Nursery World - We've explored… mermaids

How staff at one setting expanded children's interest in mermaids. By Annette Rawstrone

Children dived into a new creative world.

Diving into the enchanting world of mermaids lured nursery children on an adventure involving treasure maps, mythical and real sea creatures as they explored the whole curriculum. Children at Holbeach Primary School in Catford, south east London had immersed themselves in pirate role play on a ‘ship’ in the outdoor area when one of the children decided to be a mermaid and attempt to steal their box of treasure. Staff observed how other children also became intrigued by these fantastical creatures and decided to develop this interest.

‘Holbeach Primary School has a thematic curriculum which can be a challenge in the early years because we like to go with the interests of the child,’ explains early years lead Jane Wilson. ‘The theme that we do in summer is called Splish Splash Splosh, which can go a wide variety of ways depending on the cohort and allows them to naturally gravitate to what they are interested in.

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