Discovery Hour (evening) - Pilot Ofsted Inspection Feedback

This is a duplicate of our day-time Discovery Hour on the 4th December.  If you can't attend that date and would prefer an evening session please register your interest here and we will consider putting on a evening date if enough people would like it.  

One of our PATA Managed Groups recently had an Ofsted inspection as part of the pilot programme for the new Inspection Framework.  It was a positive day and part of the reason for us volunteering so was that we could share our experiences with our members.   Join us for a short walk through the day and then plenty of time for questions with the staff who were there!

The session will be run by the PATA Senior Management Team and is open to all PATA Member settings. 

Suitable for: Committee Members, Manager and Deputies and interested practitioners.  

Date:  TBC   Time: TBC

Venue: Online

Cost: FREE (for PATA members only)   Maximum of two bookings per setting. 

Important additional Information:

• Before booking a place, please read our information sheet which can be found here
• Please ensure you complete the 'attendee name' and 'attendee email address' (of the person attending) to ensure we send the Teams Invitation to the correct email address. A 'contact telephone number' for the attendee is also required in case we need to contact them in an emergency.
• Please note Teams invitations will be sent out 24 hours before the course/meeting starts. 

Anna Ephgrave's Planning In The Moment (via Zoom) 

We welcome bookings from all over the UK and internationally - we have noticed a number of bookings recently from Welsh Schools and settings - please note that this training session is generic and will not be specific to the Welsh Curriculum unless it is booked as a bespoke session. 

Course Aim: To provide you with the necessary tools to help your children feel confident and independent especially through outdoor play and risk taking play. The course will give delegates the chance to explore the theory and rationale behind child-initiated play.

Course Information:  Delivered by Anna Ephgrave the course will cover:-   

• Rationale and Complexities of Child-Initiated Play
• Planning and Teaching in the Moment    
• The Role of the Adult - interacting is your teaching
• Brain development and levels of involvement
• Enabling Environments with emphasis on developing an outdoor classroom
• Planning in the Moment and the paperwork associated with it

It will also touch on:-         

• Literacy and Numeracy in Early Years

Suitable For: Anyone working in Early Years (including Reception) who is implementing, or is intending to implement, Planning in the Moment

Date: Thursday 15th January   Time: 9:15am - 3:00pm

The training will be delivered in 3 sessions. The approximate timings are as follows:-

Session 1         9:15am until 10:45am  (Please be logged on by 9:10am ready to be admitted from the waiting room)

Session 2         11am until 12:45pm

Session 3         1:15pm until 2:30pm (please allow until 3pm).

Venue: Online

Delivered by: Anna Ephgrave

Cost:  (one person per booking) Members:  £75 / Non Members  £115

If you have multiple people wishing to attend this session please contact training@pataglos.org.uk for a group booking price.

Important additional Information:

• Before booking a place, please read our information sheet which can be found here
• Upon settlement of the invoice, PATA will share the attendee details with Anna Ephgrave who will liaise with the attendee regarding the training.
• Please ensure you complete the 'attendee name' and 'attendee email address' (of the person attending) to ensure Anna is able to send the  Zoom Invitation to the correct email address. A 'contact telephone number for the attendee is also required in case Anna needs to contact them.
• Please note zoom invitations will be emailed to you by Anna Ephgrave. She is unable to send these until the invoice has been settled.
• If payment cannot be made within the 7 day timeframe then please email training@pataglos.org.uk to agree an extension to your payment deadline, otherwise, your place on the course may be cancelled.
• Upon settlement of the invoice, we will share the attendee name, name of setting/school. email address and contact number with Anna Ephgrave.

A Session with Ofsted - Early Years Inspection Changes 

Join Wendy Ratcliff (Ofsted Principal Officer for Early Education and Early Years Inspector) for this free event for PATA Members.

On Monday 10 November, Ofsted began inspections under the renewed education inspection framework that will give parents better and more detailed information, is fairer on professionals, and – crucially – will help raise standards for all children.

