Author Archives: janembain

The woods in the winter

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We had an amazing visit to the woods this morning. The temperature was -7 when we arrived to set up and still only -1 when we packed up to go home so it was a very challenging environment for our children. Rather than spend all our time in the camp we decided to go on an adventure. It was quite dark at our camp but we could see the sunshine hitting the tops of the trees. We decided to walk higher up the woods to see if we could find the sunshine. It was quite a trek but we found lots of really interesting things along the way. There are so many dens in our woods, we had a wee sit down in just about all of them. The cold weather had made amazing patterns in the woods, we spotted tiny icicles that looked fluffy and others that looked spiky.
We found the sunshine at the very top of the hill. There was a fantastic view so we got the binoculars out to see what we could see.
We walked back down the hill and saw so many different footprints – we spotted lots of different boots as well as some bike tracks and then even some doggy prints too.
Back at our camp site we cuddled up in our tent with some cosy stones, blankets, hot chocolate and a (few) biscuits. We have a request for jam pieces next week, not red jam though.

Confidence Building in the outdoors

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This article describes one of the reasons outdoor and risky play is so important, and, why it is so important that the adults involved are taking the right approach. It is so important to scaffold and support the play experiences appropriately in order for the children to gain the significant benefits available. It is so easy to get stuck in a safety rut, using our adult perceptions and concerns to inhibit play “just in case” rather than allowing children to expand and develop their own risk and safety assessments and in turn their problem solving, confidence, self-esteem and so, so much more.

I am Useless

Ofsted report 2017/2018 recommends a Common Sense approach to Risk

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Good to see a common sense approach to risk noted in the The Annual Report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills 2017/18. Those of us in early years have the challenge of knowing that we need to provide young children with a degree of risk and challenge in order for them to develop not only physical, but also emotional and vital life skills while being under pressure from many sides to keep children safe.

“Physical development in early years

The pressures of performance tables and Ofsted are not the only things that can lead to providers compromising on the substance of their provision. The gold plating of regulations and, in particular, health and safety requirements can do much the same.

We know that in the early years, a crucial part of preparing children for school is developing their muscular strength and dexterity. The best nurseries recognise this and encourage children to be busy and active.

But we also know that in other settings this good practice is stifled by undue concerns about the risk and safety of such activities. While it is a basic expectation of any institution that cares for children to carry out proper risk assessments, some level of risk is an essential part of childhood. Without it, we stifle children’s natural inquisitiveness and their opportunities to learn and develop and deny them those opportunitiesto build that muscular strength and dexterity. We hope that nurseries and other childcare settings take a common sense approach to managing risk.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/761606/29523_Ofsted_Annual_Report_2017-18_041218.pdf

Random Acts of Christmas Kindness – Back for 2018

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Our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness have begun with children leaving Christmas decorations around the woods for walkers and bikers to find. The children have made these decorations over the last few sessions using wood harvested from a fallen tree near our play site. If you spot a decoration please feel free to take it home and hang it on your own Christmas tree. 

If you are RACKed we’d be really grateful if you would post a photo and tag us as we are keen to see where our decorations (and other acts of kindness) end up.

Look out for some other Random Acts of Christmas Kindness coming soon!

@CambusbarronPG #CPG #CambusbarronPlaygroup #RACK #payitforward

The Dark Woods

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We all enjoyed our Dark Woods session last week. It was lovely to have so many of our children and also their families join us. It is amazing to see and feel the differences in the woods when it is dark and also to see the energy, enthusiasm and confidence in our children as they set off to show their parents and siblings where we hold our woodland sessions. On site we had our new tent up and fairy lights decorating some of the trees. There was a dark rope trail, Santa was on his usual pulley ready to be hoisted up and down while the rope swing was also in play. The biggest attraction however was the campfire and children enjoyed helping chop wood to keep the fire burning. As they had requested they made toast, sausages and marshmallows and accompanied all of these with cups of hot chocolate.
We’ve had a lot of positive feedback about the session, thank you, and, a request for a repeat session some time next year. Watch this space!

Early Years Expansion Survey

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Our survey about how our service should look and run from August 2019 will close at the end of this week (from midnight Friday Dec 17th).

Pleae take some time to give us your views on how we should deliver the increased hours. There are many different options and we want to make sure as many people as are interested have the opportunity to say what they feel would best suit our children now and in the future.

The survey is not just for current, past and future users its for everyone to have their say. Please pass the word and link around.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/V3HRM89

Thanks