Get Started
Explore Popular Topics
From the knowledge hub
  • Podcast
    The Episode All About Urban vs Rural Upbringings

    Oct 02, 2024 • 39 min read

    In this episode of the Little Minds Big Ideas podcast with the Early Years Network, hosts Emily and Ben discuss the differences between rural and urban upbringings. They explore various aspects such as education, community, healthcare, independence, and more, while sharing their personal experiences.

  • Podcast
    Dear Diary: How the outside world perceives early years

    Sept 30, 2024 • 20 min read

    In this episode of 'Diary of an Early Years Educator,' Emily reflects on her week and discusses an important issue prompted by a recent education conference she attended. Emily shares her thoughts on professionalism in early years education, the importance of uniforms, and the unfortunate perception gap between early years educators and other education professionals.

Don't miss out

Discover and learn from over 120+ classes and courses

Join the waitlist Learn more
1739077382 bd11642babd1d6e4ee5ea8554c1486bf3e05bab037c259bf584648fbfd90fea0 d
Class

Early Years Education Foundations

  • Pedagogy & Theory
  • Ben Jones
  • 1 Hour
Sign up to start watching
1739077382 bd11642babd1d6e4ee5ea8554c1486bf3e05bab037c259bf584648fbfd90fea0 d
Skill Level

Unqualified Professionals

Duration

1 Hour

Resources

1 Files

Streaming Content

6 Videos

Description

Welcome to Waldorf Education and the theoretical teachings of Rudolf Steiner! Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy, believed that the early years and child development are crucial for a child’s future growth and success. He emphasised the importance of nurturing a child’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, and believed that a holistic approach to education was necessary. Steiner advocated for a child centred learning approach, where teachers need to understand each child’s needs, interests and abilities to provide an appropriate education. He believed that learning should be experiential, and children should learn through direct experience and experimentation, also emphasising the importance of practical and hands-on activities such as crafts, gardening and cooking to supplement academic learning. Within this class you'll deep dive into all these theoretical ideas and concepts, as well as, investigating some strategies and ideas that you can use to incorporate aspects of Steiner's ideas into your practice!

Skills you'll learn

Lesson Content

1. Understanding Waldorf Education

24:48

To begin this class you'll delve into the concept of holistic development, the role of the practitioner through the eyes of Rudolf Steiner, how he viewed the different stages of child development over time and the concept of free play and real work. Lesson 1 is a pivotal step in gaining a real grounding in the ideas and educational principals of Rudolf Steiner.

2. Daily Rhythms & Repetitions

09:59

This lesson is all about establishing daily ‘Rhythms and Repetition’ was an integral component of Steiner’s ideology as he believed it ‘protected the life forces of children’ by providing them with security and reassurance throughout the day. Your rhythms are the sequence or structure of your day or week, whereas your repetitions are certain events or routines that take place on a regular basis.

3. Developing 'The Heart' Through Positive Relationships

07:19

Holistic learning for Rudolf Steiner was all about developing 'the hands, the heart & the head' not just an amalgamation of educational outcomes in one activity. In this lesson you'll be exploring the idea of developing 'the heart' through positive relationships and healthy attachments, as well as, the benefits that come from these healthy connections.

4. The Steiner Environment

12:47

Creating aesthetically pleasing environments has become a huge trend across the Early Years community the past few years and this largely stems from the work of Steiner. Within this lesson you'll investigate why he emphasised the importance of creating environments that were homely and designed to be the opposite of a generic classroom and instead convey calm and relaxed spaces, enabling the children to settle faster and give their full concentrate to the task at hand.

5. Artistic Expression Within Early Years

07:05

This lesson is all about incorporating an important Waldorf Principle of artistic expression within your early years curriculum and everyday activities. Artistic expression can be anything from clay modelling, mud play or even poetry as oral expression, fantasy play and rich language was just as important to Steiner as having the freedom to create physical art.

6. Outro: Rudolf Steiner's Approach To Early Years Development

04:08

In this final lesson Ben discusses the benefits incorporating some of Rudolf Steiner's principles could have on your setting, as well as exploring ways in which his ideas still resinate a hundred years later within our modern world.

