James Nottingham and his colleagues offer the following training in P4C:

• Accredited Courses (introductory and advanced)
• Bespoke Training
• Demonstration Lessons
• Keynote speeches
• Online support & courses
• P4C Networks
• Workshops

Forthcoming Courses facilitated by James Nottingham

2010
Feb 1 to 3: Sapere Level 1 Accredited Course at Alnmouth Friary, Northumberland
Feb 1 to 4: Sapere Level 2 Accredited Course at Alnmouth Friary, Northumberland
Feb 17: Demo lessons at Aas ungdomsskole, Norway
March 8: Introduction to P4C, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds
March 15: P4C training day in Nesodden, Norway
April 19: P4C in the Early Years, Kent
April 26 and 27: Sapere Level 1 Accredited Course, Newcastle
May 24, 25, 26: Sapere Level 1 Accredited Course, Newcastle
July 27 - 30: P4C courses and demo lessons, Victoria, Australia
Aug 31: Sapere Level 1 Accredited Course (Day 1), Leicestershire
Oct 1, 2: Sapere Level 2 Accredited Course, Madrid, Spain
Nov 2: Sapere Level 1 Accredited Course (Day 1), Harrogate
Dec 3:  Sapere Level 1 Accredited Course (Day 1), Manchester

For more details or to book for one of these courses, contact Helen Richards

Course Outlines

INSET Day - Sample Programme

9.00 - 10.30 What is P4C and Why Use It?
A look at what characterises P4C based on the findings of national and international research. James will identify the possible gains that can be made with the P4C pedagogy and introduce you to some of the practical strategies of the approach.

10.30 - 10.50 Morning Tea

10.50 – 12.15 What does P4C Look and Feel Like?
This session will focus on the practice of P4C. All delegates will be invited to take part in a Community of Inquiry, the methodology that P4C uses to ask open-ended questions, challenge ideas, pose alternatives, seek clarification, question reasons and demonstrate self-correcting behaviour. The "Inquiry" will be followed by a review to give delegates the opportunity to identify the key characteristics of P4C.

12.15 - 1.00 Lunch

1.00 - 2.30 The Role of the Facilitator
The facilitator encourages students to focus on key concepts within the question, whilst at the same time persisting in finding an answer. He or she shows respect, takes every contribution seriously, doesn’t think s/he knows everything, models self-correction and really loves ideas. This third session will focus on "Handy Hints" to achieve all of this, whilst at the same time keeping an eye on the lesson objectives.

2.30 - 2.45 Afternoon Tea

2.45 – 3.30 Practical and Positive Steps Forward
The day will end with a repertoire of practical strategies, hints and techniques, all of which can be readily applied in any classroom to create a culture of learning within the P4C framework

SAPERE Level 1 Course (10 hours)

James Nottingham is one of just a handful of trainers registered to run accredited introductory AND advanced courses in P4C. SAPERE, the charity that offers the accreditation, has the following training structure:

• What is Philosophy for Children?
• How can we use the Community of Enquiry in the classroom?
• What strategies support the Community of Enquiry?
• What are the best resources to stimulate enquiry and dialogue?
• How does P4C fit within the curriculum?

By the end of a Level 1, delegates will have:

1. Explored the links between the theory and practice of teaching thinking using a Community of Enquiry
2. Tried a number of practical strategies for developing enquiry and dialogue in the classroom
3. Taken part in a number of 'community of enquiry' sessions
4. Understood how to monitor progress towards thinking classrooms

SAPERE Level 2 Course (24 hours)

"One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who have only interests" (John Stuart Mill, Philosopher 1806 - 1873)

Components covered include:

• Enhancing facilitation skills
• Using Socratic techniques to improve learning
• How P4C can help develop critical and creative thinking (including formal and informal reasoning, and the role of imagination)
• How P4C can help contribute to emotional and social development
• Evaluating progression within P4C

By the end of a Level 2, and upon completion of an assignment, delegates will:

• Be registered as a teacher coach, with the qualification to co-facilitate introductory courses on behalf of Sapere
• Have a deeper understanding of the supporting theories and a greater range of strategies for developing critical and creative thinking
• Have been offered personal feedback on their skills as a facilitator
• Be offered the opportunity to join the growing network of teacher-coaches across the UK
  

Required Reading for the SAPERE Level 2 Course

 Critical and Creative Thinking
 Facilitation
 Pluralism
 Socratic Tradition

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