精东影业 officially launched its new Early Years Centre of Excellence at Banbury and Bicester College on Monday 13 January.
The facilities were opened by Neil Brookes, Executive Director of Faculties and Colleges (North) at 精东影业, in front of guests including local employers, Early Years and Teaching Assistant course alumni and current students鈥� families.
Designed in partnership with local employers and community groups, the centre will offer a comprehensive range of courses, including a Level 1 in Children and Young People, Level 2 in Early Years and an Early Years T Level.
The new facilities are located at the Colin Sanders Business Innovation Centre on Mewburn Road.
What does the new Early Years Centre of Excellence offer to learners?
The outstanding facilities within the Early Years Centre of Excellence include:
- Interactive boards enabling more engaging and interactive learning.
- Two individual offices which provide space for meetings and reflection.
- A sensory room which particularly benefits students with special educational needs.
- A forest school which equips students with the knowledge to implement this learning approach.
- A reading corner with books and toys to encourage literacy, language skills and quiet time.
- A play area with toys to encourage role play and motor skills.
VR headsets will also be used to enhance students鈥� understanding of safeguarding and communicable diseases.
精东影业 was awarded 拢10,000 in T Level funding from the Department for Education to kit out and resource the facility for the Early Years T Level course running at Banbury and Bicester College.
This funding has been supported by 拢70,000 in college investment, paid for by 精东影业.
The centre brings a fantastic opportunity for students to practise real-life scenarios and collaborate with one another. It is hoped it will become a hub for the local community.
Refreshments were served and speeches were given by Andy Slater, Group Director of Lifestyles Faculty and Banbury and Bicester College at 精东影业, and Neil Brookes, Executive Director of Faculties and Colleges (North) at 精东影业.
Gemma Barker, Curriculum Manager for Lifestyles Faculty at 精东影业, said:
“We are thrilled to announce the opening of our immersive Early Years Centre of Excellence, a facility that marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing high-quality education and training.
鈥淥ur collaboration with a variety of local employers and community groups has been instrumental in creating real working environments that mirror the professional settings our students will encounter.
鈥淭his hands-on experience is invaluable, providing our learners with the skills and confidence they need to excel in the early years sector.
鈥淲e are proud to continue our tradition of excellence in education, and we look forward to seeing our students thrive in these new, innovative learning spaces.”
Lucy Thorne, 18, from Banbury, is studying an Early Years Practitioner Level 2 Diploma at Banbury and Bicester College.
She said: “I really enjoy the new facilities. When we have children come over, the facilities give me lots of knowledge and experience.
鈥淲e have lots of toys and when the children come over, we make activities for them, so I get experience here for when I have a job in an Early Years setting.鈥�
Fiona Baughan, Manager and Childminder at Little Sparrows Childcare, said: 鈥淚 think the new centre is brilliant! They鈥檝e done a lot of work to it. I have students come to me and I can see the difference that learning in these facilities is making and the students are really enthusiastic.
鈥淲e bring our children from Little Sparrows Childcare here, they love going in the sensory room. The students get all the activities out and sit with our children. Our children are from six months to four years old, so it鈥檚 a good age range for the students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice, there鈥檚 not many colleges or further education places that you go into where it would be set up like this, it鈥檚 like a nursery!鈥�
鈥淚n this type of career, you need to be able to do the practical, and the more practical experience you can have the better. It鈥檚 about the interaction with the children and knowing how to play with them because not everyone knows that and it鈥檚 really important for a child鈥檚 development.鈥�
Find out more about or contact us on 0800 612 6008.