Changethinking

Archive for the ‘Early Years’ Category

Playing outside is one of the most natural experiences for children of all ages. What more can be gained and enjoyed than climbing a fallen tree, creeping among bamboo canes, exploring in hidden corners.

There’s lots to take into account when designing for a play space where all children can feel safe yet free.

Children can have fun and learn at the same time which is fundamentally behind the meaning of play. In an adult world we us words like research and experimenting. It describes a process of finding out, feeling we can try and fail or succeed, of being on our own or with friends and peers.

In designing play spaces lots of natural materials and features will encourage and give space for fun and finding out. Small hills to climb, willow arbors to creep in, paths to explore, places to hide and of course space to run and burn up that amazing amount of energy that children have.

Alongside that, all children like to have swings, slides, climbing frames, ropes, sandpits and all the traditional play area equipment. The ground surface needs to be safe and where there are high climbing points they will need extra depth to the rubber surface.

But the focus for the play area is best spent on design and integration of a wide range of natural spaces and features linked in with colourful equipment.

All play areas should have regard to children with special needs and this is easily part of the design based on a natural approach. It is built in from the start, not as an added extra.

Parents and carers are important too! Seating and space for pushchairs and large amount of things that all families need can be part of the design. If the parents can relax and feel their children are safe and having a good time the play area will be better used.

At SmithMartin Partnership LLP we have created designs for play areas. We are part of Learning Through Landscapes and SkillsActive which are both part of the agenda for developing play.

The wonderful vision of a Big Society where people help each other, not for reward but just because they can.

In some places where this is happening through volunteering and support groups you can see that confidence is built and self esteem is lifted. People reluctant to step forward for fear of being unable to join in can find they step out on a ladder which gives them a feeling of self worth, helps them to have fun with their families and can even lead to a start of something new in their lives.

A great example of how a school ‘Home to School’ support really helps directly with people is shown in Children and Young People Now, wk 22 – 28 June 2010.

At the Marion Richardson School in Whitechapel, 30% of parents are now involved in some form of volunteering. Previously they were reluctant to leave their homes.

There is a credit union, after school clubs, maths and reading clubs. A group has started for teaching Arabic to Bengali and Somali parents, which is led by a Moroccan parent .

Alison Jones, who is employed by the charity School Home Support, is often found in The Parents’ Hut – the mobile in the playground. She supports parents as a listening ear on family sickness, bereavement, unemployment and housing and domestic violence.

The Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities programmes and courses are also a way in and Alison says,‘It helps them to get to know other parents, but also learn about violence in our community, how to stop kids getting into gangs, what is domestic violence and child abuse.’

At SmithMartin Partnership we are involved in many schools around the extended day and activities that are happening in after school clubs and holiday schemes

We like this approach, being there in a place where parents are comfortable, even if nothing else the time to listen can be a real life line.

And as Alison says, ‘For most parents its about having the confidence to move out of depression and into the community.’ What a difference that must make.

What I want to be………

Daycare Trust are asking children and young people of all ages to join them to celebrate National Childcare Week 12th – 16 th July.

The art competition is based on “ What you want to be”. It may be a racing driver, a teacher, a writer, a spaceship astronaut, who knows……

Winners of the competition will be invited to an awards ceremony in Central London where they will receive their prizes and the chance to meet some famous book and tv characters, like Big Chris and Roary the Racing Car and their creator, Keith Chapman. The closing date is 18th June 2010.

All the winning entries will be published on Daycare Trust website and Flickr and other outlets, as well as being included in a booklet to mark the occasion.

SmithMartin Partnership LLP is a supporter and sponsor of the event and are pleased to be part of the Daycare Trust’s continued work, campaigning for accessible and quality childcare.

The research carried out by Daycare Trust continues to be relevant and informative to parents, employers and government initiatives. One of the recent guides produced by Daycare Trust is,
‘A Guide to childcare for disabled children’ which provides lots of details and support contacts .

You can become a member of Daycare Trust and receive much of the information for free. Contact through the website.

The government is to spend £3million pounds on training children’s centre outreach workers. This is a drive to ensure that the most disadvantaged families are reached and the needs of all children and families are being met.

Now that children’s centres have been running for some time they are good at planning and delivering services and activities and ensuring in many cases that financial stability is a priority.

Our partnership is involved in developing children’s centres and continues to support them in both their marketing and work with the community. The local neighbourhood and a knowledge of families and organisations can make so much difference to ensuring that they are part of the community and not seen as another service beyond a closed gate.

Over 5000 workers are intended to be part of the training programme, which is being developed by Children’s Workforce Development Council . It is being provided by  National Children’s Bureau through a programme called Families Going Forward and underpinned by 4Children.

The increase in the free entitlement from 12.5 hrs to 15 hrs a week (when delivered in term time) is already being implemented in some local authorities.

Its intention is to improve access to good quality early years provision and to support all young children’s development and understanding. It also is a great help and support to parents in the growing needs of young families and in enabling some parents to be able to access work related opportunities more easily.

There is a need for flexibility to be built into the programme so that parents can have a range of options to chose from. These should include access on a termly basis or through the year.

Schools and also private, voluntary and independent (PVI’s) settings generally have very different abilities to offer a range of flexible options. But these can be achieved and within areas or neighbourhoods there can be a number of ways of offering the extra time that will best meet the needs of the majority of parents. Some effective consultation is the best way to discover parental needs.

The pathfinders and local authorities that are already successfully delivering the scheme have been asked to have all settings offering 15 hrs by September 2010. Other local authorities now have until September 2011.

There is some helpful information on the DCSF website and includes research and findings from Sheffield and Cambridge.

Great books – DolphinBookSellers have extended their successful children’s book promotion for the New Year.

The Dolphin is offering 25 high quality children’s books for just £95 delivered.

This is a great way to get to know us. We are happy to research any theme you would like to explore in children’s books and make up a list of your selection. Just ask us?

Apart from adding a specific theme to your library, get some great thank you gifts for staff, volunteers or parents and carers.

See the Dolphinbooksellers web site for more details.