Join Wendy Ratcliff HMI (Principal Officer, Early Education Policy) and Sam Sleeman-Boss (Quality and Practice Lead, Early Education Policy) for an Ofsted webinar, where they will be Ofsted updates. This will include a short summary of changes to early years inspection under the renewed education inspection framework and plenty of opportunity to ask any questions you have.

Suitable For: Any Early Years Practitioners

Delivered by: Wendy Ratcliff (Ofsted Principal Officer for Early Education and Early Years Inspector) & Sam Sleeman-Boss (Quality and Practice Lead, Early Education Policy)

Date: 15th January 2026 Time: 6:30pm - 8pm

Venue: Online

Cost: Members Free of charge / Non Members £30

(Member places are subsidised by the Group Support & Development Fund)

Important additional Information:

• Before booking a place, please read our information sheet which can be found here
• Please ensure you complete the 'attendee name' and 'attendee email address' (of the person attending) to ensure we send the Teams Invitation to the correct email address. A 'contact telephone number' for the attendee is also required in case we need to contact them in an emergency.
• Please note zoom invitations will be sent out 24 hours before the course/meeting starts. We are unable to send out zoom invitations until your invoice has been settled. Payment is required within 7 days of the invoice date or 24 hours before a course/meeting starts (whichever is sooner).
• The number of places from each setting are not currently restricted but we reserve the right to introduce restrictions if the course is reaching it's limit. We will not be able to re-run the course. 

Discovery Hour

Can you carve a little bit of time out of your day to hear a short presentation on a relevant topic, followed y time for questions?

Our Discovery Hours are a great way to get an introduction to a topic and have the chance to discuss and share practice.

The session will be run by the PATA Senior Management Team and is open to all PATA Member settings. 

Suitable for: Committee Members, Manager and Deputies and interested practitioners.  

Date: Friday 23rd December   Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm 

Venue: Online

Cost: FREE (for PATA members only) Maximum of two bookings per setting. 

Important additional Information:

• Before booking a place, please read our information sheet which can be found here
• Please ensure you complete the 'attendee name' and 'attendee email address' (of the person attending) to ensure we send the Teams Invitation to the correct email address. A 'contact telephone number' for the attendee is also required in case we need to contact them in an emergency.
• Please note Teams invitations will be sent out 24 hours before the course/meeting starts. 

PATA Awards Evening and AGM 

We want to bring together the PATA community and celebrate the best practice and achievements of the sector within Gloucestershire and beyond.

We recognise that many of our members are small or independent settings and often don’t get much thanks or recognition for the fantastic job that they do.  We want to redress that by offering an evening to celebrate successes, recognise the great work that is done by our members and bring the sector together.

We are running the event alongside our AGM which will give us the opportunity to report back to our members on what PATA has achieved over the last year and also for them to have the opportunity to engage with our Trustees and the important decisions that PATA needs to make.  The AGM business will be a small part of the evening!

Please book your place and we will send full event details nearer the time.  

If you have been shortlisted for an award we will automatically book you two places. 

Anna Ephgrave's Planning In The Moment (via Zoom) 

We welcome bookings from all over the UK and internationally - we have noticed a number of bookings recently from Welsh Schools and settings - please note that this training session is generic and will not be specific to the Welsh Curriculum unless it is booked as a bespoke session. 

Course Aim: To provide you with the necessary tools to help your children feel confident and independent especially through outdoor play and risk taking play. The course will give delegates the chance to explore the theory and rationale behind child-initiated play.

Course Information:  Delivered by Anna Ephgrave the course will cover:-   

• Rationale and Complexities of Child-Initiated Play
• Planning and Teaching in the Moment    
• The Role of the Adult - interacting is your teaching
• Brain development and levels of involvement
• Enabling Environments with emphasis on developing an outdoor classroom
• Planning in the Moment and the paperwork associated with it

It will also touch on:-         

• Literacy and Numeracy in Early Years

Suitable For: Anyone working in Early Years (including Reception) who is implementing, or is intending to implement, Planning in the Moment

Date: Wednesday 25th February   Time: 9:15am - 3:00pm

The training will be delivered in 3 sessions. The approximate timings are as follows:-

Session 1         9:15am until 10:45am  (Please be logged on by 9:10am ready to be admitted from the waiting room)

Session 2         11am until 12:45pm

Session 3         1:15pm until 2:30pm (please allow until 3pm).

