Following the easing of lockdown restrictions from 1 June, children have returned to the Ace Centre Nursery School and Teaching School in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. But following training on transitions completed by Teaching School director Lynn Jenkins in May, staff introduced a big change: provision is only outdoors.
Offered by the British Association for Early Childhood Education, the webinar was split over two hour-long sessions.
Ms Jenkins was one of about 30 attendees. Other attendees were not visible on-screen, and the format was mainly watching a presentation, delivered by early years consultant Julie Revels, with a question-and-answer session at the end.
The sessions looked specifically at relationships, routines and building a sense of well-being and resilience among children following lockdown. Ms Jenkins says one of the most important lessons was about children’s ‘stress response system. When you’re [stressed], you’re not then able to learn in a receptive way.’
Ms Revels also referred to online publication The Recovery Curriculumby international education consultant Barry Carpenter, which explores the potential anxiety and trauma that lockdown may have had on children.
An inviting experience
These pointers guided the setting to refocus its curriculum on mental health and well-being when children returned, rather than catching up on learning. With an aim to make children feel as safe and secure as possible, while adhering to the practicalities of cleaning and social distancing, it decided outdoor learning would be more positive and inviting.
The approach has been a success, Ms Jenkins reports, as none of the children asked if they could come inside.
After the webinars Ms Jenkins received recordings of the sessions. ‘The format worked well,’ she says. ‘We’re all getting used to having meetings through a screen.’
