Learning outdoors
Registered childminders in Wales have been taking part in
sessions to explore how getting out and about can support the ethos
and philosophy of the Foundation Phase. The sessions were organised
for childminders by NCMA Cymru’s Foundation Phase Development
Officer.
In north east Wales, Pippa Gallagher from Plas
Derw Trust led a Forest School session for a group of registered
childminders. This was hands-on, experiential learning and included
den-building, natural art and building a habitat for a fantasy
creature to encourage and support movement in children.
Childminders were encouraged to use all their
senses through these activities, all the time linking back to how
children develop in the Foundation Phase.
Even lunch was part of the activities, with
vegetable soup made and cooked by the group over a campfire which
really added to the experience.
Childminders who attended the session said
they had a fantastic, fun and relaxing time and all stated they
would be developing ideas from the day with children in their
settings.
In south west Wales, Eileen Merriman and
Angela Rees from the school of Early Years Education at the
University of Wales Trinity St David in Carmarthen, facilitated a
training day for childminders at Trysordy, near Carmarthen.
Even though it was cold and wet, childminders
who attended showed their enthusiasm for supporting children’s
development by participating in a variety of activities in the
outdoors. Childminders had opportunities to sculpt mud creatures;
create 2-D and 3-D natural art; make sound maps; and hone their
identification skills while showing and developing their
understanding of how children develop during activities such as
these with particular reference to the ethos and philosophy of the
Foundation Phase.
Childminders talked about the emotions they experienced
during the day and how the feelings that they noticed of calmness,
security, self-confidence could be linked to developing children’s
wellbeing through similar experiences. The importance of ensuring
choices for children in their play and giving them time to develop
ideas was also discussed in detail.
The childminders hope that the courses will
help them feel more confident in promoting play in the outdoors to
parents and will highlight the need for parents to dress their
children appropriately and acknowledge that children will get muddy
or dirty when having fun playing and learning in the outdoors.
Senior lecturer, Eileen Merriman,
commented on the responsive nature of the childminders who attended
and contributed to discussions on the holistic benefits of allowing
children time to play outdoors, such as having space for large
scale activities, increasing children's independence and the sheer
enjoyment of having time to observe changes in the seasons.
She added, "the whole of the
Foundation Phase can be covered outside - and since that is where
children feel most motivated to learn, let's enjoy being there with
them!"
NCMA Cymru hopes to hold two further sessions
held in the outdoors for childminders in north-west Wales and
south-east Wales later in the financial year. As one childminder
commented, “it’s a very worthwhile course – rain can be fun!”
For further information about these courses,
or other ways NCMA Cymru can support you, please contact Claire Protheroe, NCMA
Cymru’s Foundation Phase Development Officer for Wales on 0845
8801299 or 07766 568546.