I believe friendships sweeten our lives and for children they become an important factor in developing their own identity as they so patiently build a social world of their own.  Children possess an immediate desire to make friends but it takes time for them to do this and no matter how confident they are they still wish for warm relationships. Even though one of the children could not see his friend the emotional power of his voice was enough for him to feel his presence beside him.

My friend sent me text message at the weekend to say she was thinking of me because she was walking in a landscape that was familiar to me, a place where my ancestors had lived, a place I love and hold deeply in my heart.  I replied by saying I was there too with her as I visualised the environment in my mind.  Even though our children like adults may not be physically with their friends they still feel all is good with them, they are there for them and affirm the good things in life.

We are looking forward to implementing the new EYFS guidance with its trimmed down bureaucracy, with a view to savouring more time with the children and enjoying the companionship of everyday life rich in its possibilities, potentials and fulfilment. The Centre is a place where they feel at ease and at home and for them to be themselves.

June McHugh

Her passing reminds each of us just how tender and fragile our lives can be.  Linda displayed tremendous courage during her illness.  Nothing was ever too much trouble for her and her generous spirit always put the needs of others before herself.  She did all of this with a great sense of humour, a smile and sometimes a comforting hug. 

We all loved Linda she was one of the best, a great and loyal colleague, staff will miss her.

  Our thoughts and condolences go to her family at this difficult time.  May she rest in peace.

June McHugh

I immediately thought of Greenfields being surrounded by trees and situated in the corner of a park.  Sometimes we take the natural world for granted and I was reminded how immensely important trees are in our lives.  Then this set me thinking of David Hockney’s fascination with trees and the landscape in his exhibition ‘A Bigger Picture’ at the Royal Academy.  Oh! How trees teach us so much about life!

I can remember as a child feeling utterly free and secure in trees, never feeling lonely, a place to escape from the daily routines of life.  Recently I planted five trees in my garden, each day I look at them and each day they ground me in the good earth.  For me they are a symbol of an essential union of our conscious and unconscious lives.

Trees are amazing to young children, they enjoy hiding in them, reading in them and they become a catalyst for their imaginations to grow and develop.  The tree becomes a car, a rocket into space or something else.  They become homes for mini beasts, birds and squirrels.  Trees produce fruit, nuts and leaves and the earthy smells that go with them.

David Hockney’s exhibition at the Royal Academy expresses his passion with the landscape and his work illustrates a richness of layers the camera fails to capture.  For me it is a reminder to constantly expose children to authentic, natural experiences so they may connect their very being to their immediate world and the environment.

February Newsletter.

Do we provide formal schooling too soon?  My view is we do!  It is an interesting debate.

I read an article in the Times this week on very young nursery age children in France do not begin formal reading until the age of seven, they just learn letters and sounds and how to write their name.

  The French have a much more relaxed attitude with an emphasis on developing their social skills, how to organize their thoughts and learn how to speak well and communicate verbally.

This makes sense because in order to read, children need to hear the sounds.

  The child learns to adopt a point of view and begins to reason and is then capable of counting and classifying. This is based on the French logic that if children can speak clearly they can think clearly and so ask questions and hypothesize; they become analytical thinkers and intellectuals as they become adults.

I read in the same newspaper that a government advisor announced ‘Toddlers with bad speech are doomed to fail as adults.’

The world renowned pre– schools in Reggio Emilia challenge the notion of formality too soon and places emphasis in creativity and dialogue as an effective learning process. 

It is so easy to blame poor teaching methods and teachers.  I believe our problems go so much deeper than this about childhood and learning.  Much has been achieved in the UK in Early Years but the culture of testing is concerning.  For me really valuing childhood in itself is crucial.  A time to be savoured, enjoyed and develop at readiness albeit at different times makes for a sound maxim for life!

Let me leave you with this thought. “And the first step as you know is always what matters most, particularly when we are dealing with those who are young and tender.  That is the time when they are taking shape and when any impression we choose to make leaves a permanent mark.” Plato (428–348)