable professional development podcast from CACHE Alumni (00:48) Jenny Phillips - An introduction to Jenny (02:52) They say never to work with children or animals... Jenny's dream job (04:52) A love of animals - Bringing animals into the classroom (05:28) George the Cat - The teaching power of animals (06:46) Making the unpredictable understandable - The process behind introducing children to animals and animal therapy.  (11:18) We are nature - Jenny's relationship with animals, professional curiosity and the theory behind farm and animal therapy.  (12:57) The micropig experience - Working with teacup pigs and other animals to help children to develop relationships, provide therapeutic intervention in hospitals and experience the 'humanity' of animals.  (16:32) Purring chickens - The physiological impact of animal interactions on mental and emotional health (17:40) Who says you can't cuddle a snake? - Book recommendations from Jenny and signposting to other resources supporting farm therapy (19:00) CACHE Alumni signposting (19:16) Risk assessing animal interactions - Finding the way through controlled exploration (22:05) Never work with children or animals - Exploring Jenny's passion for animals and education (24:55) Jenny's advice on finding (or inventing) your own career path through academic research and study (27:32) Find your passion and unlock your real potential - Mixing and matching career paths to make a perfect career. (30:00) Overcoming objections and articulating ideas - Jenny explains how she draws her own boundaries and factors in health and safety and costings to her planning (34:27) 'No' is not the end.  It's a starting point for conversation - Practising professional conversations to construct an argument or business case (37:24) Jenny's dreams for the future   'Don't let anyone tell you that you can't… you might get there a bit slower, but you'll get where you need to be' - Jenny Phillips is a highly qualified early years and education professional with lots of experience of working with animals to provide the best possible care and support.     Join Dawn as she talks to Jenny about the way that animal and human care intersects, Jenny's passion for care farming and shaping her own career to fulfil her dreams.     Want more?  Find articles about animals in education and care setting written by Jenny Phillips in CACHE Alumni's quarterly member magazine, Aluminate, or listen to another episode of POD-CACHE with Dr Helen Bilton, Professor of Outdoor Learning and Play.    If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.   

00:00 Introduction - Welcome to POD-CACHE, the portable professional development podcast from CACHE Alumni 00:50 Alix Robertson - Alix introduces herself and the Centre for Education and Youth 01:18 Sarah introduces herself and Big Education 02:08 Meet PEPA - What is the Primary Extended Project Award? 04:30 Project-based learning 05:24 Choosing a project - Collaboration, theme setting and helping children to find their interests 06:53 Flexibility by design - Creating opportunities to signpost to learning that excites and engages little learners  08:22 Looking beyond the curriculum and making links with life - The role of the expert 11:27 It's not all about the project outcome - Finding links back to the curriculum, evidencing soft skills and career pathways 14:32 Research, teaching and assessment - Friendly but rigorous 15:00 It's OK not to be good at things, but to enjoy them anyway 15:52 Accessible by design - The PEPA is for everyone 16:42 Empowering young people - the value of guiding your own learning, shaping your own skill-set and owning your own future 18:35 CACHE Alumni 18:52 Non-linear learning and trying new things - Feeling safe in exploration 20:34 PEPA is a commitment - Successfully embedding the PEPA into schools 23:08 Support materials and delivery support for streamlining implementation 24:24 How did the PEPA project begin? Teachers coming together to solve challenges and jump into opportunities to benefit primary students 27:20 The benefits of the EYFS in holistic education - Enabling enquiry and project based learning throughout education 31:00 Find out more about PEPA, get in touch and get involved in the project 32:47 Thank you and signposting   The Primary Extended Project Award (PEPA), developed by The Centre for Education and Youth (CfEY) and multi-academy trust Big Education, will give pupils the chance to be more creative and take control of their own learning.   Created with support from the educational charity and leader in technical and vocational learning NCFE through its Assessment Innovation Fund, the PEPA aims to address specific problems in the ways primary pupils are currently assessed.   Join Dawn as she talks to Alix Robertson and Sarah Seleznyov from the PEPA Project and find out more about how they've been able to challenge the overemphasis on summative assessment that’s linked to school performance measures.  CfEY and Big Education are now looking to prototype elements of the PEPA programme with a small number of year six pupils ahead of a large-scale impact pilot. You can discover more about the pilot project and read the final report here.  If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your colleagues and remember to like, subscribe and leave us a review.  Visit cachealumni.org.uk to join 24,000 members from across care, health, early years and education.  Membership starts at free, and you'll gain access to our member magazine, events, resources and a member discount and benefits scheme.