Alliance takes first steps into China
5th November 2014
Early years organisation opens new office in Beijing as part of new international partnership
The Pre-school Learning Alliance is celebrating a landmark new partnership with China-based organisation I-Best, and the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), China’s nationwide not-for-profit organisation for international educational exchanges.
The partnership will see the organisations work together to: establish and share best practice through pre-school education advisory boards; develop and promote a series of seminar and roundtable events in both Beijing and London; and deliver new training programmes to support the development of early years teachers in China.
As part of this new collaboration, the Alliance has established a new office in Beijing which was officially opened by Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch and chair of the Alliance Board of Trustees Janette Parker last week (Monday 27 October) during a visit to Beijing. Neil also delivered a speech on ‘supporting the professional development of early years practitioners’ to more than 2000 delegates at the China Annual Conference for International Education 2014.
Commenting on the new partnership, Neil said:
“We are delighted to announce our new formal partnership with I-Best and the CEAIE. This partnership is a fantastic opportunity for all organisations to share good practice between the UK and China, and establish closer relationships between the respective early years sectors.
“What I have noticed most from our work with our colleagues in China so far is how closely our views on the delivery on the early years provision - everything from the importance of maintaining low child-adult ratios to the value of learning through play - are aligned.
“The UK has long been viewed internationally as an exemplar of good practice in the early years, and we are very excited to be able to share our expertise and experience with our new partners.”
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Notes for editors
- The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
- Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
- For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: