GroBrain helps Cwm Taf increase awareness of the importance of the first 1000 days across Bridgend, Merthyr and RCT areas

Cwm Taf Early Years Transformation Board recently utilized Welsh Government Early Years Transformation grant funding to commission delivery of the Grobrain Online Foundation Course, with 4 reflective workshops. The training was accessed by 98 participants who all work with early years children and their families across Bridgend, Merthyr and RCT areas. This investment in the Grobrain training is part of a wider integrated working approach being developed across the region that includes a regional attachment research project that is looking at current support for parent infant relationships. workforce development and future priorities for this area of work.

The participants plan to use this training to support  families they are working with and said they would find it particularly beneficial when engaging with vulnerable families during the antenatal period, with a view to strengthening the parent infant relationship.  This training was accessed by practitioners working in both flying start and non-flying start areas, with a specific aim to improve families’ awareness of the importance of the First 1000 days and the role they play in supporting their babies healthy development.

The project manager who oversaw the training, Sarah Ostler, Early Years Manager, Merthyr Tydfil, said of her experience working with us: “It all worked very well, including coordinating of information (with Grobrain) re numbers who had signed up online, sending the resources to 3 specific sites at a particular time, setting up the SLA, and setting up the Zooms for the workshops.”

As for the training itself, the staff found many aspects extremely helpful as shown in the following quotes of feedback: “the flexibility for staff to complete the online modules when they had the time; some really colourful and engaging resources; simplicity of the approach, easy to share with families and accessible for all; the opportunity to complete a reflection which helps to embed learning; and the follow-up workshop was, again, really useful in embedding/supporting the learning.”

We are so pleased that they enjoyed our Foundation Course and look forward to seeing how the course will positively impact their work.