Dubai workshop hailed a success
flexibility, mobility and durability of
the trolley products and the modular
systems allowed optimised storage
space within confined areas.
During the workshop, delegates
also enjoyed a presentation by Dr
Paul Swan on Maths Education and
the techniques to engage children
at different levels of capability. Paul
shared ideas for using widely available
Edx mathematics manipulatives to
develop understanding of difficult
topics such as number sequences and
fractions.
Delegates at the Gratnells CPD training in Dubai enjoyed a Maths Education presentation by Dr Paul Swan
U
K-based Gratnells, providers of
storage systems and staging,
to the education sector for
over 40 years, has held its third
CPD workshop in Dubai.
The event, directed at the Early
Years and Pre-School sector, was a
collaborative project with local training
company Quest, Edx – international
suppliers of education products
and teaching materials in more than
70 countries, and local distributors
EduFun.
Run by Louise Cutt, a qualified
Quest trainer, the Gratnells Enabling
Environments session looked at how
to create classroom spaces to engage
children and make the most effective
use of the space available.
Attended by 30 teachers from a
mix of local international schools,
the
workshop
explored
the
entire ‘landscape’ of the learning
environment for positive and enjoyable
early years schooling, both in and out
of the classroom.
to improving classroom environments,
such as:
• a variety of defined areas and activity
bases (quiet areas, reading areas,
craft areas, messy areas etc)
• Flexibility, space to work and play,
storage and display areas along with
order and organisation
• There should be an emphasis
on self-directed learning, where
children are encouraged to explore
and investigate
Following
the
training
session,
delegates had an opportunity to look
around a range of Gratnells Callero
storage products, such as Library
trollies, Art trollies, Storage trollies and
racks, and Exploration trays. They were
asked how these products might enable
them to make the classroom changes
discussed and explored during the
training session. Their key feedback
comments were that they liked the
The CPD workshop was the third of
a series planned by Gratnells, which
has been encouraged by the positive
reception that the British education
model is enjoying in the Middle East.
International Marketing Director for
Gratnells, Richard Picking, comments
“The delegates were very engaged
in the workshop, enjoying shared
experiences and concluding that
more flexible classroom spaces, which
are adaptable to different needs and
engage the imagination and attention
of the children, are what is required.
Our system of education and the
quality of our teaching is highly
respected across the region. We’re
happy to be a beneficiary of that and
we are increasing our presence and
activities in the region. We’re a British
manufacturer that exports to more
than 60 countries around the world but
more importantly we are a pioneer in
creating and utilising harmonious and
stimulating learning environments for
teachers and students wherever they
are.”
www.gratnells.com
The first session saw delegates
discussing the importance of a well-
ordered space, and supporting the
proposition that the correct use of
space and the quality of the learning
environment played a marked and
measurable role in improving the
learning process and producing better
outcomes for children.
The teachers were keen to share their
views on how learning space should
work to make children feel safe,
secure, happy and most importantly
inspired by their environment. They
also identified factors that were key
18 | May - Jun 2017 |
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Louise Cutt, a qualified Quest trainer, engages with delegates at the recent Dubai CPD training workshop
Class Time