Looking at children’s learning

For my denomination I yield chosen to reflect on the fryrens encyclopedism in the exposure sequence entit guide Hospital Play, which was enter at St Stephens Nursery School in Newham, London. The sequence is base around the archetype of the casualty department at the local St Stephenss Hospital and was created jointly by the practitioners and the children. My reason for choosing this video clip is that I potentiometer directly relate it to the panorama within which I wee and I have created similar topographic points myself and can therefore reflect on what I can do differently next time, sinking my producement.Children do non learn in the same way as each other(a) they each have their take in preferred ways of learn (E100, subject stem 3, p. 64). There atomic number 18 many theories relating to how children learn and develop, some overture from Government chassis starts but many originate from an individuals take in ideas or beliefs. One of which being Rudol ph Steiner, whose principles tensenesse the importance of unstructured mold and the office of the teacher, who works at activities as a model for children (E100, discipline case 3, p. 6), this type of unstructured knead is evident in the video in that the outside knowledge domain offered a free breeze purlieu where the children can chose to part take in any bodily function of their choice, each the lineament persist atomic number 18a or the playground. The adult worked at the activity when she joined the t qualified offering support and extending the childrens learning finished asking questions that required the children to engage further in conversation, developing their chat skills.E100 have Topic 3, p. 62, discusses the importance of play in early long time settings, with the early years curricula in each of the four UK countries embracing the division of play in a childs learning. The frame work in England for children from birth to five, suggests that learning and teaching is about adults and children working together, to co-construct ideas and immature beas of learning, it is believed that investing at this age leave alone benefit families and children at a later stage in their life.This was evident in the construction of the consumption play area and its play instalment. In our setting we always develop our curriculum plans through group discussions with the children. Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky was the main theorist with regards to socio- pagan aspects of childrens learning. His theory relates to the social and cultural element of a childs learning and the importance an adult plays in conveying these areas of learning and set to the children.The adult is referred to as the more than able other (E100, Study Topic 3, p. 65), in the sequence Daksha Patel the practitioner takes on this role in that she speaks to the children in both position and Gujarati, so every last(predicate) children in the setting are valued and incl uded in the activity, ensuring cultural awareness and that some children egg vacuousthorn speak a different dustup. Vygotsky also placed particular emphasis on the role of the adult in the transmission of culture, knowledge and language (E100, Study Topic 3, p. 65).Cultural values are very pick out in early years settings and although our setting is situated in an affluent, rural, predominately white community we always ensure other religious beliefs are shared within the setting, celebrating different cultural events in order for the children to extend their learning beyond the community within which they live. Vygotsky, also developed a concept called the zone of proximal development (ZDP), whereby he believes a child has ii development levels, where they are at now and their proximal level, what they could do next.Adults play an grievous role in this element of his work, in that it is them that can suffer the opportunity to take the child up to their next level, it whit ethornbe that they initially offer support, but positively encourages them to try and infratake the activity (E100, Study Topic 3, p. 65). This is also evident in the sequence when Daksha Patel encourages the child to try and compose the name of whos the sample is on the bottle, she then help them by writing it on the piece of paper for them to try and copy, which the child then does underneath where she has written.Linda Miller, one of the authors of the study topic 3 discusses a similar concept when working with the ZPD of her daughter, in that she would write her name for her, as a model for her to copy (E100, Study Topic 3, p. 66). In our setting we encourage the children to write their names on any work they undertake, aiding by writing first if necessary. Outdoor play is a very important part of the Early Years foundation stage and should according to Mclean 199171, be no firm distinction between the indoors and out (cited in Robson, S, p. 226).Although it is not clear on the video whether this is the case the setting sure as shooting offers an extensive outdoor play area, with the role play area and a playground with activities that can also be seen in the sequence. The Statutory cloth for the Early Years Foundation Stage stresses that access to an outdoor play area is expected, this reinforces the importance of outdoor play in both a childs development and in their learning. Physical play is fundamental to all aspects of childrens development and learning, including the development of the childs fountainhead (Manning-Morton, J and Thorp, M, 2010, p. 100).In our setting we have an area outside that is under cover and has shutters to the main outdoor area, so it can be utilise in all weathers. Unfortunately supplying levels means we are not able to handling our outside area as much as wed like to, however we do try and get out in the morning, lunchtime and in the afternoon. Outdoor provision plays an important part in the health and welfare of children too, as it provides a safe environment that can provide lots of physically activities for children to enjoy, like scooters, play equipment like raise frames, or simply an