Nursery World - Early Years Foundation Stage: Providers perk up rooms

Children's centres and early years settings in Rotherham, Yorshire, are being challenged to change the lay-out and decor of their rooms to provide an even more stimulating learning environment for children.

The 'Changing Rooms Challenge' was launched on Monday, whenrepresentatives from more than 65 providers attended an event organisedby the town's early years service.

Paula Williams, workforce development and quality assuranceco-ordinator, said the initiative was inspired by the recent launch ofcountry singer Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in Rotherham (News, 13December 2007). 'We set things up so that it was like nursery provisionfor the children who attended that event and realised how quickly wecould do that,' she said.

The Changing Rooms challenge is designed to prepare settings for theEarly Years Foundation Stage. Liz Brown, co-ordinator at the Kimberworthchildren's centre, said it would provide fresh thinking and ideas forstaff and have 'a major impact on children's learning'.

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