Welcome to Kindergarten’s

garden

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Last year, the foundation stage had to make many changes to the

implementation of provision, in line with the new framework set out by OFSTED. This provided an opportunity to re-think and develop the outdoor provision. This prompted us to transform the space at

the front of the building, which had hardly been used for play previously,

creating different areas in which children could enjoy a stimulating environment to

enhance their learning.

At the very beginning…

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At the very beginning…As we moved more and more towards

developing children’s independence through play, with an increasing focus on

sensory stimuli, we realised that our fixed resources and surfaces outside

were no longer fit for purpose.

They weren’t accessible to all children, especially those with

disabilities or additional learning needs.

The children were too dependent on adults when they played outside,

and resources were limited.

Let’s face it…This looks pretty boring

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We pride ourselves in providing children with high-quality – but not necessarily expensive

resources to use. So we needed a plan.

Mrs Nesbitt had a look around another setting to

see what the outdoor provision was like there. She particularly liked the story

chair in the outdoor classroom.

Nikki Shaw (the designer from Creative

Partnerships), came to visit with some exciting

ideas to help us create the stimulating environment

we want to provide for our children.

Creative Partnerships

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Children’s Ideas

After all, it is going to

be their garden…

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Children’s Ideas

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The hired help…

The school won a bid for funding through ‘Creative Partnerships’ and a team of staff was organised to support the development. This included:

• Mrs Nesbitt (Assistant Head/ Leader of Foundation Stage)

• Mrs Heath (Teaching Assistant in Foundation Stage)

• Nikki Shaw ( Outdoor Provision, Garden Designer for Creative Partnerships).

Obviously our garden wasn’t going to be able to build and plant it’s self so…

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And of course our wonderful team of volunteering parents, who, as always

would prove to be invaluable.

The hired help…

Keeping parents and carers informed and involved has been key to the

successful development and use of our outdoor environment.

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But first we need to find out what we

want to grow…

So now we have a plan and a work

force… Let’s get started

then!

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What would you like to grow in our garden?

   

   

   

   

   

carrots

peas

onions

tomatoes

leeks

brussel sprouts

strawberries

blackberries

cauliflower

potatoes

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20th March 2012

Lots of parents came to

volunteer in our new garden.

Building the greenhouse was a great way to begin the project.

Once the children had chosen their fruit and veg it was time to

really get started.

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4th April 2012

To me- to you

this decking

board is

heavy!

Who knew we

could be

carpenters?

Does it matter if it’s 2mm out?

Assembling the first planter.

Mr Heath

with his jigsaw.

Ta-da!

Making Planters

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5th April 2012

Well… we made short

work of those planters, next

job please.

Building the end of the

investigation area was a bit trickier… All

hands on deck.

We had to stay inside because of the rain… Only one more left.

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17th April 2012

Students from Edgbaston High

School, came to help the children plant

seeds.

What the children planted

carrotsbeansPeasCorn

broccolionions

cucumber

They wrote the name of the

vegetable on one side of a lolly stick

and their own name on the other side.

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22nd April 2012With all those little

seeds growing in the greenhouse, we better make

them a more permanent home.

All lined up and ready to

go Mrs Shaw…

Come on Mr Heath… More bark chippings

please!

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24th April 2012And here we

have the Ground

Force team!

Just kidding… but they do look pretty good don’t they?

Everyone

worked really hard.

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24th April 2012

Even the little ones got stuck

in!

At last the

garden was

ready for the

children to plant.

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26th April 2012

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planting potatoes and

rasberries

3rd May 2012

operation outdoor

classroom and den building area was complete.

Steve was able to get some more

bark chippings.

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8th May 2012

At last the tiny seeds have grown big enough

to plant outside.

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8th May 2012

Everyone has been busy planting beans, peas, broccoli, onions,

cucumber, courgettes, leeks and carrots.

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11th May 2012

The pallets are

going to be an

insect hotel.

We can use

the money we

make from

selling the left

over seedlings

to buy new seeds.

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15th May 2012

Planting brightly coloured flowers will encourage the butterflies

and bees to use our garden too.

Parents came to help the children plant flowers

and fruit bushes.

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22nd May 2012

It was such a beautiful day,

lots of jobs were finished. The flowers and

shrubs were all planted and the sensory garden was completed.

Even the ducks

joined in!

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June 2012Watering the

garden

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17th July 2012

The shoe boxes had been painted

and been half filled with tissue

paper as a decoration.

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18th July 2012

Mrs Heath and the children

pulled up some

vegetables, it was

hard work!

The children

were very excited to see how

much they had grown!

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18th July 2012

Building the stall

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18th July 2012

Market Day

After the children had their graduation ceremony, they had a party and the parents were able to come and buy produce from our garden, we were

completely out of stock in ten minutes. Well done Everyone! C.Heath 2012

Phase 1 is complete

That is the story of Kindergarten’s garden so far, We hope you join us in

our adventure as phase 2 begins.

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