Wind in the Willow Nursery and My Course

The way which I got my placement in Wind in The Willow Nursery was because I had to complete 90 hours in University on my course and my teacher assigned me to this setting. This setting provides childcare for children. They providing high quality care and education to children from 3 month to 5 years old. They provide a safe and nurturing home-from-home environment in which all children, their families and visitor feel welcome and comfortable within. Some days primary students (age 6-7) are coming after school to stay with their sisters or brothers till their family comes pick them up. When I was assigned to the nursery the first thing I had to email to nursery and arrange a day for a interview. I attended and met with the owner of the setting Karen and also I worked in that nursery before that’s why I knew every single room and garden in the nursery but still Karen showed me around the setting and spoke me through the routine of the nursery. I had to fill out paperwork with my information and had to read policies and procedures about safeguarding and other policies.  I completed my 90 hours I decided to stay and focus my course with the setting as I enjoyed working in the environment, with the staff and the children. When I started my placement experience at the nursery during my second year as a student, I was nervous because it was my second time teaching children but I felt like it was my first time, and I doubted if I would be a good teacher to the children. This was due to my unawareness if the young learners would like my teachings as a strange person; hence I slowly get used to them, and the children quickly liked me, which made me very socially active.  I used to keep them busy and happy by reading the old stories and have time to play with them on the field.  Furthermore, whilst working at Wind in the Willow nursery, I encouraged the children as they practiced and preformed ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ play. I helped them remember their little lines and commanded them to be quiet and focus when they started to lose interest. I also helped staff at Rainbow make the costumes of the characters for the play by helping them cut out the materials and sew them. This was a successful activity as the staff were thankful for my help and by working as a team we got the task done quickly and efficiently This activity also helped me develop my social skills which helped me develop my social skills which helped me improve my self-esteem and confidence levels.

Though I enjoyed working in the nursery, I gained a lot from working at the nursery. The children are all well behaved at the nursery. They further have a strict rule of no bullying system that the nursery management never seems to enforce appropriately.  Additionally, while working at the nursery, I motivated the learners to perform and practice some play. I assisted them in remembering some lines and ordered them to be focus and silent once they have begun losing attention. I further assisted the employees in making fonts for the game by assisting them in stenciling the resources and sewing them. It was a successful experience since the employees were thankful for my assistance, and through working as a group, people got the work completed very fast as well as efficiently. This placement experience further assisted me in developing the social knowledge that assisted me in enhancing my self-confidence and levels of confidence. Working at the nursery school has further taught me ways of taking care of children professionally.  For instance, I currently play and talk with children at the time of play, relieving them when they are distressed.

This also assisted me in learning ways of being authoritative and command honour by telling the children to be quiet and instruct them why they must always remain relaxed. Additionally, I have known that one should often tell young learners the truth since they will begin learning at something’s from a different perspective. I used to work with children aging between 0 and 5 years old for a placement week.  I believe that the whole experience helped build up my experience of working with young children. In terms of completing my E-portfolio, they gave me a lot of experience which I’m able to use in my reflective logs. 

Reflective approach: In this ePortfolio I’m going to be reflecting using critical incident, professional standards and reflective logs.