Collaborating with Researchers and Educators

We are proud to share our work in Early Years! Take a look at the recognition we have recieved from 'The National Handwriting Association' to 'White Rose Maths' and even 'Pie Corbett'. 

Kirkby C of E also have a strong relationship with our partner university provider Edge Hill University. We are an open early years setting and we welcome first to third years and PGCE early years students to have a look at our provision. Our early years staff have a deep understanding of early child development and we link theory into everything we do. Mrs McPhillips and Miss O'Nions are also Edge Hill graduates and have a good relationship with Edge Hill's Early Years lecturers and researchers. Students who have come to our setting have reported that it is clear to see links to what they have learnt in their lectures to what they see in our every day practice. The EYFS team visited the university in November 2022 to talk to Karen Boardman (Head of EY education) about outdoor learning and forest schools.

In August 2022, Miss O'Nions delivered a lecture to the new PGCE students at Edge Hill University on the role of an Early Years Teacher. She is also delivering a lecture In December on leadership roles and another in February on transition to Ks1. Miss O'Nions is on the EY advisory board at the University for early years education and systematic synthetic phonics.

In December 2021, we had a visit from the Early Years Team at Knowsley council. Mrs McPhillips and Miss O'Nions gave Katy Race a whole tour of the early years unit and she had the opportunity to observe the children in action in our provision! She later said "Thanks so much for today it was great coming in to school, seeing the children and the wonderful provision". Katy reported that she was looking for model early years units for other school's in the authority to visit our provision at Kirkby C of E!