Nursery World - Enabling Environments: National Teaching Schools

Barnet Early Years Alliance's vision is for children to ‘wallow’ in their learning. Annette Rawstrone reports

Staff are as filthy as the children as they squelch clay between their fingers, talk about how it feels, what happens when it dries and the shapes they are making. The children at Hampden Way Nursery School, part of the Barnet Early Years Alliance (BEYA – see box) in north London, have been inspired by the clay and some twigs to make an animal's lair. Using their imaginations and the available resources, this has turned into representing the Gruffalo story in mud. They're engrossed.

BEYA's vision is for the children in their care to ‘wallow’ in their learning through play and to feel safe to explore and take risks, both indoors and out. Staff aim to create a relaxed but stimulating environment where children can have fun and learn through their natural curiosity.

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