This idea might sound fraught with practical difficulties to many of us, but if so, take some time to read our article about the ‘My Primary School is at the Museum’ project (‘In residence’, pages 18-20).
A nursery and two schools relocated temporarily to spend full days in a compeletely different environment, and discovered that there were many beneficial learning, social and cultural outcomes.
There were fantastic creative experiences, children who barely spoke back in school who gained in confidence, and a true hands-on approach to learning. All this, and a genuine engagement between the children and their community.
Everyone benefits from a change of environment from time to time, and young children are no different.
How refreshing this project is, especially with the last few weeks filled with anger and fear about the stressful effects of SATs testing and the row over forced academisation. We need to get back to what education should be all about, whatever may be lobbed at the sector by policymakers.
A little more time…
If you’ve been meaning to enter the Nursery World Awards 2016, and just haven’t got around to it, don’t worry, you’re not alone. After lots of requests for some extra time, we’ve extended the deadline to 5pm on Friday 27 May, so there’s no excuse not to get those entries in and make sure that your successes have the change to be recognised in the sector’s premier awards.