I had the absolute pleasure this week of visiting one of my local Reggio inspired nursery settings and having a tour of the outdoor art studio.
Blog
“Strive to make everyday the best day of your life, because there is no good reason not to.” Hal Elrod
Guest Blog Post: Transition
Jul 09, 2019
This guest blog has been written by Colette Hearity a mixed EYFS KS1 teacher. Colette completed her PGCE at Edge Hill University and has worked across key stages throughout her teaching career, although her true passion is within the Early Years Foundation Stage.
She recently completed the NaSENCO Award and currently leads Early years SEND, Science, History and Spanish in her school.
You can follow her @eyfsearlyyearsideas
The Truth behind Transition
As us teachers are dragging ourselves through the final few weeks of term the thought of transitions should be at the forefront of all our minds.
It is vital that we make this time in children’s academic journey as smooth as possible, especially as lots of children find the step up from Early Years into Key Stage 1 so daunting.
But why is this?
Whether it’s due to the jump in expectations, the more formalised learning or just no longer believing they are, ‘playing all day’ children’s wellbeing after...
Love Based Leadership in Action
Jul 04, 2019
I feel very fortunate to do the job that I do; work with a range of early educators and support them in their reflections to move practice forward. It’s great to see the transformation a setting has had after working so hard on areas of their practice.
Today I had the chance to visit one of the wonderful local nurseries I’ve been working with for the last year. This was a chance to hear and see the progress they’ve made in not only their ethos but how this has translated into their learning environment.
Emma is an inspirational leader who also leads with a love-based leadership style. Making sure she invests time in getting to know each member of her team and giving them opportunities to lead in areas that are their strength. At the same time, she also understands the importance of supporting staff and has a clear system in place for professional development. Over the last year the team have worked hard on creating a shared and consistent...
A Reggio Art Studio
Jun 27, 2019
The outdoor studio is set up in a wooden cabin on the beautiful forest school grounds of the nursery. I was greeted by their artist in residence which is known as a atelierista. An Atelierista is a teacher that traces a child’s discoveries through artwork, and working together they document and reflect on what is learnt. The cabin has a lovely light and airy feel to it with doors leading out into a decked area.
Twice a week the children in preschool (3-4 year olds) will have the opportunity (If they choose) to come and work in the studio.
There is space in the centre of room for collaboration and large scale projects. While around the room the different stations allow for creative freedom. With a station dedicated to still life drawings and painting (with many natural stimuli from outside), a...
Team Building
Jun 27, 2019
Do you feel as though your team are always falling out and could do with some team building activities?
This was a question that was asked in the community group set up on Facebook for those that are studying my Hygge in Early Years Accreditation. (Find out more here)
When I worked as a leader I would hold 15 minute daily team meetings before the children came in. During this time we would run through the day, discuss health and safety/ safeguarding and share the current interests and fascinations. I really felt that having this daily meeting was important to help everyone understand how the day would pan out and allow us to have communication around it. It also meant that if any issues or difficulties were brought up by the team then these could be discussed there and then. Instead of building up over a series of days.
We would also finish our daily meetings by spending the last 5 minutes running through a guided meditation. We would use...
Guest Blog Post: Cultural Capital by Miss Grey and Play
Jun 20, 2019
Developing Cultural Capital in the Early Years
We are incredibly lucky to have a guest blog this week from Chloe Grey (AKA Miss Grey and Play).
Chloe studied her early years PGCE in Leeds and has since taught in Reception, Year 1 and Nursery in a range of schools. She has also worked as a nanny and spent time in schools in Australia and New Zealand including Montessori Settings. Chloe is currently studying for my Masters in Education and teaching in a school Nursery.
What is cultural capital?
Cultural capital is a term coined by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. He discussed ‘field’ as being like the cultural environment and ‘habitus’ as being the skills and attributes we possess relating to these cultural norms and values. This has been applied to education with the idea that some children would have had more culturally diverse experiences that may put them at an advantage. Ofsted have used the term in the new inspection framework e.g.“...
Live a Simple Life
Jun 20, 2019
Purchase what will bring you great happiness in the future.
Sometimes we can get a little lost along our track in life and we can benefit from a little reminder every now and again on what’s important for us.
Living a simple life is what the Danes pride themselves on. Nothing complicated, slowing down the pace and being present.
When it comes to spending their money the same applies. Danes will carefully plan their purchases and put thought into the ways they spend. it’s not about how much money they make and showing off but actually about how they spend the money to invest in That’s why you won’t see lots of new cars driving around Denmark or designer handbags on show. For them experiences mean more as they make you feel alive and bring you together. memories and experiences.
For example a holiday with the family would cost a lot of money but think of all the wonderful times together and the memories created will last...
Guest Blog: Authentic Resources
Jun 11, 2019
We are so incredibly lucky this week to be joined by the highly creative Zoë a Reception Lead Teacher. We are going to be looking at how we can resource to create curiosity, intrigue and excitement and then use this as a hook to deepen levels of learning.
Finding the perfect items to enhance my Reception setting has been a labour of love and turned into a real passion and perhaps a little bit of an obsession! I scour the second hand venues and sales, charity shops, local selling pages and car boot sales as well as eBay, Wish, Amazon. Wherever I am I consider how I can use these items to enhance my provision; to bring an element of wonder, to create an aspect of curiosity that goes beyond picking something up for the first time. This intrigue will fuel imagination, invite a friend along for the journey, transform into something completely new or take them to a once uninhabited place. Sometimes it is an unbelievable bargain that cannot be passed up...
Having a Hygge Impact
Jun 11, 2019
I'm blown away with how many of you have got in touch over the last week to share some of your photos of how you've made changes to you setting after taking part in my Hygge in Early Years Accreditation or after reading my book.
We will be covering some of the fabulous transformations over the next few months on our blog but also in our new magazine Hygge in the Early Years.
Here is a little preview of how Daisy Chain nursery have added foliage to their sand area and made it feel more inviting....
Chloe and Bridgit at Pebbles Childcare have also made some changes to their provision....
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After