News And Events
Quality Learning Environments
7 November 2016Nurtured at Home is committed to providing quality care and education in a homebased setting. In action, this means that we work with and alongside our Educators and families to ensure that our in-home learning environments are welcoming, encouraging, and provoke enquiry thinking in children. When children are engaged and participating in activities and experiences, then we know that they are learning. We support Educators with access to a variety of quality resources and provide ongoing learning and ideas for play using recyclable materials and the natural environment where children can participate in the process of planning, creating, and using their imagination.
When Educators provide the time, space and access to a variety resources, children will engage in play that at times may be unexpected and/or unanticipated. Setting an environment for learning through play is an important part of early childhood education. There are different types of environment that we might consider:
Physical Environment – the actual place and how it is arranged
Interactional Environment – the social interactions that take place within the environment
Temporal Environment – the routines and times that occur within the environment
When we are aware of how the inter-relational types of environment may influence children’s play, then we can be more responsive to their needs and allow children to decide how the resources and space may be interpreted and used. Following the children’s interests and responding appropriately gives children the opportunity to make decisions, hypothesise, plan, negotiate, socially interact, and use a range of language to articulate their thoughts and ideas.
By not having preconceived ideas as to how the play may evolve, adults are better able to adapt in their role as a learner with and alongside children. This means children feel supported in a positive environment to experiment, explore, and have fun whilst learning and gaining new knowledge about the world around them and how things work.