Some reflections on the visit to an infant and toddler centre...

The teachers orchestrate the environment and carefully prepare for teaching...questions like the following did not even get responded to as everything is considered to be interdependent and are supported through relationships and proposals for learning.

"How do you supervise all the children"

"What about health and safety?"

How often does this come into your mind before considering the magic moments? I have some sketches I will post later on.

The following photos are of the book I purchased with photographs of the centre and information.

The following photos are of the notes I took while on the visit to the Infant and Toddler centre as we were not allowed to take photographs.

This is a sketch of a wall display when you enter the centre. It was impressive. There is value placed on the values and beliefs that underpin the centre - my squiggly lines represent words and the boxes represent photographs of children and spaces

 Below is a sketch of how the space was set up - creating a depth of field and layers of reflection. Things were hanging from the roof - the lace plastic etc, and there was a plastic 'squiggle' on the projector surface creating a pink 'squiggle' on the wall.

 I loved this idea below - there was a small book A5 size with photos of landscapes - 100's of landscape pictures from around the world. there were small plastic animals and the children could place the animals in the landscape on the pages. I had a play with this one, changing the page and placing some different animals on

 Below are the comments made from the teacher about  supervision in the environments. It is interesting to note that careful consideration is given to the way the whole environment is orchestrated (their words) and there are agreements about how the space is used between adults and children. Adults are tuned in to children and always thinking about safety. I have been gifted a new word - co-responsibility

There is emphasis on dialoguing with the space - not just about the space under feet - considering volume as well. 

There was discussion about the right for children to be able to retreat away from the 'gaze of adults' and have the right to conceal themselves away.

At this centre, considerable research was done to design the building and space. This research has been used to inform the design and development of subsequent centres, so while it might seem an extreme amount of resource to invest in designing one centre, the learning is distributed in the future for developments. Something to be said for sharing what we have learnt.