Early Childhood Development

Panel:

Join some of South Africa’s leading Early Childhood Development Experts in this engaging panel discussion. In this session, the core challenges facing the ECD sector will be brought to light and solution driven ideas on how to solve these issues will be presented.

Speakers:

Early Childhood Education is defining the future - not only of the individual and community, but of the Country’s knowledge-capital and its place in the 21st Century. Learn why mini-games can deliver holistic empowerment from a young age.

Speaker: Marisa van der Merwe, CEO, MiniChess Pty Ltd

Key discussion points:

This session will focus on catch-up programmes for foundation phase learners.

How are we addressing the quality of learning in later school years?

Learn about catch up programs for foundation phase learners, how are we addressing the quality of learning in later school years. The problem of poor ECD in poor communities – which affect foundation phase learning and all the way through.

Key learning objectives:

This session will look at Investing in the future by creating early positive experiences for children through physical activity. Looking at the importance of motor cognitive development in ECD.

Speaker: Norman Mphake, Founder, Physical Education Institute of South Africa

Key Learning Objectives:

Ladders for Learning means meeting children at their level of learning.

Acknowledging that all children learn differently requires us to find different ways of teaching, so that ALL children can participate meaningfully in the classroom. Attend this session to learn how to implement effective learning with six easy steps.

Speaker: Robyn Beere, Director, Inclusive Education South Africa

In the light of the changing world with rapid automation and computerisation. It will involve overhauling the entire school structure, freeing up the formal school curriculum, making learning self-directed and doing away with constant testing. Building real life skills will be the key component. The future is now and all of us need to start working towards a new vision of education

Speaker: Siraj Ghoor, Director, Open Minds Campus/Knowledge Thirst Media

Key Learning Objectives:

For ticket holders only. To book a ticket contact [email protected]

Approximately 26% of preschool children in South Africa suffer from stunting and are nutritionally deficient. This stage of education is critical for the future of children and provides a greater return on investment than at any subsequent stage of education.

Speaker: David Brown, Managing Director, JAM

Key learning objectives:

Why is promoting literacy at such a young age so vital to a child's development?

The rationale for the Early Grade Reading Study (EGRS) will be presented through a reflection on the status quo in education attainment based on several data sources including the international assessments that South Africa has participated in.

Speakers:

Many ECD Practitioners feel that they are fighting a never ending battle against many issues affecting their success and development.

Learn how the Street Light School educational method is different and why it has proven to be effective even when there are so many challenges in the environment that we operate in.

Speaker: Dionne Mankazana, Educator, Street Light Schools

Key Learning Objectives:

This session will look at using physical education to enhance the development of mathematical concepts in the foundation phase.

Learn from this practical hands-on presentation about how to allow learners in foundation phase to better understand the spatial awareness concepts that underlie in maths.

Key learning objectives:

Learn about the Montessori Method and its relevance to the Southern African context from a training and teaching perspective.

Speaker: Heidi van Staden, Principal, Montessori Academy & College in Pretoria, Director of MCSA

Learn how dynamic and adapting world requires dynamic and adaptive educators and the role of technology plays in educating the thumb generation.

Speaker: Gaylene Oliver, Vice Principal Student Services, Varsity College Pretoria, South Africa

Ensuring sustainability by benchmarking against global best practice with a focus on out of school hours care (aftercare and holiday care programmes)

Speaker: Genevieve Allen, Managing Director, Sherpa Kids

Key learning objectives:

In the fast changing world of today, it is no longer sufficient for students to develop content mastery in school. To be able to thrive in the workplace of tomorrow, it is necessary for teachers to help their students to develop 21st century skills in today’s classrooms. For that to happen, our teachers need to first possess the knowledge and ability to impart these skills. A critical way to ensure this is through regular professional development for teachers, in order to reinvent themselves and equip them with the relevant pedagogical skills.

Speaker: Mike Thiruman, Chief Executive Officer, Educare International Consultancy, Singapore