Recently, Early Childhood Education (ECE) educators from all YCIS locations in China came together for a two-day conference held at the Regency Park Campus. The conference, which is part of the professional development training for all ECE teachers in China, is held annually prior to the beginning of the school year.

This year, the theme of the 4th annual conference was “The critical role of the early childhood teacher”, and activities and discussions focused on how teachers, in working with young children, support children’s learning and development and facilitate better learning outcomes. Over the two days, staff discussed topics such as authentic assessment for learning, supporting bilingual language learning, and building bridges between home and school. Throughout the conference, staff members were encouraged to share their own ideas and experiences about working with children in the classroom in large group and small breakout sessions.

Elizabeth Randall, Superintendent of ECE for YCIS, started the conference four years ago in order to enhance cohesion among the entire YCIS ECE teaching staff. She says, “These conferences are a fantastic opportunity for our teachers from all of our schools in China to come together and exchange ideas and best practices. The conference also forms part of our staff training and development, and gives teachers a wider network of contacts they can reach out to throughout the academic year.”

The school’s commitment to providing all academic staff with ongoing professional development opportunities is an important component of attracting and retaining YCIS’s exemplary academic staff. Over their summer holiday, many YCIS teachers and senior leadership team members participated in external training conferences and seminars around the world. Both internal and external training programmes helps keep YCIS a global leader in international education, and ensures that all children are provided with a progressive learning experience.