CREC Learning Circle
Our community of practice has met regularly since 2003 for presentations or discussions on early childhood issues, and includes students, policy makers, local authority leaders and visiting academics.
Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do, and learn how to do it better by interacting regularly. Over recent years CREC's Directors have supported many students to successful completion of MA , and PhD degrees.
The Centre is working to establish, regionally and nationally, a research community of scholars who are committed to children and family services.
The CREC Learning Circle has met regularly since 2003 for presentations or discussions on early childhood issues, and includes students, policy makers, local authority leaders and visiting academics.
From this learning community will come the future leaders, tutors and thinkers for this key area of social, educational, health and economic policy.
The schedule for 2026/27 can be seen below . They will predominantly consist of virtual meetings online via Teams Webinar and opportunities for face-to-face networking.
Joining links and initial information for will be shared with registered members. Where possible, recordings of online sessions will be made available for a limited time to members after each session, for those who couldn't attend or would like to revisit.
Join our Facebook group by requesting to join on the group page and answering all of the questions (please note, if you do not answer the questions we are unable to admit you to the group).
2026/2027 Schedule:
Types of session
LC Headlight: Invited guest presents a perspective on a self-chosen topic.
LC Agora: Open discussion on a specific topic voted by the group in advance.
LC Spotlight: 3-4 LC Members in lightning presentations about their current practice/research on the topic, with time for Q&A.
LC Co-Lab Masterclass: Conversation with the experts to explore the subject in greater depth.
Thursday 10th September - Online via Teams Webinar, 4.30pm-5.30pm
Headlight with Dr Faye Stanley 'Early Childhood Studies; the journey from undergraduate student to post PhD.' Faye will reflect on almost 30 years of Early Childhood, the development of the sector, current challenges and opportunities.
Register to attend: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b9e85820-ff3e-4c0e-a1d2-1b0056330d1a@03637be1-4c45-4d3e-a9d8-11ecc5b6eaaa?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog
Wednesday 14th October -Online via Teams Webinar, 4.30pm-5.30pm- Spotlights with LC Members
Register to attend: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/46e19e4a-ed5e-477d-99df-6580631346b7@03637be1-4c45-4d3e-a9d8-11ecc5b6eaaa?source=copyLinkLegacyShareEventDialog
This session will be hosted via Microsoft Teams Webinar. Upon joining, attendees will be assigned Presenter permissions to enable participation in the discussion space.
Tuesday 10th November- Online via Teams, 4.30pm-5.30pm Webinar - Co-Lab Masterclass with Irene Gunning 'Reading Magnifica Humanitas Together’
An invitation to LC to explore the Encyclical in dialogue. Together matters, as it signals dialogue, curiosity, questioning, agreeing, disagreeing and making connections.
This session will be hosted via Microsoft Teams Webinar. Upon joining, attendees will be assigned Presenter permissions to enable participation in the discussion space.
Monday 14th Dec - in person at CREC - Spotlights with LC Members
Thursday 14th January- Online via Teams Webinar, 4.30-5.30pm Co-Lab Masterclass with Professor Hasina Ebrahim
Let's Talk Context: What Shapes the Birth-to-Four Workforce?
Dialogue drawing on Prof Hasina’s work in 3 countries in Africa – SA, Ghana and Malawi and problematising context
Wednesday 10th March -Online via Teams Webinar, 4.30-5.30pm Headlight with Penny Lawrence
Multi-modal, relational approaches to participatory observation in research involving video
We will engage in collaborative interpretation to practise dialogical approaches to observation, using video examples from research projects exploring dialogue and children's awareness of shapes in built environments. Together, we will consider how children's voices can be recognised and valued through both verbal and non-verbal modes of communication, including speech, gesture, movement, and interaction with materials. Attention to these multiple forms of expression can offer richer insights into children's perspectives, understandings, and relationships with peers, educators, and the material environments they inhabit.
Tuesday 20th April -Online via Teams Webinar, 4.30-5.30pm Headlight with Dr Sharon Colilles
Whose knowledge (cultural capital) prevails in early childhood practice and routines?
This presentation will redefine the term 'cultural capital' to offer provocations for thinking about what cultural capital might look like in the different stages of early childhood development. In conversation Sharon will offer her thoughts about how intentionally rich interactions and environments for learning can create a safe space to value and validate the knowledge (cultural capital) that children choose to share with the early years educator.
Monday 17th May- Online via Teams, 4.30-5.30pm Webinar Headlight with speaker to be confirmed
Stronger Practice Hubs: Impact and Influence
This presentation will offer insights into the development and impact of Stronger Practice Hubs nationally
Thursday 24th June - Hartlebury, Worcestershire 4pm - late Agora in the Garden at Hartlebury
Open discussion on a specific topic voted by the group in advance.
If you plan to join Chris and Tony for this session please confirm your attendance by emailing enquiries@crec.co.uk and you'll be provided with directions for travel/ parking.