As professionals, we know what is important to the developmental progression of the children in our care, and as managers, we should also be experts in the imparting of this understanding to our staff.
Our settings come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, and the way we deliver the fundamentals will vary as we strive to make the very best of what we have, but core essentials must remain the same.
One controversial area can be the use of the outdoor space. We know, from every piece of research conducted and every time we look at a child enjoying and achieving in the outdoors, the value of providing access at all times, as much in bad weather as good.
I am shocked when I hear nursery managers, as I did recently, argue that for most of the day children have no need to go outside, and provision inside is sufficient to cater to the children's every need. What a tragic loss of opportunity.
As I listened to them I wondered, is this a lack of understanding, or a lack of conviction? Or the simple fact that to make changes, to think of things in a different way, requires effort? It demands taking ourselves and our staff out of their comfort zone to explore new ways of working. Some things may not work as you would like, some will take a revisit to the drawing board, but we must not be closed-minded.
If we are to improve practice and continue moving the profession forward we must be prepared for change. With the Government reviewing the EYFS, the very document that highlights the importance of such practices trialled and successful in other countries, we must support our own workforce to do the same. We must open our minds to the possibilities, demonstrating how in these areas at least the EYFS has such value.
If you embrace every opportunity for children, not being afraid to give it a go, when you do, and when your staff see the effects, the results will be amazing.
