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Schools and EYFS settings
Below is a list of sessions that we currently run, both face to face and online, for EYFS and school settings. We can also create bespoke sessions so please contact us if you had a different topic in mind.
Wired for tech: Unravelling the neuroscience behind technology’s effect on young minds
Does scientific research actually prove that technology is harmful for young children’s brains? Is social media responsible for anxiety? Do video games lead to aggressive behaviour and reduced creativity? We summarise and critically evaluate research to unravel the truth about both the positive and negative impact that technology can have on the brain and discuss practical strategies for managing healthy screen time.
High quality care for under-twos: The neuroscience of early brain
development and how to support early learning and communication
To support settings expanding their provision for younger infants due to new government funding, this session explains how to effectively support the development of younger children. Practical tips and strategies are shared for supporting early language and communication, understanding brain development, and creating the right physical environment.
Smarter by nature: The power of outdoor learning
Exploring the neuroscience behind the impact of outdoor learning, this session explains the pathways through which being outdoors affects the brain and body - benefitting cognition, mood, stress and behaviour. We share the latest research which suggests that outdoor time can help narrow the gap for children who struggle and offer strategies for using the outdoors, even in urban schools with limited space.
Designing inclusive learning environments for self-regulation
Physical aspects of the learning environment such as noise, lighting and visual clutter impact children’s levels of arousal, which has a knock-on effect on their ability to self-regulate. In this session you’ll learn about ‘orchid’ and ‘dandelion’ children and how they vary in their sensitivity to the learning environment. You’ll learn how to spot signs of over and under-stimulation and what to do about it, to better support children’s learning and behaviour.
Inside the emotional world of children: Supporting emotional and behavioural self-regulation
This session explains how children’s brains are different to adults and why this affects the way that they process and express emotions. We explain the neuroscience behind what’s happening inside the brain and body when children are dysregulated and offer practical strategies for effective regulation.
Taking action on distraction: Environments that support young children’s focus and attention
This introduction to attention explains the concepts of ‘attention capture’ and ‘attention control’ and what is happening inside a young child’s brain when they try to pay attention. Using recent neuroscience, it explores how you can make small tweaks to the physical learning environment to maximize the focus and attention of young children.
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Attention boost: Neuroscience-informed practices for children’s focus and concentration
Struggling to maintain children’s focus and attention during learning? This session explores the neuroscience of how repetition, understanding and predictability all affect children’s capacity to pay attention and how you can build these into your lesson design and delivery.
Attention and neurodiversity: Supporting children with attentional difficulties
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This session explores how atypical attention patterns underlie many neurodivergent conditions. Offering practical tips throughout, guidance on supporting neurodivergent learners to focus and concentrate, and for creating inclusive environments where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
*The above 3 sessions on attention are based on our upcoming book ‘Take Action on Distraction’ which is being published by Bloomsbury this year. These can be delivered individually as stand-alone sessions or combined as a whole day of training or a series where each session builds upon the last.
Read, share, grow: The neuroscience of effective book sharing and early reading
One of the most effective tools for promoting not just language and reading, but also other developmental outcomes such as attention and emotional understanding, is to share books with children. But what are the scientific underpinnings of book sharing and how should it be done most effectively? This session explores the neuroscience of how developing brains are shaped by language input and offers practical tips for practitioners.
We also offer bespoke sessions, please contact us for further details: nestkids.co.uk@gmail.com