Our Mathematical Learning Journey Begins

Back in January, we kickstarted the year off with a new and exciting collaboration with Kim from 'The Learning Journey'.

Kim, who has 12 years experience as a primary school teacher, travels North Devon offering tutoring sessions in her 'classroom on wheels'. Her bus allows her to deliver a rich and diverse range of lessons in a variety of settings that is tailored to each unique child's interests.

Nursery Manager Sarah Sexon and Nursery Nurse Gaynor Williams have partaken in training as part of the Maths Champion programme and were keen to enlist Kim aboard. Kim explains how exciting this proposition was, "They, (St. Michael's), are part of the Maths Champion Programme and asked me to come on board every other week to support them in the programme. Due to my passion for EYFS and outdoor learning this was something I was incredibly excited and grateful to be asked."

Katie Webber, our Outdoors Mud Champion and nearly qualified Forest School Practioner, was delighted to collaborate with Kim. Both Kim and Katie are almost complete in their Forest School Teacher training. Therefore they both have the underpinning knowledge of how unstructured and experiential play can benefit a child's learning, emotional development and well being. "When I first met Kim, I knew this would be a fantastic opportunity for our nursery. I have been working hard to build up a learning community within our Outdoor Learning Sessions with the emphasis very much on 'learning through play'. I truly believe that by cultivating an environment where children feel safe and secure, this allows them the autonomy to explore the outdoors and learn holistically. Kim also embraces this child initiated approach and because of it, we see deeper learning concepts within the sessions."

One of our sessions has been all about composting and worms. Kim's sessions embraced this interest and the children made their own playdough - talking measurements and then of course comparing lengths and even making different shaped worms. So much vocabulary and so much learning.

We have also noticed patterns within nature. The children will often choose to use the magnifying glasses and binoculars. Kim's session embraced this with a fun nature walk to gather 'loose parts' and the children had enormous fun creating patterns within the frames.

We look forward to bringing you more news from our woodland and how we incorporate maths within our play to build children's knowledge, understanding, vocabulary and communication.