Venue: Online

Delivered by: Anna Ephgrave

Cost:  (one person per booking) Members:  £75 / Non Members  £115

If you have multiple people wishing to attend this session please contact training@pataglos.org.uk for a group booking price.

Important additional Information:

• Before booking a place, please read our information sheet which can be found here
• Upon settlement of the invoice, PATA will share the attendee details with Anna Ephgrave who will liaise with the attendee regarding the training.
• Please ensure you complete the 'attendee name' and 'attendee email address' (of the person attending) to ensure Anna is able to send the  Zoom Invitation to the correct email address. A 'contact telephone number for the attendee is also required in case Anna needs to contact them.
• Please note zoom invitations will be emailed to you by Anna Ephgrave. She is unable to send these until the invoice has been settled.
• If payment cannot be made within the 7 day timeframe then please email training@pataglos.org.uk to agree an extension to your payment deadline, otherwise, your place on the course may be cancelled.
• Upon settlement of the invoice, we will share the attendee name, name of setting/school. email address and contact number with Anna Ephgrave.

Discovery Hour

Can you carve a little bit of time out of your day to hear a short presentation on a relevant topic, followed y time for questions?

Our Discovery Hours are a great way to get an introduction to a topic and have the chance to discuss and share practice.

The session will be run by the PATA Senior Management Team and is open to all PATA Member settings. 

Suitable for: Committee Members, Manager and Deputies and interested practitioners.  

Date: Thursday 26th February   Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm 

Venue: Online

Cost: FREE (for PATA members only) Maximum of two bookings per setting. 

Important additional Information:

• Before booking a place, please read our information sheet which can be found here
• Please ensure you complete the 'attendee name' and 'attendee email address' (of the person attending) to ensure we send the Teams Invitation to the correct email address. A 'contact telephone number' for the attendee is also required in case we need to contact them in an emergency.
• Please note Teams invitations will be sent out 24 hours before the course/meeting starts. 

Network Meeting - Spring Term

Whilst we will always have a focus to the network meetings, we are also mindful that there may be different concerns relating to any current issues. The network meetings will therefore always be topical taking into account the current landscape.

Suitable for: Early Years Managers or Deputies. 

Delivered by: Debs Adams and Michelle King. Debs has worked for PATA for over 10 years in a supporting membership role and has extensive knowledge of charity governance and compliance. Michelle is a PATA Early Years Support Officer and she previously spent 12 years as an early years educator,  5 years of this time as a setting manager.  Between them they draw upon their differing specialisms to offer support and guidance.

Date:  Tuesday 3rd March

Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm 

Venue: online

Cost: FREE for PATA members only (1 place per setting - Manager or Deputy)

(Failure to notify us of any non attendance may result in you not being able to attend future free network meetings).

Important additional Information:

• Before booking a place, please read our information sheet which can be found here
• Please ensure you complete the 'attendee name' and 'attendee email address' (of the person attending) to ensure we send the Teams Invitation to the correct email address. A 'contact telephone number' for the attendee is also required in case we need to contact them in an emergency.
• Please note zoom invitations will be sent out 24 hours before the course/meeting starts. 

Discovery Hour

Can you carve a little bit of time out of your day to hear a short presentation on a relevant topic, followed by time for questions?

Our Discovery Hours are a great way to get an introduction to a topic and have the chance to discuss and share practice.

The session will be run by the PATA Senior Management Team and is open to all PATA Member settings. 

Suitable for: Committee Members, Manager and Deputies and interested practitioners.  

Date: Friday 13th March   Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm 

Venue: Online

Cost: FREE (for PATA members only) Maximum of two bookings per setting. 

