Collaborative Den Building

At Rachel Keeling Nursery School the team work very sensitively and reflectively, ensuring we balance the adult support and intervention in learning with the child led and child centred approach we know that is so empowering for our children. 
This week a practitioner observed a group of children rolling around under a blanket in the garden. They suggested the children might like to make more space for themselves and create a den where they could sit up. The group were keen and set about gathering resources to make a hidey hole. After some time unsuccessfully balancing blankets over traffic cones the adult intervened again. They showed the children our bridge and thought aloud that maybe a blanket laid over that would be cosy. 
After some problem solving, the children and practitioner worked together and success was theirs!  Underneath the blanket now was an environment which allowed for much talk, laughter and eye contact. Children commented on the sunlight coming through the red blanket "It's the reflection" said one of them.
The children sustained play and demonstrated high levels of well-being during this experience. A wonderful example of sensitive co-collaboration between children and an adult.