The BIEA summer school on early years education ended on August 19th after nine days of activity. The studying teachers had many discussions with British nursery teachers and principals. They gained an understanding of the curriculum and management practice applied in British nurseries.
EYFS expert, Claire Berridge, gave a talk on early years British educational practices concerning children under the age of three.
British outdoor education practitioner, Ingrid Chen, gave a lecture regarding the delivery of the curriculum to the study group, with many questions about outdoor education proposed. How do teachers perform risk assessments in outdoor venues prior to a forest themed class? What rules should there be when holding outdoor classes? Is there a classic game related to outdoor education practice?
The teachers attended an outdoor class at London’s Lion Square Park to help them understand what problems could be encountered when delivering such a class.
The study tour has given the teachers a better understanding of the internationally recognised British early years education system and its integration within the EYFS framework. The teachers visited The Little Angel Nursery, a very well-resourced establishment, where they learnt how UK nurseries deal with child accidents and mishaps. At the well-respected Willow Children’s Centre, the study group experienced organising and developing outdoor activities for children. The teachers also had an interview with the Holland Park Pre-Prep Nursery bursar, Phil Chilling, and were given examples of documenting the learning and development details of a child’s growth.
Study abroad enhances a teacher’s understanding of any advances concerning the development of education practice internationally; the British educational framework is one of the most recognised early years educational systems. The BIEA has been organising UK tours for overseas early years educators, which has enabled them to be at the front of current British educational practice. The BIEA anticipates that more visits to British nurseries will be organised to inspire early years teachers from around the world to develop new teaching methods and to support overseas nurseries in implementing the British EYFS framework in meeting BIEA’s Early Years Learning Qualification (ELQ) standards.