A panel of early years experts analyse the practice at Berridge Infant School and talk about balance between child-led and practitioner initiated play.
Sheila Sage, primary adviser with responsibility for early years in Worcestershire, is joined by Ged Cotton, an infant school headteacher from Hove and previously team leader for early years at QCA and Diane Rich, early years consultant and author. The special guest is Jo Moore, who heads the Foundation Stage at Berridge Infant School.
The panel talk about teaching mathematics outside the classroom. Diane offers some tips on how to best use the outdoor environment. The panel look in detail at role-play and analyse the experience through the eyes of Jade, aged five.
Diane and Ged suggest some ways the role play could be extended or improved. Finally, with reference to five-year-old Shoaib's day, they reflect on how practitioners go about getting the balance right between teacher-led experiences, those that are child-initiated and how both can be planned.
