Reflective, Responsive Teaching

At St Giles Nursery School, our staff are careful observers, considerate play fellows and reflective facilitators.

We watch, engage, make connections with our knowledge of young children’s learning and development, and apply opportunities which help all children to grow holistically.

Cogs and wheels.

On our Tinkering Table we had a brilliant experience of exploring and problem-solving. M and N were spinning the cogs and watching how they turn on the smooth surface of the table. When M went to spin her upside-down cog it would not turn. N said "oh no, it's upside-down, it's not turning". Z said "It's stuck." N said "turn it over", when M did, it spun and they giggled.

N decided to draw a picture of the cog on the board. M said "what is that?" N said" a long cog", then pointed and said" a small cog, this one is a pattern! " Z began spinning around pretending to be a cog on the table whilst smiling.

Tinkering is a superb way to develop children's problem-solving skills and critical thinking whilst developing their fine motor skills and dexterity and technology.

To further develop this, we will add different connective parts to build up their designs and consider the materials we spin on to increase traction of the surface.