Nestled among the 21st century skyline of London's Docklands stands the Children's Garden Early Years Centre, recently judged 'Outstanding in all areas' by Ofsted. The centre was created as the workplace nursery for children of students and staff at the University of East London, when its vibrant new Docklands campus was completed in 1999.
What is unusual about this nursery is that it follows the Steiner-Waldorf early years educational method, and is the only university setting that does so, offering fulland part-time daycare to the university and to the local community.
This London-based early years centre forms part of an international movement that has existed for 100 years, with more than 3,000 schools and early years centres based on a unifying philosophy, but adapting themselves successfully to local cultures and conditions the world over.
For young children, the emphasis is on healthy physical development, focusing particularly on the areas of movement, developing fine and gross motor skills, nutrition, creative and artistic activities, a calm and beautiful environment inside and out, using natural materials, and acquiring confident oral language skills.
There is no formal instruction, and abstract learning of any kind is considered inappropriate (including learning written letters and numbers, from which Steiner centres need to apply for exemptions from some EYFS requirements). Teaching involves practitioners modelling the practical skills, behaviour and language they want the children to acquire. A daunting task!
Ofsted inspects against the EYFS, but understands that our practice is different. Our inspector was particularly pleased with the standards of care, wellbeing and the environment on offer to the children. The children were recognised to have excellent language skills, a lively interest in the world around them, and a good level of numeracy acquired from solving the practical problems of everyday life and from singing number games. Most significantly of all, it was judged that the children delight in the time they spend at nursery.
Staff were not originally trained in the Steiner early years method, but since working with it under a trained manager have come to value the effectiveness of the work. In recognising its benefits for the children, they would not wish to return to their former teaching methods.
Steiner's refreshing, inspirational quality, for both teachers and parents who work with young children, is highly valued. For example, the curriculum centres on the natural world, and holding beautiful celebrations of the seasonal festivals of the year. Staff and children enjoy creating these celebrations together, while parents enjoy attending them, and taking the ideas into their home life.
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