DYW Interesting Practice – Ferguslie – Pre-Five Centre: Skills Development in Early Years
Ferguslie Pre-Five Centre, this year’s Scottish Education Award winner in the category ‘Employability across Learning’, provides a skills based learning approach for children from 3 – 5 years, actively seeking to connect learning to the world of work whenever possible. Through a variety of play contexts and in connection with professionals and local businesses they engage in projects that inspire enterprising attitudes and creativity. At the same time it introduces children to a range of jobs people hold within the wider community.
Children are at the heart of this approach, influencing the direction of projects by leading the learning. Some examples include the creation of a ‘dog house’, their business venture, the ‘Rainbow Café’ for the local community and creating a nursery newspaper.
The Tackling Poverty agenda has further motivated staff to support children in developing the necessary skills and confidence to succeed. The opportunities and experiences put i
n place in partnership with parents supports the develop of skills for everyone involved ensuring that no matter their stage of development they are equipped to lead their own learning and celebrate their achievements.
Judith Thomas, head of the centre says: “At Ferguslie Pre-Five Centre our children have a natural curiosity about the world around them and we, as a staff, have put an increased emphasis on the development of children’s skills through play. They engage in projects that develops a depth of learning and to scaffold this, we connect to and work with businesses and professions. Local schools and colleges also support the projects children engage in and they understand who can help them achieve.” Partners and parents make valuable contributions to the curriculum and opportunities to involve the local community in children’s learning are maximised. ”
The holistic approach taken by the centre to developing skills and engaging children in play around the world of work provid
es inspiration and creative engagement opportunities that fosters positive attitudes for learning, life and work, important stepping stones for career education from 3 – 18.
Hear more about the nursery’s approach to developing skills for learning, life and work employability by accessing the following interview with Judith and her staff: ttps://youtu.be/FMZ0v2bmuPQ
Additional resource:
2016 Scottish Learning Festival presentation: career-education-at-ferguslie-pre-five-centre
