Magazine 2020

180 | Edition No. 23 | 2020 PARKLANDS COLLEGE & Christopher Robin Pre-Primary (Est. 1980) Further Education “Reaching Outwards, GrowingMinds, Building Futures” Our first group of students began their training in February this year. Orienta- tion week involved an introduction to the course, issuing learning materials and a tour of the training facilities, including Christopher Robin Pre-Primary. The week ended with a beach walk at Big Bay and, after delicious ice cream and get- ting to know each other, we were ready to start the year. Although lockdown presented a few interesting challenges and required much creative thought and planning, overall, the year provided an enriching opportunity for students to be immersed in “best practice” within our own school. The students have learnt about pre-school education in South Africa and the importance of educating the young child. Under the guidance of experienced mentor teachers at Christopher Robin Pre-Primary, the students facilitated in a classroom filled with little people and learned to create exciting activities to keep their bodies and minds active and stimulated. While lectures in the afternoon were important, their time with the children each morning in Christopher Robin Pre-Primary was un- doubtedly the highlight for every student. It was amazing to teach the theory and then immediately link it to a practical example that they had experienced in the morning. This unique programme structure makes learning incredibly effective. It embeds theoretical knowledge in a way that not only makes it meaningful but also unforget- table for the students. As ECD specialists, we know how critical the first 1000 days of a child’s life is, and the tremendous power of positive early life experiences.There is more growth and learning than during any other stage of life and this is where quality practition- ers are absolutely crucial. Research shows that the quality of early childhood care and education is closely linked with the quality of the training programmes offered. One of our students’ com- ments, below, after her first month summed it up perfectly… “I would have never have thought about Pre-Primary the way I do now, after learning why early education is so important. I love this course.” We are passionate about training ECD practi- tioners who understand the importance of early learning experiences and the positive effect on the child’s health, education and social outcomes across their lifespan. We believe that there is a dire need for training of quality ECD Practition- ers who will have a positive and critical impact on the children of South Africa. Our passion and de- termination drove us further and this year behind the scenes we were also writing and developing a new qualification, the Level 5 Higher Certificate: Early Childhood Development. We have re- ceived our accreditation and are very excited to add this offering from January 2021. Information is available via the Parklands College website. It has been a privilege to work with our students and guide them in becoming practitioners who we hope will have a positive impact on our most precious children. Chantel Lamb and Karyn Howes