Nursery World - Case study: New River Green Centre

Sheila Harrison was previously deputy head of the New River Green early years centre in Islington, London, and now works there one day a week as a consultant to those working with under-threes in addition to her job as a tutor at Hackney College. She says that appropriate provision for the under-threes involves the adults' readiness to look at what the children are interested in 'rather than looking for learning outcomes and setting up curriculum-based activity'.

She says that appropriate provision for the under-threes involves the adults' readiness to look at what the children are interested in 'rather than looking for learning outcomes and setting up curriculum-based activity'.

At New River Green, where there are nine places for babies and 14 for ages two to three, new children have a two-week settling-in period. The 'compartmentalising' of learning is resisted.

She says the Birth to Three Matters framework should be seen as long-term guidance, not used as a vehicle for weekly planning.

'Birth to Three Matters should not be a watered down version of the Foundation Stage. The good thing about it is it recognises under-three as a particular stage that should be valued for itself.'

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