Early Years – Learning from the Learners

Taking Learning Outdoors - Pollokshaws Day Nursery

Pollokshaws day Nursery will showcase the work they have been undertaking with children over the course of last session in taking learning outdoors. The nursery is an extended day establishment in the SW of Glasgow and is located in an old, former health building with a large internal courtyard garden area.

The staff and children have been learning together over the course of the session, planning their learning experiences using AiFL strategies and taking most of their learning outdoors. Learning is driven by and evaluated by the children.

Video material is being constructed which will be run during the session to exemplify the sort of learning that is being undertaken and children and staff will be available on the day to demonstrate their big book planning techniques to plan and record children’s learning. The children will be able to present and discuss with others what they have been undertaking.

Supporting Transition to Primary School - What’s Important to Young Children - Bellrock Nursery

We asked the nursery children about their transition to Cranhill Primary School and documented their thoughts about nursery and going to school in August 2009. 

We used Clicker 5 to include children’s drawings, film and interviews, create a PowerPoint for a CD/DVD and to record the children’s preparations for school. We also made a film with the children asking them to interview people and places in school that they thought were important. The filming was done using Digi Blue cameras. Children also wanted to meet their buddies and asked if they could come and play with them in the nursery environment.

Impact on children’s learning

Children’s thoughts and ideas as they reflect on the transition to school will be electronically documented and shared with parents, Primary School and others.

Children will learn to

• Think about school, what this means to them and what kind of support they would like
• Work collaboratively with each other, older children (buddies) and staff
• Use Clicker 5 software on the Smart board
• Use digital photos to record their ideas
• Film each other, buddies and the school/nursery environment
• Film/document interviews with a range of key people who will support them in making the transition to school

 'Homecoming Scotland' - Hilltop Nursery

Come along and see Hilltop Nursery School children perform their version of 'Homecoming Scotland'. You will witness confident individuals, responsible citizens, effective contributors and successful learners.

We also use a range of strategies to develop thinking skills in our young children, helping them to think about their own learning and the methodology we use to enable children to be responsible for taking their learning forward. You will see our home link transition programme which has been developed into a transition DVD for our young children as well.