Understanding a Play-Based Approach to Teaching in the Early Years 

Natalie Croome is a cross-curricular generalist, specialising in helping teams hone in on just what it is that student learning is showing them about possible areas of focus for teacher and/or leader learning. Using Professional Learning Standards as drivers in the design of high-quality Professional Learning Programmes, Natalie guides teams of leaders through engaging inquiries, honing in on connecting teacher learning to student learning. Natalie brings a fresh, adaptable and flexible approach to her work in leading Professional Learning; keeping it open to questions, research and taking a personal approach to the design process. In this way, she involves Professional Learners in the whole process, from identifying the focus area/s, designing the learning,facilitation, school-based practice, sharing findings, asking new questions... Areas of expertise include teacher identity, the ethics and professional practice of international education, global education pedagogies, bilingual & multilingual classrooms, inquiry-based learning, Cognitive Coaching, interdisciplinary & transdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning, collaborative happiness, Positive Psychology and Emotional Intelligence. Natalie combines a professional approach with a sense of fun and a passion for connecting with people, building relationships, and leveraging curiosity, creativity and play as powerful learning tools.