Evaluating and reflecting on my provision

We are now well into the autumn term and our children are beginning to settle, make friends, stay all day and embrace the new environments and resources. Baseline assessments are going well and staff are loving observing the cohort of new children.
Something that has been very strong with my new class this year as opposed to other years is the interest in small world and construction. No matter what else is available, both girls and boys seem to always be drawn to these activities.
On reflection my classroom set up isn't quite right and although caters for this strong interest, it's not quite encompassing that passion! I know we all spend oodles of time getting our classrooms and outdoors areas ready before September not truly knowing the children that we shall be welcoming and sometimes it doesn't always 'feel' right! But it's ok to make those changes just like adapting your planning to meet the needs and interests, your environment should be treated the same too.

So it was the end of the week and also a Friday!  myself and my team decided to stay on and .....blitz the classroom to reflect our cohort, tap into those interests and make a larger space/area to allow the children room to create, construct, design etc. We didn't care that we should be sat planning - we saw this as an integral part to feeding forward and meeting the needs of our children.

I have had my eye on the new 'Lego wall tape' for some time and in moving furniture around and opening up areas, I have a great section of wall that needs something.....cue my chance to bag myself some Lego tape!!!!

Not necessarily cheap but something different that I know the children will love and I get to use an unusual space for the children's creations! I found these on Amazon. Shhh don't tell the hubby how much!!! 🤣

The pack of Lego wall strips aren't exactly....generous but caused quite a stir today! The children loved the fact that they could build onto the wall- it's a little tricky at first to bond the strip and Lego pieces with only certain ways that they will connect but it's was a great problem solving activity. The main visitors today were the GIRLS!

The children loved the space that I had opened up too. Plus for the first time children opted to stay in rather than go outside.

I will certainly be looking to add Lego baseboards to the wall space to allow for a different way of modelling- the great thing is that the strips are compatible with all types of Lego to include the cheaper versions too!

I shall be adapting this space throughout the year to reflect interests and needs but all in all, I am thrilled with the space and area!

​Anita x

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