Meet your teacher

As an owner of multiple settings across the United Kingdom, I truly understand the difficult challenges our industry and the people within it face on a daily basis. Which is why I'm so resolute in providing change for our industry through a platform that offers meaningful and accessible learning, to not only improve practice and children's outcomes, but also to provide the incredible people within our community with a meaningful voice to share their work and passion.

'The Early Years Network is my bestfriend'

Without The Early Years Network I'm not sure how I would have completed my Level 3 in Early Years Education. The platform literally covers everything you need from all the theorists to the basics of safeguarding and understanding behaviour management! I'm so grateful the platform exists as I find it so much easier to learn via video rather than reading endless articles and reports. It's also really affordable compared to other courses I found on facebook!

Lauren McKinnon

Trainee (Now Qualified) Practitioner

Class FAQ'S

Are all the Network Classes included in my monthly price?

Regardless if you are a standard user or a corporate user, your membership grants you access to our entire collection of Network Classes so you can begin your educational journey with us today without any limitations.

Are there quizzes on the platform?

The Early Years Network is all about meaningful learning that will transform the way you interact with and educate young children, not attempting to fill your head with information for the sake of a quick superficial quiz.

Are videos available in different languages?

Unfortunately for the time being videos are only available in English, but maybe one day...

Can I access The Early Years Network if I don't have an early years qualification?

YES! Content on The Early Years Network has been created for people interested in early years regardless of age, experience or academic background. We have something for everyone whether you are a childminder, parent/carer or an early years professional.

Can I download the videos?

No, all videos are only accessible to stream online and require an internet connection in order to access the platform and watch the content.

Can I only access The Early Years Network on a computer?

Absolutely not, The Early Years Network has been optimised to be used on any device from your mobile phone to your tablet! Our flexible approach to learning embraces any and all types of device so you can learn anytime, anywhere!

Is The Early Network an accredited institution?

Whilst The Early Years Network is not an accredited body we do offer skill-based learning helping people transform knowledge and theory into meaningful change and improvement to their practice, environments and curriculum. Our Network Courses are created and hosted by leading experts within their academic fields, and upon completion of each course learners will be provided with a certificate to evidence their achievement.

Is there a minimum subscription time?

Of course not! You're free to cancel your membership whenever you like.

What is The Early Years Network?

We are a learning and development platform dedicated to the magical world of early years! We cover a wide range of topics, from child brain development to the importance of safeguarding and child wellbeing, through high-quality and immersive video content.

What subjects are covered on The Early Years Network?

We cover everything Early Years from ‘Cognitive Development Theories’, to the science behind play and even how to build the best rocket ship out of cardboard (you won't want to miss that video!). If you can think of a topic in early years we've probably got a video on it!

Join our network today

Be the first to know about the official launch of The Early Years Network.

Get started for free
Register interest 1

View Related Classes

1936051042 805712768627ee3b4745852f0960b09a5b2d1deef071d607ef131ed01207f56e d
Class
Group Time Strategies: Know Your Audience
  • Educational Development
  • Learning Through Play

  • Emily Macfarlane
  • 30 Mins

Join Emily on The Early Years Network as she shares five key strategies to enhance your group time sessions. These...
1922883327 c818229a2013208b89cb312aa1768b4a7074d8e0a10226b393fd661aac8ef9cd d
Class
Group Time - Supporting Each Other
  • Staff Development
  • Educational Development

  • Emily Macfarlane
  • 25 Mins

This class, 'Group Time - Supporting Each Other', is designed to help educators improve the quality and effectiveness of group...
1921215468 9350834ed260f3cb06e059d92fba54dbda770a1bc078dc7a336202357a9615ec d
Class
The Science Behind Behaviour
  • Emotions & Feelings
  • Neuroscience

  • Ben Jones
  • 3 Hours

Unlock the secrets of early childhood brain development and the inner scientific 'why' behind children's emotions and behaviour. This engaging...