In the outdoor workshop at Sunbeams Thorpe Park Nursery in Leeds, a group of four-year-olds are gathered around a dismantled bike, attempting to fix the wheels to a palette to create their very own ‘supercar’.
With screwdrivers in hand, two of them pick up the tiny screws while the others try to hold the wheels in place so they can be secured. It’s not an easy job. Their hands are greasy from the oil, the wheels are heavy and it’s going to take teamwork and determination to get the job done.
This is just one example of the learning that has taken place since Sunbeams decided to redefine its learning environment two years ago and replace all plastic and ‘one-purpose’ toys with loose parts – open-ended resources that can be used in multiple ways to inspire children’s creativity.
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