TinyLearners Award 

Empowering futures, one TinyStep at a time.

The TinyLearners Award raises awareness of the impact of prematurity on development and learning. Supporting pupils who have been born prematurely or who start life in a neonatal unit, to reach their full educational potential. 

TinyLearners Award Programme helps to enhance the skills and training of our professionals in schools across NI, strengthening the links between health and education. 

The programme enables all educational and early years settings to enhance their learning by creating a supportive culture and awareness around children’s birth stories and the potential support needed throughout their educational journey. 

Settings can use this programme to support children in their classroom, empowering futures, one TinyStep at a time, and to make a real impact in educational underachievement in NI. 

The programme is FREE to participate in and can be completed within your existing school processes and timeframes. 

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What does my school need to do? 

To achieve the TinyLearners Award settings will commit to complete the following 2 steps: 

1. Knowledge: 

Staff in your setting will undertake training* to: 

• Increase the skill set and knowledge of all professionals working with children about the potential needs of being born pre-term.
• Build staff and parent knowledge about flexible school starting age. 

*The TinyLearners Award, promotes use of the ‘Preterm Birth Information for Educational Professionals’, a free online training resource developed by the PRISM (Premature Infants’ Skills in Mathematics) Study Team. The training consists of five learning resources, developed to improve your knowledge and confidence in supporting prematurely born children in the classroom.

2. Culture: 

Create a welcoming child centred culture within the setting, where staff, families and children have the opportunity to share their pre-term birth story.

To support this, you will: 

• Review data capture forms to include gathering information about a child’s birth story. 
• Provide opportunities for families to discuss any concerns regarding their Childs educational development.

By completing the 2-step process in your own timeframe, staff will be more confident and knowledgeable around supporting children born pre-term.

Once you have completed the 2-step process, please email info@tinylife.org.uk to be awarded your TinyLearners Certificate!