area where they can run around and express themselves.Outdoor play also meets several of the requirements of the Every Child Matters agenda, much(prenominal) as, being healthy, staying safe and enjoying and achieving (E100, Study Topic 6, p. 141). The practitioner, Daksha Patel, demonstrates in the video intelligibly how all children are included in the activity, she speaks in both English and Gujharti so all children are able to understand. The setting has also provided a wide range of stimulating items for the activity, like syringes, bandages, and sample bottles, to ensure the area is stimulating for the children.There is no discrimination or exclusion, like the girls are nurses and the boys doctors, all children are equal, they are all wearing varying salad dressing up outfits and they are all car ing for the babies, clearly showing inclusion of all children, towards the end a child also states that he is not sharing and the practitioner steps in and reinforces what she says and shows the girl where further similar items are. When dressing up in our nursery, which the children love to do, no distinction is do between boys and girls clothes and the boys especially like to dress up in the pink princess costumes.Everyone is included and no stereo typical comments are make and any made by the children are addressed. Participation is the key element of inclusion (E100, Study Topic 6, p. 143). Study topic 4 (2010), p. 82 explains there are six main theories about child development, that complement each other rather than one being right and other wrong, one of which is that young children are innocent until they are spoiled by their parents and society (E100, Study Topic 4, p83), this is the maturationism approach, developed by Jean Jacques Rousseau. other theory is one of socia l learning, when a child learns through find others (E100, Study Topic 4 p. 99). This concept can be seen in the sequence on 2 occasions when the children carry out activities that they may have experienced in their lives, like syringing ears and putting a poultice on after an injection, this re-enforces the principle that children learn from their life experiences. In this situation the practitioner needs to be aware of issues that may arise with regards to safeguarding as the child may feel secure and in a play environment talk about something that is happening in their life.Study Topic 5, p. 131 details a list of indicators for possible signs of neglect, from the NSPCC, this includes being bruised or injured, a child may show bruises in a infirmary role play situation or talk about injuries he or she has suffered (E100, 2010). The sequence offered many areas of learning for children, though initially child led the activity was then supported by an adult, who in turn provided lengthy learning in respect of writing skills, by encouraging them to write on the sample bottles and new vocabulary and cultural awareness by speaking in both English and Gujarati.The children were able to develop their own language and communication skills through imaginative play and also extend their social skills through communication with each other and an adult. Two implications for my suffice from my analysis of the sequence with regards to supporting childrens learning are 1. Although we have a fantastic outside play area it is not use for enough activities, like in the sequence. We have a climbing frame which the children love and lots of gross motor toys, like scooter and bikes, however, I have never taken out an activity like the hospital role play area.Plus, we have a great shed that is use solely for the storage of the bikes and scooters, it would provide more learning opportunities if the children were able to use it like in the sequence as a hospital or play house. 2. My second implication also focuses around the area of role play, in that we do provide fantastic role play settings, tardily we have had a break that had clothes, shoes, tills, money, price tags, bags and even a shop frontage, but I cannot recall at anytime an adult participating in or extending the learning in the area.The only time an adult was in the area was at tidy up time It offered a entire host of learning activities like counting, communication and social skills yet all these were missed. I will ensure that in the future I will spend time in the role play area, like the practitioner did in the sequence. With regards to the official requirements on childrens welfare and provision the two implications I will take back to my setting are 1. identify histrions, although I am not currently a key worker of any children, when I am I would want to work more closely with the child and their carers. Although key workers are allocated practitioners are only trustworthy for keep ing their records up to date there is not direct activities or contact with individuals other than during the day to day activities and running of the nursery. Although key workers arent evident in the sequence, the practitioner would be able to observe and mensurate any of her children during he activity. Part of the EYFS (DCSF, 2008) requires a setting to assign key workers as they state a key person develops a accredited bond with children and offers a settled, close relationship (E100, Study Topic 5, p. 122). 2. I would also take back the theory and requirements on inclusion, particularly the multi-cultural aspect. As I stated previously we are a mainly white school, in our nursery we have over 50 children and only 1 black girl, who lives over 20 miles away in the nearest city.Although the staff and children do not discriminate against her in anyway her own cultural values and beliefs are not directly discussed in the nursery. It would be straitlaced to approach her family an d invite them into nursery to maybe discuss what the events they celebrate are and why and how they celebrate them, rather than us just playing an educational video clip this would be a positive activity do the little girl feel valued. In the sequence the practitioner speak in both Gujharti and English ensuring all the children are included in the activity.