Play in Practice

Last summer, Sarah Pedlow and I discussed how we wanted to implement continuous provision into our P1/2 or P2 classes. Ciara Lynch, my year group teaching partner was also keen to change up current play practice and so the three of us chat about our experience, what we implemented, changed and what we have learned over the past year. We share ideas and have some suggestions about where to find resources to help you plan for this type of play.

We know the benefits of learning outdoors and we are each at different stages of developing this is our schools. Richard McMeekin, manager of Clandeboye Nature Rangers shares some tips, advice and ideas to help us along. Known as That Forest School Guy and a play worker himself, he has lots of experience to draw upon - even as he is signing off from the podcast he shares a money saving tip about flowers that I will use from this point on!

Welcome back to the podcast and thank you for coming back to listen again! In this episode we are talking about Nativity, Christmas celebrations, alternatives and ensuring inclusive practice in the month of December. What happens if some children in your class have opted out or Nativity or RE? Have you thought about different faiths in your classrooms or children with no religion?  Our guest, Laura Fitzsimons and I chat through our own experiences in the classroom and she offers some thoughts and ideas for alternative festivities which will prompt you to reflect on your own practice. 

*Disclaimer - this podcast is a discussion on how to improve or adapt teaching in the Foundation Stage so that all children's experiences in school in December are enhanced. Although some ideas discussed are non - religious or secular, this is not an anti religious podcast.

Sarah has lots of experience in implementing continuous provision in her reception and early years classrooms. This year, like me, she is implementing continuous provision in a P2 class. She has great tips, lots of suggestions for further reading and plenty of real life experiences we can learn from. We talk about how we might implement our ideas this year.

Judy is a Foundation Stage leader, teaching P1/2 and has 17 years teaching experience.  She talks through her journey so far in improving her practice in making and using observations. She reflects on her practice and discusses what she wants to implement this year.

Teaching principal, Pamela Lowry talks us through how outdoor learning has developed in her school. From the initial need, developing outdoor areas, using nature to enhance learning in numeracy and literacy, she chats about fairy glens and gardening that will inspire your outdoor play.