Nursery World - Consult children on their views

Adults can obtain a child's eye-view of nursery life by giving young children cameras and encouraging them to photograph the things that are most important to them. A report, Listening to Young Children: The mosaic approach, by London University's Institute of Education, explains how the 'mosaic' approach pieces together a picture of individual children's priorities and impressions by collating evidence from the children with the views of nursery staff and their parents.

A report, Listening to Young Children: The mosaic approach, by London University's Institute of Education, explains how the 'mosaic' approach pieces together a picture of individual children's priorities and impressions by collating evidence from the children with the views of nursery staff and their parents.

Researchers asked children aged two to four to take them on tours of the nursery, draw maps of their surroundings and take photographs. They also asked keyworkers and parents how children felt about being at the nursery.

Alison Clark, research associate in early childhood provision at the Institute's Thomas Coram Research Unit, who carried out the study with Professor Peter Moss, said, 'Getting children's views is high on today's policy agenda, but how do you get the views of children under five? If they are allowed to express themselves non-verbally, they'll surprise you with all that they have to say about what goes on in their everyday lives.'

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