Important additional Information:

• Before booking a place, please read our information sheet which can be found here
• Please ensure you complete the 'attendee name' and 'attendee email address' (of the person attending) to ensure we send the Teams Invitation to the correct email address. A 'contact telephone number' for the attendee is also required in case we need to contact them in an emergency.
• Please note Teams invitations will be sent out 24 hours before the course/meeting starts. 

Anna Ephgrave's Planning In The Moment (via Zoom) 

We welcome bookings from all over the UK and internationally - we have noticed a number of bookings recently from Welsh Schools and settings - please note that this training session is generic and will not be specific to the Welsh Curriculum unless it is booked as a bespoke session. 

Course Aim: To provide you with the necessary tools to help your children feel confident and independent especially through outdoor play and risk taking play. The course will give delegates the chance to explore the theory and rationale behind child-initiated play.

Course Information:  Delivered by Anna Ephgrave the course will cover:-   

• Rationale and Complexities of Child-Initiated Play
• Planning and Teaching in the Moment    
• The Role of the Adult - interacting is your teaching
• Brain development and levels of involvement
• Enabling Environments with emphasis on developing an outdoor classroom
• Planning in the Moment and the paperwork associated with it

It will also touch on:-         

• Literacy and Numeracy in Early Years

Suitable For: Anyone working in Early Years (including Reception) who is implementing, or is intending to implement, Planning in the Moment

Date: Saturday 28th March   Time: 9:15am - 3:00pm

The training will be delivered in 3 sessions. The approximate timings are as follows:-

Session 1         9:15am until 10:45am  (Please be logged on by 9:10am ready to be admitted from the waiting room)

Session 2         11am until 12:45pm

Session 3         1:15pm until 2:30pm (please allow until 3pm).

Venue: Online

Delivered by: Anna Ephgrave

Cost:  (one person per booking) Members:  £75 / Non Members  £115

If you have multiple people wishing to attend this session please contact training@pataglos.org.uk for a group booking price.

Important additional Information:

• Before booking a place, please read our information sheet which can be found here
• Upon settlement of the invoice, PATA will share the attendee details with Anna Ephgrave who will liaise with the attendee regarding the training.
• Please ensure you complete the 'attendee name' and 'attendee email address' (of the person attending) to ensure Anna is able to send the  Zoom Invitation to the correct email address. A 'contact telephone number for the attendee is also required in case Anna needs to contact them.
• Please note zoom invitations will be emailed to you by Anna Ephgrave. She is unable to send these until the invoice has been settled.
• If payment cannot be made within the 7 day timeframe then please email training@pataglos.org.uk to agree an extension to your payment deadline, otherwise, your place on the course may be cancelled.
• Upon settlement of the invoice, we will share the attendee name, name of setting/school. email address and contact number with Anna Ephgrave.

Makaton - Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4 and Taster Sessions 

Please ignore the advertised date of 1st April. Please email training@pataglos.org.uk, to check availability of the next set of on-line dates which are:

(please note that all dates per level must be attended - 7.5 hrs for each level in total. If any sessions are missed then it will not be possible to continue with same cluster of dates and the trainer will liaise with you about attending potential other dates)

Spring Term

• Level 1: 12th, 13th, 19th January 2026 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm
• Level 1: 23rd, 24th, 30th* March 2026 - 6:30pm to 9:00pm

* Please note, the third session falls in the Easter Holidays

• Taster online : dates to be confirmed

Please email training@pataglos.org.uk for future dates 

Levels can be booked individually or as combined Levels (eg, Levels 1 & 2 and Levels 3 & 4)

Makaton is a multi-modal language programme that uses signs, symbols and speech for children and adults with speech, language and communication needs to build on their understanding and use of speech and language.

These are fun, informal sessions with a chance to practise the signs and symbols taught with each other and learn a new skill. You will receive workbooks and a certificate of attendance. 

Level 1 training provides a practical introduction to the Makaton Language Programme. Sessions include discussing commonly asked questions, hints and tips for effective signing and symbol use and how to start using Makaton in everyday situations at home or work. You will also learn the signs and symbols from Stages 1 and 2, and some of the Additional stage, of the Core Vocabulary.

