Each corner of Houghton Community Nursery School has been specially designed to maximise possibilities.
The environment consists of mini workshop areas which encourage discovery, wonder, awe and beauty, while all the time allowing both solitary and collaborative work.
Areas such as the Theatre, Garage, Studio and Garden allow older children a variety of spaces for their learning, while the Baby Room and the Den provide nurturing environments for the younger members of the nursery.
There are calm, quiet spaces where children can interact with others and have nurturing exchanges with each other and with staff, as well as space to stretch, take risks, and experiment and explore.
The whole school community values and respects the learning environment. There is an explicit recognition of partnership among parents, staff and children, and everyone’s voices are heard and seen in wall displays capturing cultures, interests, traditions and local heritage.
Staff and children learn alongside one another and embark on research projects that follow children’s questions and interests. As equal partners in learning, their personal lives are reflected in all their projects, alongside the history of the school and community, and recognition of other views, cultural beliefs and traditions.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Enquiry Based Provision at Little Barn Owls Farm and Forest School
All Little Barn Owls nurseries have art studios for children to develop long-term project work and learn how to use high-quality materials such as wire, clay, graphic resources, paint and digital equipment. Full-time, highly experienced artists work with children to offer new skills, materials and ideas.
Two nurseries include farm schools in their gardens with animals such as chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, quails and even a pig, while an 11-acre private woodland is home to daily Forest School sessions with fire circles, a large yurt, natural mud kitchens, woodworking tools, dens and rope walks.
As well as small group sessions in the atelier and farm school, children have free flow access indoors and out to explore the wide range of continuous provision on offer. Babies go outdoors and to the farm school daily, and have a huge variety of treasure baskets for heuristic play, cosy areas, large-scale mark making and much more.
FINALISTS
Forest School at Tynemouth Nursery Group
Imaginative Spaces at N Family Club
Into the Outdoors, responding to COVID at Barnkids
- Read all about our Nursery World Awards 2020 winners in our digital magazine at https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/91928/spread/1