Beginnings
– How I view my practice at the start of my current training –
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I enjoy seeing them discover- having the opportunity to help facilitate them discovering something new or finding out more about something that sparks their interest. I enjoy their discovery of new materials and discovery of what they can experiment with in creating using new materials in different ways
I would describe my role as enabling children to pursue their ideas, scaffolding their creativity and introducing new techniques and inspiration to help them to take their ideas further and in different directions
my practice is most child centred when facilitating workshops- I use observation and discussion of what children want to do and are interested in pursuing to inform what materials I provide and how to structure sessions. Workshops always involve choice, open ended making and opportunities to create express ideas in a number of different ways
I predominantly work outdoors- there is a huge variety of materials and experiences open to children in the settings, choice is facilitated in which areas they use, collecting their own materials and play setting. I take great care to provide thoughtful, open ended and visually/ textural rich and beautiful materials that are varied each session.
This is something I wish to improve on- in my nursery setting children have more power to adapt the space and create extended play set ups, their opinions and ideas can be acted on long term and their individual needs and personalities shape the rhythms and policies. However in a setting where I see children less frequently ( once a week or maybe even just as a one off ) this is less clear and more difficult to achieve.
It informs me hugely. In Nursery it is a daily discussion and analysis, outside of this I continue to imbed the principles in my workshops and sessions.
Social justice is very important to me. I actively seek funding to provide sessions in communities that have less on offer for children and families and equity of opportunity and provision is something that underpins work in my organisations.
I hope to strengthen the amplification of children's voices and ideas in my settings, and consider how elements of child focused and open ended structures can be applied to much shorter sessions and periods of engagement with children and families.
I need a cooperative and warm team