Level 2 training in Makaton builds on what you learnt in Level 1. You will learn the signs and symbols from Stages 3 and 4, and the rest of the Additional stage, of the Core Vocabulary.

Level 3 training helps you to improve and develop your signing and symbol skills and how to use them effectively every day. You will revise the signs and symbols you learned in your Level 1 and 2 training and learn the signs and symbols for Stages 5 and 6 of the Core Vocabulary. 

Level 4 training completes the Makaton Core Vocabulary and formal training. You will revise the signs and symbols you learned in your Level 1, 2 and 3 training, and learn the signs and symbols for Stages 7 and 8 of the Core Vocabulary. 

The course fee includes a Makaton workbook per Level.

Taster Session These short sessions are designed for anyone who is interested in finding out about Makaton before deciding whether or not to attend further intensive Makaton training. The Taster session gives you a general introduction into what Makaton is and who uses it, with the opportunity to learn a few signs and symbols too (between 30 and 60).  

Suitable For: Anyone wishing to learn Makaton

Dates: daytime, evening and weekends available

Please email training@pataglos.org.uk to check current availability for the courses.

Venue: Online

Cost: (one person per booking)

Individual Levels Members £82 each / Non Members £86 each (normal Makaton cost is £90)

Levels 1 & 2 (combined) Members: £159 / Non Members: £169 (including a Makaton workbook for each level)  Normal cost through Makaton is £180. The same person must attend all training for the combined level 1 and 2.

Levels 3 & 4 (combined) Members: £159 / Non Members: £169 (including a Makaton workbook for each level)  Normal cost through Makaton is £180. The same person must attend all training for the combined level 3 and 4.

Taster Session Members £13 / Non Members £15

Suitable For: Anyone wishing to learn Makaton or build on their current knowledge.

Important additional Information:

• Before booking a place, please read our information sheet which can be found here
• Please ensure you complete the 'attendee name' and 'attendee email address' (of the person attending) to ensure we send the Teams Invitation to the correct email address. A 'contact telephone number' for the attendee is also required in case we need to contact them in an emergency.
• Please note zoom invitations will be sent out 24 hours before the course/meeting starts. We are unable to send out zoom invitations until your invoice has been settled. Payment is required within 7 days of the invoice date or 24 hours before a course/meeting starts (whichever is sooner).
• If payment cannot be made within this timeframe then please email training@pataglos.org.uk to agree an extension to your payment deadline, otherwise, your place on the course may be cancelled.

NoodleNow (online)

Please ignore the start date of December 2026 - these courses can be started at any time of the year.

NoodleNow provide online courses (there are currently 93 but this is increasing all the time). Once you are registered you can log in at any time and work through a course. At the end you will undertake a short test and if successful receive a certificate for your CPD file. All the courses are included in the cost and access is for one year from registration.

It's a great way for practitioners to upskill at their own pace, but also to pick a course to help with a specific issue - for example there is a course on dealing with biting. If you have a child who starts biting, any members of your team who are registered with NoodleNow can do the course as a refresher and come up with a plan of action.

We think that these courses will complement our 'live' training and provide you with another option for keeping your practice fresh and relevant.

Course included in the package cover everything from food safety, manual handling, physical development and outstanding practice. You can see the full list of courses here.

Cost (PATA Members only):

We are able to offer access to our members for 

£25 per person (no additional VAT) with no minimum number and including Noodle Nibbles.

(Individual membership is usually £99+VAT or organisational membership (with a minimum of 5 people) is usually £25+VAT per person (so a minimum of £150). There is also a ‘bolt on’ package of short courses called Noodle Nibbles which are usually an extra £5+VAT per person which will be included in your package.)

The access will last for a year and you can do as many of the courses in that time as you wish for no additional costs. 

PLEASE NOTE YOUR INVOICE MUST BE SETTLED BEFORE YOU CAN RECEIVE YOUR LOG IN DETAILS.