Nursery Topics - Mick Inkpen books covers all six areas of learning in the Foundation Stage curriculum in England, but it can be easily adapted to suit the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish early years curricula. The areas of learning are indicated as follows:
Personal, social and emotional development
Communication, language and literacy
Mathematical development
Knowledge and understanding of the world
Physical development
Creative development
THEMES AND ACTIVITIES
The QCA Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage is very clear that good practice involves a balance between adult-led and child-initiated play and activities, stating that 'children should notmake a distinction between "play"and "work" and neither should practitioners'. Each of the four themes within Mick Inkpen books likewise includes a balance between adult-led activities, with planned learning outcomes, and suggestions for child-initiated play that will reinforce learning and allow wider exploration of the skills, knowledge and attitudes that the topic hopes to foster. The four parts are:
Part 1 Blow by blow
Create a magical story
Explore ice, shape and the process of melting
Explore sound using balloons
Create a lunar landscape
Part 2 Get the bug
Organise a hunt for Billy's Beetle indoors and out
Create a wildlife area
Identify different smells
Match minibeasts and boxes
Part 3 For sale
Role-play a pet shop
Produce an information book about pets
Create lift-the-flap books
Look after a 'puppy'
Part 4 Wash days
Do the washing
Explore and identify toys that make a sound
Sort and match buttons
Create a 'squeaker' tree
STEPPING STONES
'Stepping stones', giving informationon how children may proceed towarda given goal, follow each adult-led activity and aim to develop practitioners' understanding of how children learn. They are set out according to a child's experience, but being 'inexperienced' should not be seen as a deficit. The information is intended only as a guide. The Foundation Stage guidance reminds us that children in early years settings have varying levels of experience regardless of their chronological age, that they will work towards a goal in different ways and that their learning is not always linear.
POSSIBLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
The child-initiated suggestions include a list of possible learning outcomes to encourage practitioners to reflect on the holistic nature of children's learning. Observing possible, rather than merely planned, outcomes provides a wider understanding of a child's learning.
TOPIC WEB
The topic web gives relevant key principles from the Foundation Stage guidance as these have a greater bearing on the aims and planning of the topic than individual early learning goals. Only the most relevant goals and stepping stones from the QCA Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage are listed, though the majority may apply given the holistic nature of children's learning. Page references to the guidance are given.
