Author: blcadmin

Christmas 2015.pdf

Last week our Early Years Forum met to discuss and work together looking at how to progress very young children in Music. Kevin Campbell Davidson, a Steiner School teacher and Anna Gawthorpe Reception teacher from St John’s Angell Town, planned and led the session for our Forum, and we were delighted to welcome some staff from a neighbouring cluster school, Archbishop Sumner Primary, to be with us.
One of the main things that came out of the workshop was the usefulness of rhythm sticks as a resource (similar to claves but smaller, developed by a local music practitioner Steve Grocott). They are just the right size for small hands, they dont make too much noise, they are good for developing rhythm skills and they are identical so theres no room for ‘I want that one!’. They also come with a great little book/CD of songs and ideas.

The group also discussed how to introduce and begin a session, creating a listening space, using one or tow song lines as a pulse throughout the session to give a structure on which children can create their own work.
We hope to welcome Kevin back to the forum in the summer to do a session on games. Many thanks as always to all the members of the forum for sharing their practice with each other.

We have now come to the end of the first term of our partnership with Fotosynthesis, funded by Walcot Foundation and Awards for All, exploring Maths through Photography. 4 classes took part in activities involving precise measurement and learning about shape. The children made pinhole cameras, took photographs with them, developed their photos in a pop-up darkroom in school and discovered shapes all around them using digital cameras. The project worked with classes of year 3. The children really enjoyed the project and we are currently compiling case study and evaluation on the project to see how the work has impacted on their maths learning. From February Fotosynthesis will work with younger children (Reception) using Photography for literacy learning in some of our schools.

Last week children from 5 of our primaries continued making art work for public display, inspired by the Lost Rivers theme of London Wildlife Trust. The children have been making pieces for an exhibition at Pop Brixton on Brixton Station Road that will open on 10th December and run until the New Year. In addition, tiles made by the children will form a permanent piece of art in the Milkwood Road/Lowden Road roundabout. Thanks to Miss Littlejones and Miss Adesigbin for teaching the children and bringing out their amazing talents.

Low Cost no cost flyer no 144 December 2015.docx