Debi Keyte-Hartland

Themes include:

Creativity in the Early Years

The Arts as Activators of Learning

Loris Malaguzzi and the Schools of Reggio Emilia: Inspiring Practice

Curriculum Design

Drawing and Visual Thinking

Expression and Communication in Multiple Modalities

The ‘Hundred Languages’ of Children’s Learning

Ecological Inquiry and Identity

Developing a Pedagogy of Playful Inquiry

Learning with the World and with Nature

and more!

I deliver keynote presentations and workshops on a wide range of topics which are always bespoke. I respond to your specific conference theme and expected audience to deliver inspiring and informing content.  I ensure that what I share is evidenced and linked to research, theory and practice and gives links for further reading and information that can be followed up post conference/workshop.

 

My work seeks to explore the complexity of young children’s learning processes – how they learn, and how educators can best support their learning, their communication and expression.

My experience as an artist-educator and teacher-educator in early childhood education is wide and diverse, both across the UK and internationally including work with local authorities, PVI settings, schools, trusts, federations, educational charities, international schools, and learning organisations.  I have been working with young children, their educators and families for over 25 years, researching effective pedagogical approaches and ways of learning together.

As an Masters lecturer and tutor with CREC on their MA in Education (Early Years) I bring practice-based research about creativity and the arts to the forefront of early childhood education, and enabling others to build their own vibrant early years practice and environments using ‘intelligent’ materials to design and amplify learning contexts both indoors and outdoors.  How children learn in and with nature is also a strong part of my research and pedagogical approach which I have written about in an upcoming in-press chapter entitled “Learning to Live Well Together: Art and Ecological Research with Young Children” – co-written with Louise Lowings of Madeley Nursery School.

My work seeks to explore the complexity of young children’s learning processes – how they learn, and how educators can best support their learning, their communication and expression. The arts, when considered as activators of learning can generate rich contexts for constructing and developing knowledge and skills across the curriculum and in integrated and transdisciplinary ways. In work I share at conferences, workshops and speaking engagements, I make visible and tangible the invaluable insights and interactions needed for all early year’s professionals to transform their practice. When leaving, I often hear how excited and empowered educators feel to begin to put things discussed and shared into practice the next day.