TTS Educators' Podcast

Alice Sharp is joined again by play-based learning advocate, Mariana Carazo to discuss the impact play-based learning has on developing key foundation skills in the early years.

Mariana explains the vital role educators play in opening the door to new opportunities across all areas of learning in the early years. This episode encourages practitioners to follow the relevant frameworks (also referred to as standards internationally), but to also be hands-on and immersed in the children’s learning, to scaffold and shape more meaningful experiences. 

Mariana highlights 3 key takeaways for educators: 

🔑 Collaborative learning is key 

️❓ Ask questions and consider at the bigger picture 

✍️ Simplify – don't overcomplicate the learning!

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

Mariana Carazo, a play-based learning advocate, joins Alice Sharp to explore what play-based learning is and why she believes it is so crucial to develop children’s key skills in the Early Years. 

Mariana defines play as a universal language. She explains that play evolves over time and never ends. It is an approach that should be interpreted differently with each child, learning environment and supporting resource to develop new skills and enhance children’s learning outcomes in the early years.  

Alice probes the question as to whether play-based learning should have a structure to it, or whether the play itself is enough to inspire and ignite new learning opportunities. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In this episode of the TTS Talking Early Years Podcast, Alice Sharp is re-joined by Kate Freeman to inspire you with practical ways to extend children’s vocabulary in the Early Years. 

Kate explains the reasons why interaction is so key in the early stages of child development. She talks about this not only from a learning perspective but also from a social and emotional perspective, helping children to engage in society, support with their ability to nurture and make connections, as well as express their feelings and emotions. 

The conversation will provide you with insights on simple (but highly effective) techniques to support children with their vocabulary and love for language right from the Early Years.

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In this episode of the TTS Talking Early Years Podcast, Alice Sharp is rejoined by Kate Freeman, Speech and Language therapist, to discuss the different type of speech and language support and resources that are available for educators and parents when supporting young children.  

Knowing what training is available, how to pick what is most appropriate and where to access it can be extremely daunting not only to newly qualified practitioners but experienced too. 

This episode has been developed with Kate and Alice to signpost some of the different training, resources and organisations available, as recommended by Kate. From free resources, accessible learning programmes and toolkits to support practitioners on their journey, Kate suggests a variety of different options that will enable continuing professional development and enhance children’s early language development.  

In this episode of the TTS Talking Early Years Podcast, Alice Sharp welcomes back Speech and Language Therapist, Kate Freeman to shares some of the ways that educators can identify gaps in children’s early speech development.  

Throughout this episode, Kate shares: 

• The different types of speech, language and communication – what are they and when should we be’ worried’?  
• What might some of the signs look like to a practitioner, parent or carer? 
• What techniques may support in closing those gaps?  
• Practical ways to get parents and carers involved in supporting developmental gaps. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In this episode of the TTS Talking Early Years Podcast, Alice Sharp is joined by Kate Freeman, Speech and Language therapist, to discuss the impact of the pandemic on children’s speech and language. 

Kate explains how the word gap has become increasingly wider since the outbreak of COVID-19 due to factors such as mask-wearing, limited interaction, increased screen-time and social isolation. 

Touching on her own experience, Kate shares the areas of speech and language that have been impacted the most, and what techniques can be used to rectify some of the issues and challenges that both practitioners and parents face in narrowing the word gap.

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

Alice is joined by Simon Airey for the final time to talk all things continuous provision, also referenced to as continuous play. Simon begins by explaining what continuous play is, why it’s so important in the Early Years, but also the benefits of taking this approach beyond the EYFS too. 

Throughout the episode Simon shares best examples of continuous play and experiences that have shaped his approach to collaborative play and the impact this has on children’s learning outcomes.

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In episode 7 of the TTS Talking Early Years Podcast, Alice Sharp is joined by Simon Airey to explore how a play-based approach to learning in the Early Years enriches and extends a child’s vocabulary.  

Simon and Alice touch on the impact the pandemic has had on children’s language and how there is a greater need for additional support in settings across the UK and internationally. Sharing their own experiences of developing children’s language through play-based learning, Alice and Simon suggest practical and inspiring ways to support children’s language development and why tuning into the children’s own individual and additional needs is so vital when engaging children in role-play scenarios.

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

Alice Sharp is joined by Simon Airey, an educator with over 20 years’ experience of teaching, working in specialist provision and the EYFS. In this episode, Alice and Simon explore the language opportunities beyond the setting and how educators can tap into the children’s unique experiences to enhance language development. 

Simon explains the power of forging strong relationships with all parties, right from the practitioner to the child, to the parents and carers. Reflecting on his teaching experiences, Simon shares that by developing deeper connections with all those involved, we better understand the child’s capabilities and genuine interests which in return helps shape and scaffold more meaningful learning experiences.

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

Alice Sharp is joined by Simon Airey, an educator with over 20 years’ experience of teaching, working in specialist provision and the EYFS. Simon is passionate about facilitating open-ended play-based learning to develop key skills and shares his thoughts on why role play is essential to language development in the Early Years. 

Alice and Simon strip the conversation right back to the basics, looking at what role play is, the different types of role play and practical ways to engage children in this type of learning to develop key skills. 

Simon explains the importance of discovering the child’s interests and using this as the foundations for learning to spark imaginations and excitement.