Hi

Well it is back to school, and hello to the new EYFS. It is enouraging to see that Enabling Environments is one of the main strands of the new curriculum, especially since one of our prime goals here at Elemental Learning is to provide inspirational toys and resources that will enrich the play and learning environment, enabling children to interact with the environment positively. We look forward to continuing to come up with positive and inspirational ideas that will enable setting to move forward and embrace the new curriculum with confidence. If you would like to become part of our email programme and recieve regular updates on new and exciting ideas, then simply email me at sally@elemental-learning.co.uk, and we will be pleased to include you!

Sally.

Hi

Just thought I should tell you that we have found some lovely new fairly traded musical instruments to add to our range. A wonderfully resonant 'boing' stick for sound effects and rhythm play, an ocean hand drum which when tilted from side to side will bring sounds of the seaside to your children, a very cute and friendly little caterpillar shaker and some wooden claves from India. Log on to www.elemental-learning.co.uk or www.elementaltoys.co.uk to see more about them !

Sally

Hi

The EYFS is in the news again, with the Government Education Advisor, Mr Jim Rose, under pressure to review what are widely regarded amongst professionals as inappropriate early learning goals for Literacy.

From the BBC News website -

"The Open EYE education campaign has been running a petition on the Downing Street website which has more than 7,000 signatures.
Dr Richard House of the campaign said: "Just because some children can be drilled into meeting essentially arbitrary literacy targets at age five says nothing whatsoever about whether they are developmentally appropriate.
"There is simply no existing evidence that these goals are appropriate for five-year-olds, and plenty of evidence to the contrary - so the government is effectively playing grossly irresponsible Russian roulette with our young children’s early learning."

Couldn't agree more!

But

"shadow families minister Maria Miller said "The focus should be on making sure trained professionals are in place to help young children with reading and writing."

But surely only when the children are ready for this, which most professionals I know would insist is not during the Foundation Stage!!

Sally

Hi

We have just bought in some new animal glove puppets from the fair trade organisation that we work with in Chile.

Each is a black glove, with an applique animal on the back. We have crab. tortoise, snail. butterfly, ladybird and ant. They are great for using along with stories that are familiar to the children like 'The Bad Tempered Ladybird' etc. Not only that, but the colourful puppet gloves encourage children to learn to put gloves on by themselves, so contribute to their learning of self help skills.

Sally

Hi

We are delighted to have been included in an article the Bristol Evening Post are running on eco/ethical businesses in Bristol.

http://www.epost.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=241967&contentPK=20772960&folderPk=83730&pNodeId=241966

The photograph is a bit dodgy (!) - but the article stresses our ethical and green approach, not just to the products we sell, but also in the way we conduct our own business operation.

We are keen to buy from suppliers whose own efforts to support environmental issues are evident. The article also highlights the point that although many of our fairly traded products come from overseas, the low intensity methods used in their production means that their environmental impact starts off low, and by insisting on sea freight, rather than air freight wherever possible, we do our best to keep it that way.

By working from home, and being happy for other members of our team to do so, using public transport wherever possible, using electronic communication rather than paper, and only recycled and recyclable materials for packaging, we are cutting down as much as possible on our own environmental footprint.

Why not have a read for yourself!

Kind regards

Sally.

Hi

We were invited to exhibit at a conference organised by Redcliffe Early Years Centre yesterday, on the subject of 'Understanding Play', and were lucky enough to be able to sit in and listen to some inspirational speakers on the subject of learning and progression through play. Particularly, how important it is for children to be encouraged when initiating their own play and learning and how essential it is for the process to be valued by professionals, parents and carers. All the findings were backed up by qualitative research, and some of the case studies of children's play scenarios were so exciting to hear. It was a wonderfully successful day and very well recieved.

Sally.

Hi

These days, with the credit crunch, it is more important than ever to make sure that we are getting value for money when we buy toys for our children! We certainly don't want to be spending out on a novelty toy that will be played with for a week and then shoved under the bed!

Toys that are good for children with fantastic play and learning value are also those that have longevity, and will grow with the child. As they will last for years, that means that they must also be good value for money! So investing in a good set of bricks, some dolls, some animals and some vehicles to avoid a mountain of plastic making both a hole in your wallet and an unused heap in your childs bedroom!

Sally