(At Least) 50 Fantastic Ideas To Try At Home…Can You Help?

Alistair Bryce-CleggBoys Learning, Child Initiated Learning, construction, Continuous Provision, Creativity, Environment, Malleable Materials, Mark Making, mathematics, Messy Play, Mud Kitchen, Music, Outdoors, Play, Water Play44 Comments

As more people are self-isolating and schools and childcare settings across the world are closing, we thought we would contribute to easing the burden by providing another place you can direct parent’s /carers to for support. We are part of a wonderful, international community of Early Years practitioners who have a wealth of knowledge and a HUGE bank of ideas and activities. So, let’s gather together and share them! As a starting point I am going to use my blog to share activities that can fairly easily be done at home. I’ll gather a collection of ideas each week and post them on the website – with links from social media. If you would like to contribute please email me … Read More

Trip to The Ark – Pack Away Play Group

Alistair Bryce-CleggChild Initiated Learning, Continuous Provision, Creativity, Environment, Role Play, Uncategorized, Water Play3 Comments

Last week I had the great pleasure to get to go and just play at The Ark pack away play group in my local village. The Ark is run by Sally, Nigel and Janice who some of you will know better from Facebook as ‘Early Years Mathematics and Literacy’. If you haven’t come across their page before, have a look here. As is often the tradition with a pack away, the play group is held in the church hall and all the resources have to be put out and then packed away again every session. Resourcing can be a huge issue for pack aways, often they have a limited budget therefore the buying of the resources can be a stretch, … Read More

A Trip to Grayrigg Primary – Start Small, Think Big

Alistair Bryce-CleggBoys Learning, Child Initiated Learning, Continuous Provision, Creativity, Environment, Mud Kitchen, Outdoors, Texture Kitchen, Water Play3 Comments

I ended the school year back in July with a trip to Grayrigg Primary School – just north of Kendal. When it comes to school ethos statements, they make some pretty big claims. Our school is not about expecting children to conform, but about inspiring every child to be the best person they can possibly be: Academically; Personally; Spiritually; Socially and Morally. The staff team is small (as you would expect in a school with 30 children) and lead by their teaching Head Kirsty Cooper who’s passion for what she does is ever present and infectious! Having met Kirsty and Early Years teacher Clare on ABC Does training and had a good look at the schools website, I was really … Read More

DIY Water Play Frame

Alistair Bryce-CleggBoys Learning, Child Initiated Learning, Continuous Provision, Water Play28 Comments

After showing a picture of this at a couple of conferences this week I have had a few emails and Facebook messages asking me how you do it, so here is a very quick tutorial. Rest assured it is REALLY easy. After all I managed to make this one and my DIY skills are zero! The frame can be used indoors or out. You can make it as tall or as long as you would like it to be. Initially adults would construct the frame until the children get the hang of it and then they become very good at making it up themselves. It is a good way of getting construction skills into your water area. So, what do … Read More