The Strength-based Approach is a meaningful and real style of writing about children in a way that starts with what they can do. A strength-based approach is not about describing a child’s learning and development in a positive light and neglecting to identify areas for further development or areas of concern. Instead it starts with where the child is now, not with what is absent, and highlights where the child can go with additional support. This makes it a vital pedagogical skill for early childhood educators to practice and develop which can be used for transition reports, learning stories or snapshot reviews. The Strength Based Writing programme consists of 4 short components that support Educators to focus on your writing techniques when compiling Learning Stories, Transition Reports or Snapshot Reviews.  

The Enabling Transition programme will provide the early childhood educator with practical, jargon free guidance on how to compile transition reports that are unique to each child. The programme consists of 4 short components for you to digest, discuss with colleagues and use to inform your practice. If you are a parent, looking to understand a little more about preparing your child for primary school, this programme will also provide you with lots of useful information. 1. The Importance of Positive Transition from pre-school to primary school 2. A Learning Partnership – the child, parents, previous and new educator 3. Good Pedagogy Practice to enable smooth transitions 4. Compiling Transition Reports (practical report writing). Practical supporting handouts are available  for download and print in the users Reference Document section. 

From the very first time I discovered the work of Dr Margaret Carr and the Learning Story Approach – I have loved it and advocated for it as the most effective means of documenting the assessment of young children’s learning and development. I admire the way a child’s strengths are highlighted in a way that is very personal to the child – regardless of their abilities or stage of development. A learning story is an engaging story of a child’s achievements, abilities, interests and viewpoint as an active learner. Learning Stories can focus on everything from a baby noticing himself in a mirror for the first time to a pre-school child creating a model from junk materials or helping a friend. I like to think of learning stories in this way – an assessment report or developmental checklist show you a black and white snapshot of the child, cold and frozen in time. However, learning stories are vibrant, engaging, funny, full colour mini-movies that parents can keep forever.  They give a rounded, holistic view of who the child is as an individual and as a learner. This is, after all, what early childhood education is all about! ‘Creating Learning Stories’ will provide Educators with practical guidance on this wonderful pedagogical technique for early childhood education. The programme is presented in 5 short components - each one building on the learning from the one before and packed with practical examples. Participants will discover how to structure, compile, and use learning stories as a meaningful assessment tool, to engage parents and to showcase children’s individual strengths, interests and needs.  Avril