In July 2003, the decision was made to close our local police station in Falkirk and build a modern one and, in consultation with staff, we decided to look at ways to involve the whole nursery in the new building project.
All the children were familiar with the station as:
* they passed the police station during outings
* they and their parents passed the station en route to and from nursery
* the nursery had close links with the community policeman.
First, we contacted the building firm, Robertson Construction, to find out how we could be involved and when specific pieces of work would take place on the site. We felt it was important that the children were involved in this project from day one so that they could track its progress.
Site visits
On the day that the demolition started, we discussed with the children what they might see. They showed interest and enthusiasm immediately. There was a mention of diggers and cranes and they asked lots of questions, such as, 'Will Bob the Builder be helping?' and 'Will we get to go on the digger?'
Initially, the children visited the perimeters of the site and were fascinated by the noise, the arrival of the equipment and diggers, the demolition machinery and the site cabins, all of which they recorded using a digital camera and video camera.
The children benefited enormously from experiencing all these things first hand. Many had previously seen them only in books or on television.
During our visit the workmen were interested in the children's enthusiasm and told their site manager about us. He, in turn, was very obliging and offered us a copy of the structural plans. We also asked him if we could visit the site some time to get a closer look at the machinery.
On our return visit, the site manager explained that he had organised a visit that would ensure the firm was still meeting all its health and safety requirements.
On the day, the workmen brought the large machines to the perimeter of the site for the children to see. The children also visited the site offices and were able to meet builders, architects and surveyors. So began a strong link with the building contractors, who provided the children with child-sized hard hats and fluorescent waistcoats with the company logo.
Robertson's also arranged for a health and safety officer to visit the nursery to talk to the children about safety matters on building sites.
Building activities
From this point, our planning started to take a more structured route. The children's interest was remarkable. They started to re-enact the building site activities in both their indoor and outdoor play and we started to look at ways and resources to further develop their interests:
* We turned the role-play areas into 'building sites', using crates, pipes, assorted tools, builders' outfits and large associated vehicles, clipboards and drawing materials. All the resources were easily transferable to the outdoor play and sand area.
* In the emergent writing area, the children drew their own plans and recorded their thoughts about what their design for a new police station might look like.
* They took this one step further by using small construction materials to create a building in line with their own plans.
* Within the art area, they used small-world resources to recreate building sites in the sand tray, used junk modelling to build their own structures, and made tyre-track prints with diggers.
* We created displays of the children's artwork and photographs to further enhance their interest, involve them more closely and open up channels for communication.
Checking progress
Throughout the project, the children visited the site, initially on a daily basis and latterly weekly, to keep up to date with progress and to sustain their interest.
During each visit, we took a series of photographs as a means for the children to assess the progress made and to involve the parents in their project.
We created floor books to assess the children's learning on the project and for children to contribute their own ideas, thoughts and feelings.
At this stage, we also created large portfolio books incorporating photographs, drawings, labels and the written word to enable the children to revisit and reflect on any aspect of the project.
New station
When the new station started to take shape, we asked the community police officer to come to the nursery to discuss the possibility of the children visiting the new building.
When he came, we and the children shared with him our involvement and showed him our portfolio, which he borrowed to show his colleagues and help arrange a visit.
The children were very excited about seeing 'inside' their project, especially when they heard that they would be visiting the 'jail'.
On the day of the visit, the children were met on arrival and introduced to the staff. They then had the opportunity to visit the cells and be 'prisoners', to be interviewed by a policeman and, in groups, take part in an identity parade while the others viewed through a two-way mirror.
The highlight of the project was our invitation to attend the official opening of the station by the Princess Royal. On the day, one of our children presented her with a bouquet and we had the opportunity to display our project. The display provided great recognition for the work of the children and staff and gave us the opportunity to thank both Central Region Police and Robertson Construction for their support and help with this two-year project.
Learning experiences
Through the project, the children were able to:
* be involved in their local community
* explore environmental print
* develop an understanding of the roles of familiar people
* learn new vocabulary
* engage in problem solving and experimentation
* use their imaginations to create role play and displays
* assess their own learning experiences
* share and take turns
* develop an understanding of aspects of safety
* use ICT.
Shared interests
* If you have undertaken a project that has capitalised successfully on the interest and enthusiasm of the children in your care, then send details and photographs of the project to the address on page 3. We will pay 200 for each article published.
