Professional Development Day, 17th May 2014

Please see below for details of Reflections’ next professional development day:

Inspired by Reggio: Reflections’ Approach

A Professional Development Day focusing on the pre-schools of Reggio Emilia, and influences on Reflections’ approach to early years childcare & education.

Date: Saturday 17th May 2014, from 9.30am until 3.30pm

Venue: Reflections Nursery & Forest School, Worthing, West Sussex

Cost: £75 (full-time students £40) includes refreshments & lunch

What does it mean to for a UK nursery to draw inspiration from the Reggio Approach? What are the differences between a pre-school in Reggio Emilia and a nursery like Reflections? How has Reflections developed an approach, drawing on other influences including Forest Schools.  What are the benefits of project-based learning in early years education? 

Martin Pace, Director of Reflections, along with Teresa Grimaldi, Atelierista and Yvonne Barr, Nursery Manager will be supported by other Reflections educators to give presentations and workshops.

Participants

We welcome registrations from all those working in the area of early childhood education, outdoor learning and on creative/education projects with young children. 

Programme

- A tour of Reflections Nursery with a Reflections’ educator

- Choice of:  Workshop 1: Provoking long-term project work at Reflections;  Workshop 2: Supporting children’s creativity

- Lunch and an opportunity to look in more detail at Reflections, supported by Reflections’ educators

- Presentation & Discussion: Inspired by Reggio: Reflections’ Approach. Martin Pace, Director of Reflections will discuss Reggio Emilia and how Reflections has drawn on the Reggio approach and other influences, including Forest Schools.

Please contact susan@reflectionsnurseries.co.uk  for further details.

Recent visitor to Reflections from South Africa...

We were delighted to have a visit from Lindi Bell of Small World Playgroup in Johannesburg last week. Lindi is the Chairperson of the Johannesburg Reggio Study Group.  She left us some comments following her visit as below:

First I want to thank you for making a plan for me to come and visit Reflections on a day that perhaps did not suit you as well.  I am so very grateful to have had the opportunity to move through the rooms and imbibe the atmosphere and ethos.  Truly, there were some rooms I walked into that made my eyes just tear up like there was some hidden sprinkler system or something.  I was so moved by the environment which spoke so loudly and proudly FOR children and their rights and potentials.

I understand that some of your rooms had just been cleared out over the holidays ready for the new groups to come in and make it their own space.  I would not have been happy with anything else.  Less was more definitely more in this case,

Yvonne was so generous with her time (did she tell you I took up an entire afternoon of her time??).  She was as authentic as they come, passionate about Reggio and Reflections, with a genuine and lovely way with the children. She was also very knowledgeable about all the ins and outs of running a school and was so in touch with the goings-on in each room.  I was made to feel so at home.  Honestly, I could've just bundled her up into my suitcase and brought her home with me.  I love the way she was so unapologetically confident in the teacher's role in the learning that happens at Reflections too.  That teaching and learning should not stand on opposite sides of the river watching the water flow by... that they should both be in the same boat, rowing. That yes, it is all about the children and their interests and curiosities, but the teacher has as much a part to play in the construction of that learning as the children. So, I'm preaching to the choir...

You have a magnificent school, Martin.  A noble, elegant school. A beautiful, juicy, organic, human school.  To think that its is all hand-made so to speak gives me 'goosies' (gooseflesh?).  The playground that has been co-created... the rooms full of the deep-thinking of the children (even the babies!)... the entrance hall that is so warm and welcoming, the lovely sound of children's voices drifting down the stairs, that beautiful water feature that I can't wait to read about, the 'poorly tree' so thoughtfully attended to, the fire-pit that I imagine teaches children more about being safe that any book/speech would, the edible garden so rich with provocations... the baby room with baby chairs sat side-by-side ready for communion with each other... the loveliness of Louise and Shelly... the treasure trove that I later found at St Paul's Exhibitions Centre... made it all worth coming all that way for! and then some!

I would like to say I wouldn't change a thing, but then of course you will anyway!

But really, a thoroughly amazing experience for me!

Thanks so much

Lindi Bell

SMALL WORLD PLAYGROUP

Johannesburg

Pre-school Section Leader required for Award-winning Nursery

Reflections Nursery & Forest School in Worthing won UK Nursery of the Year in 2009/10 (the only time we’ve entered!).    

We now are seeking a full-time Section Leader for our Pre-school section.  The role will involve overseeing practice and pedagogy across four rooms, managing a large team of staff and supporting learning for 50 children aged 3-5 years attending on any one day.

Reflections draws inspiration from the pre-schools of Reggio Emilia and many of our key educators have visited Reggio on study tour. You will be supported to develop your understanding of the approach.

You will be an experienced Early Years educator with a minimum qualification of NVQ level III and a foundation degree; probably having studied further. You will also need to demonstrate a track record of highly effective team leadership.  An understanding of the Reggio Approach would be very useful.   

Salary negotiable depending on experience.   

Please send a CV with covering letter to Yvonne Barr, Nursery Manager: yvonne@reflectionsnurseries.co.uk

Reflections Nursery & Forest School

Westerfields House

54 Richmond Road

Worthing

BN11 1PS

Nursery Nurses/ Early Years Educators needed for award-winning Nursery

Reflections Nursery & Forest School in Worthing, West Sussex is looking for nursery staff with experience in the early years. Reflections has a different approach to early years education and was awarded Nursery World UK Nursery of the Year in 2009/10 (the only time we’ve ever entered) and received an ‘Outstanding’ from Ofsted in 2010.  

Salaries range from £13,500 to £15,000pa or more depending upon experience and qualifications and we offer a comprehensive professional development programme, which includes developing an understanding of the Reggio Approach.

If you have an NVQ Level 3 or higher qualification and a positive, committed approach, please e-mail your CV with a short covering letter to: martin@reflectionsnurseries.co.uk

 

Or by post to Martin Pace, Director, Reflections Nursery & Forest School, Westerfields House, 54 Richmond Road, Worthing, BN11 1PS.

http://www.reflectionsnurseries.co.uk

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