Case study: extending schemas

Head of centre Jean Coward explains that observation is central for staff to build on young children's play interests. She actively supports her team to watch and make notes of how toddlers are using the play materials, including a child's current schema, such as transporting materials around the centre. It is then possible for alert staff to put out, or encourage a child to access play materials that can extend the transporting.

Jean explains, 'We use schemas as a planning tool and not in any prescriptive way. The whole point is to support staff to tune into very young children, to notice what they do in their play - not get stuck with a list of things they "don't do" compared with older children.' The centre's practice helps to develop the confidence of the team to explain and share with parents, and other interested adults, the richness in the play of very young children. The team plan ahead, but then each day develops in a flexible way, so that children not only choose what materials will be part of their play but also how they will use them. It is fully understood that individual children will use the sand, building or craft materials in different ways.