Family Learning Workshops

We recognise the importance of our children engaging in sensory play and developing independence. We support all children to take part in cooking and messy play experiences during their time with us at Rachel Keeling. This week Nazma led a very well attended family learning workshop in the garden. Children worked alongside their mums, dads, aunties and grandmas following a non-cook playdough recipe,  exploring measurements and language, discussing changes and finally ending up with a lovely, large batch of dough to each take home. 
These workshops serve as a wonderful showcase of how we work with children, supporting turn taking, demonstrating how young children respond to our high expectations and being given responsibility. 
We have found over time that some family workshops work best with adults only: Boundaries, Relaxation, Healthy Lifestyles, Toilet Training, Communication & Singing and Special Books. Whereas others are more powerful held in the environment and with children: Early Mark Making and Reading, Cooking, Messy Play, Developing Physical Skills and Cycling. 
We have also found involving a range of staff in delivering the workshops is effective with some staff developing skills in doing so and others keen performers. Key workers also support families through regular meetings to discuss children's progress and share achievements as well as discussing next steps in learning. 
The purpose of our workshops is to engage with all our wonderful families and share our Rachel Keeling ethos so children's learning continues beyond our garden gate and into the later lives of our children and their families.