Features

Learning & Development: Hatching a plan

Try a few pet ducks for a wonderful addition to nursery life, loved by all, says Child First manager Andrea Leonard.

Child First Nursery and Pre-school is home to seven ducks, and our children are eagerly awaiting the arrival of seven more.

We incubated the first seven duck eggs in May last year, as part of a programme of changes that I introduced to give the children greater access to the natural world.

The philosophy at Child First is that children learn through choice, involvement and meaningful experiences. So, as well as hatching the duck eggs, we have created a fruit and vegetable garden.

Last year the children planted seeds and regularly weeded and watered the beds as well as picking and preparing the produce for lunch. In the summer we often ate our lunch outside with our chef and the children sometimes cooked lunch on the fire pit.

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