Preparing Today’s Children for Tomorrow
Today’s children need extra skills to be ready for the future; we’re living in a time of rapid change so that will likely involve jobs not currently in existence, and technologies not yet created. Looking after their health early on is central to their wellbeing later in life. Early Years professionals are calling for active outdoor play to be prioritised and more time spent in nature – particularly wild countryside – to address concerns about the growth in children’s mental health issues.
M&D Magazine asked Rachael Lyons, the Operations Manager at Elmscot Group Nurseries, about her experience in helping children to get ready for the future.
“In our nurseries we’re lucky to be able to offer children the best of both a traditional and forest nursery. The nurseries’ idyllic locations, close to the Cheshire countryside, enable easy access to local wild spaces. Where better to practice balancing than along a tree trunk in the woods? What better way to understand the life cycle than enjoying seasonal changes each time they visit their local forest or field? At Elmscot, we’re trying to create magical experiences, such as going on a bear hunt or creating woodland clay creatures, developing the children’s imagination and love of the natural world. As well as having lots of fun, they’re being exposed to a far more diverse range of stimulating first-hand learning experiences than can be accessed within the nursery environment alone.
“We believe that time in the wild is invaluable for open-ended exploring, active learning through play, developing imagination, creativity and curiosity, collaborating, thinking critically and problem solving. The wild is full of unexpected outcomes, which Elmscot children learn to take in their stride. If the den they built falls down, they simply start again, adapting their method – naturally building resilience, confidence and self-esteem along the way. Their high-quality waterproofs, provided by the nursery, ensure that rain never stops play either.
“Spending so much time in nature, the children want to protect it, hence activities like walking to nursery, litter picking and tree planting are natural choices for them. All our nurseries are involved with local communities by supporting food banks, visiting care homes or decorating Christmas trees. This helps the children to make sense of the world around them, and develop empathy, kindness and a sense of belonging. The nurseries’ turtle bus pushchairs make accessing the wild and the local communities easier and safer. The children love riding in them – sitting opposite each other, they can easily talk to friends, and get in and out through a side door, just like in a real bus.
“The outdoor experiences which our kids have are perfectly complemented with time back at nursery – this includes getting involved with music, dance, art, woodwork, cooking and sports. We’re also getting them ready for school by developing key proficiencies such as numeracy, literacy, and fine motor skills. And, of course, we are proud to be repeatedly recognised as providers of the best nursery food in the UK, all prepared using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. Our menus are approved by a registered dietician, and are healthy as well as exposing the children to the most amazing foods and flavours.
“Last but not least, we strongly encourage parents to be closely involved in the life of the nursery. Parents’ sessions and regular updates from the child’s key worker are essential tools in our communication strategy.
“We are proud to have won multiple national awards – Ofsted Outstanding, Day Nurseries Top 20 and Millie’s Mark to name just a few. We are delighted that our nurseries come highly recommended by parents. But the most important thing for us is that our children can’t wait to go to nursery each morning!”
