Beginnings
– How I view my practice at the start of my current training –
This practitioner has not chosen to share this information at this time.
I am constantly surprised, challenged, stretched and delighted by young children, who constantly help me see the world around me in new ways, teach me about how I can communicate better and share their lives and stories with me in the most humbling ways - both the good and the difficult. No day is ever the same.
As an EYO I am responsible for our Nature Kindergarten, for ensuring children have routine, rich opportunities to spend time in nature. More fundamentally I see my role as being about helping children to express themselves and discover and shape the world around them as freely, fully and safely as possible - which means different things for every child.
When I have time to go slow with children... really listening and following their lead and thinking, no matter where it takes us - excepting my role to keep them safe WITHOUT removing opportunities for risky/deep play or full emotional self-expression.
Free flow building, no age segregation, open access to outdoors, mealtimes and other routines in place but open to change around individual needs, very little adult directed activity (although not all staff are equally confident about standing back)...
We try to involve children in decisions which effect nursery life, partly by making decisions in response to close observation - but we don't of course always succeed, and some (too many?) decisions are still adult-led.
Froebel's writing inspires me every day. I particularly love his guidance to NOT provide children with ready-made answers (or assume we even have them!!) and to look closely at the WHOLE of a child's expressive life for the signs of their character, needs and learning, not just what we want or expect to see.
I passionately believe that if children's rights are respected and promoted consistently within a community - including supporting children to uphold their own and each other's rights - then we will contribute to greater social justice in the short term and also long-term agency and positive social change.
I want to explore and instil a greater shared commitment to involving children in decisions about how we run our nursery - both securing greater ownership of their day-to-day opportunities and rhythms and also of any changes to our environment and practice, which they must have a voice over. I want to learn new ideas about how to achieve this, and also how to explore it in a "live", creative and positive way with colleagues.
Openness to change, kindness, patience and slowness (not trying to squeeze in so many tasks or manage so many complex arrangements in day-to-day practice that we miss what's important in children's days)... humility/curiosity, not rushing to answers... but of course also respect for my contributions and a decent lunch break 🙂