Learn new skills, have fun, and make a real difference in your practice Early Years Early Years Dance Training in Greater Manchester Delivered in partnership with NHS Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Early Moves supports early years practitioners to build confidence and skills in leading creative dance sessions through the Rambert Grades Creative Dance for Early Years syllabus. The programme helps young children develop physically, socially and emotionally through movement and play. Right now, 17 nurseries across Greater Manchester are running weekly dance sessions—reaching over 250 children. We’ve started in Greater Manchester and are now exploring opportunities to partner with more local authorities across the UK. Whether you’re an early years practitioner, nursery manager or local authority Early Education lead, we’d love to hear from you. The programme is generously supported by the Granada Foundation. What’s involved? Over 12 months, participating practitioners receive: Two half-day training sessions led by Rambert specialists on the Rambert Grades Creative Dance for Early Years syllabus A free trip to see Rambert perform live A movement workshop in your setting with a Rambert dancer Monthly support and reflection sessions with a Rambert team member A joyful end-of-programme celebration Who is it for? We’re inviting expressions of interest from early years practitioners and nursery settings in Greater Manchester—and from other local authorities interested in bringing Early Moves to their area. If you’re passionate about using movement to support children’s learning and development—and want to bring more creativity into your setting—we’d love to hear from you. Interested in taking part or what to find out more? Registrations of interest are now open. Click here to apply or email us at [email protected] or click here to find out more. Hear our practitioners from this year’s cohort talk about their experiences so far below. Early Moves Early Moves is Rambert’s early years dance programme that uses creative movement to help young children reach school readiness by the time they leave their nursery settings. Using the Ofqual-regulated Rambert Grades’ Creative Dance for Early Years syllabus, the programme empowers nursery practitioners with the confidence and skills they need to deliver short, fun and regular movement sessions with under-fives. Early Moves isn’t about teaching dance steps: it’s designed to support regular playful sessions that help young children walk, run, jump, climb and balance as well as sit still, focus and develop their social skills. Ofsted’s Best Start in Life analysis has shown how physical development in early years settings not only underpins health and fitness as children grow up but also supports their academic achievement as they move through school. We’re now building a strong evidence base for the value of this work by evaluating the benefits of Early Moves with UCL and Goldsmiths, University of London. What’s involved Early Moves is designed to give early years practitioners the confidence and skills they need to confidently deliver short, fun and regular movement sessions with young children. Our high-quality package for early years settings includes: • two days training for selected practitioners in the Ofqual-regulated Rambert Grades’ Creative Dance for Early Years syllabus • ongoing guidance and support from a Rambert Early Years Dance Specialist through the duration of the programme • bespoke training and support on understanding physical development measures in the early years • the option to enter individual children in Rambert Grades’ Creative Dance for Early Years exams • backfill pay to cover staff time for training What practitioners say As part of our pilot programme at 17 nurseries in Greater Manchester, early years practitioners tracked the positive impact of embedding regular dance and movement sessions in the timetable. They found that more than 90 per cent of children gained confidence in movement, balance and stillness and expanded their creative expression and wellbeing. They also told us: “A child with selective mutism spoke for the first time in Early Moves. When doing the under-the-sea moves, we asked, ‘What colour jellyfish are you?’ and she said, ‘Blue’. Staff were moved to tears.” “The language and vocabulary that came out of the children while we were in the middle of ‘dancing in space’ session was amazing and wouldn’t have emerged if they weren’t moving about.” “They keep asking for more!” “It’s surprised me that I have learnt so much about becoming a better early years teacher from this project.” “Dance and movement has allowed us to become even more inclusive – another language of value.” Building the evidence base After gaining rich qualitative data through the independent evaluation by Primed for Life of Early Moves’ first year in Manchester, we’re now partnering with the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London (UCL) and InfantLab at Goldsmiths, University of London to further build the evidence base for the programme, thanks to the generous support of the Froebel Trust. Find out more If you’re a local authority lead, sector professional or early years practitioner who’d like to explore implementing Early Moves in your area or workplace, please contact [email protected] A child with selective mutism spoke for the first time in Early Moves. When doing the under-the-sea moves, we asked, ‘What colour jellyfish are you?’ and she said, ‘Blue’. Staff were moved to tears. Children's Practitioner