01 May 2013

In March, we reported on our first Higher Education Academy funded seminar in the Department of Education, led by Mallika Kanyal. During this seminar, our students were invited to participate in the Development of our Early Years Resource and Research Room.

We are delighted to announce that the room is now open and functional. Work has progressed and the Early Years Resource and Research Room has now been laid out in a specific configuration. In the next academic year, early years students will have the opportunity to develop the skills they need to work in professional settings by experimenting with spaces, equipment, and play activities.

The equipment includes Persona Dolls for exploring social and emotional issues, a domestic play area for role play, the IT equipment found in most early years classes, as well as more recognisable play equipment. We have also been loaned some wonderful wall hangings crafted by one of our academics and her primary school class some years ago. Early years academics hope that the room will inspire students to explore different ways of engaging the children in their care with creative activities.

Offer holders for the new Early Years Professional Studies course were given a tour of the room in April. It was received very enthusiastically and it is hoped that this will translate into a keen engagement in the next academic year. Existing students are equally eager to be involved, and some of the MA and FdA students who are experienced practitioners have expressed the desire to work with less experienced students to further their leadership skills. Staff have been equally enthusiastic. A team of academics with early years experience and our work placement manager are preparing ways to ensure that students are supported in the use of the room.

The pictures below show the room as it was set out in April:

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