Our Bluebell Nursery People

What’s the most fun activity you do with the children at nursery?
My favourite activity with the children is encouraging the children to be active in many ways, such as mini football sessions to exploring our own obstacle courses in the gardens. I also love teaching the children deep relaxation using Yoga techniques. At the other extreme, I love watching the energy children unleash by letting their bodies move freely in music and movement sessions.

What is your educational philosophy?
I believe children learn through play. Independence is built through carefully crafted hands-on experiences. We role model what we are doing and it’s wonderful to watch the way that young children develop their learning and confidence. Watching them have fun is so rewarding, as we know enjoyment feeds learning.

What’s one childhood memory that makes you smile?
A childhood memory for me is taking part in a Scottish dancing lesson. I remember watching the teacher show the steps with a massive smile on her face. Her enjoyment encouraged us all to take part. A lot of giggles were had, followed by gasps when our teacher brought the swords!

What’s the most fun activity you do with the children at nursery?
The most fun activity, I think, with the children is singing, dancing and action rhymes. We sing about absolutely anything and everything and I just love to see the childrens’ reactions as a group or individually There are songs and rhymes for every occasion and if we don’t have one we make it up!

What is your educational philosophy?
I believe that children learn best when they are curious and engaged through hands-on experiences. It’s important to encourage them to be creative, whether through singing, dancing, or using their imagination.

What’s one childhood memory that makes you smile?
One childhood memory that makes me smile dates from me being around five years old. My childhood was amazingly carefree and I was lucky to have the freedom to explore my surroundings. I grew up very close to Bluebell Nursery Taverham, in a then not so built-up area, surrounded by woodlands and field. This is when I believed I could fly! Running through the long grass, arms outstretched, where the grass as tall as my chin would part ways around me as I zoomed through the fields. Alongside me ran Lady, my beautiful rough collie, chasing me all the way, the two of us completely carefree in the sunshine. In some ways, working at Bluebell Nursery takes me back to those days as we provide the children with freedom, access to nature and the feeling of a carefree childhood. It’s so special.

What’s the most fun activity you do with the children at nursery?
I really enjoy yoga and mindfulness with our children. Encouraging two, three and four year olds to focus on recognising then moving parts of their body, and tuning into their own breathing is a wonderful thing. I haven’t met a child that doesn’t enjoy yoga and they always impress me with their flexibility. It is also a great activity for self-regulation and developing gross and fine motor skills.

What is your educational philosophy?
My early years teaching philosophy is to ensure children learn through play and enjoy the experience. A happy, content child will be more receptive to new ideas and concepts. By learning through games, singing, movement and stimulating resources, children are fully engaged and will not even realise they are in a teaching environment. I am also a great advocate for outdoor learning. Any subject can be taught successfully outside and often with a touch more fun!

What’s one childhood memory that makes you smile?
My earliest childhood memory is chasing hens around the garden of my village nursery. I must have been about two and a half years old. I remember joyfully chasing the brown hens over the grass. I also remember the sports day and nativity; both such special occasions. My own memories come from bigger experiences not from the day to day activities, which makes me think we always need to be offering our Bluebell Nursery children a wide range of activities and experiences that will create memories.

What’s the most fun activity you do with the children at nursery?
I find that the most enjoyable activities to do with the children at nursery involve getting them outside and exploring nature and science, whether that’s through leaf rubbings, bug hunts or building water ramps. Luckily, we are blessed with amazing outdoor spaces at Bluebell Nursery.

I’m also not afraid to make a mess and like water painting, science experiments and making play dough. At nursery, I almost always have some form of music playing, ranging from relaxing guitar melodies during free flow play to upbeat songs for impromptu disco dancing.

What is your educational philosophy?
My educational philosophy is founded on the need to encourage children to be independent learners. I am passionate about accommodating their natural curiosity by allowing them to find out how things work, helping them explore the world and encouraging them to be expressive in a variety of ways. I really enjoy being hands on and supporting the children to learn through first-hand experiences so that they can learn actively about the world around them. With this in mind, I like to set out the nursery rooms with natural, open ended resources for children to create their own unique, wondrous creations using their imagination and creativity.

What’s one childhood memory that makes you smile?
One childhood memory that always makes me smile is going out with our horses. I can picture all three of them now as if it was yesterday. I’ve great memories of my sisters and me riding them around as often as we could and chatting to any other animal we came across. Alongside that, I’ve always been very sporty and almost every weekend I’d be down at the local park or leisure centre taking part in any sport, from cricket and football to rock climbing and badminton.