After a brisk walk in the sunshine, I arrived at Pen Green Centre. As I travel around to talk with teachers and leaders, it is encouraging to discover that the issues we are confronting in AotearoaNZ are similar to the tensions and challenges the sector is facing around the world. You would not believe how universal our challenges are!
I like the cut away line 'for children and their families'
The gate displays a welcome sign - how familiar is this to what we display in our services. Greetings at the gate as the first indicator that 'you are welcome here'.
The environment is open and inviting. I started with a tour around the centres with Rebecca and a group from the Netherlands. The children are so used to the visitors moving around the environment - the children walk through the groups confidently, knowing the adults will part to let them through. We did not go into the infant and toddler spaces as it is not appropriate for groups of adults to enter that space.
There were three groups touring the centres today and we all got together for a presentation outlining some of the foundational principles of the Pen Green approach to early years education...see next post.
There is so much going on there....early years education, teacher training, parent support, professional development, social service support...and I am sure there are things I have not remembered. There are many layers to Pen Green - it is so much more than a setting for early years education.
No comments:
Post a Comment