Early Years Workshop' visits Canterbury Cross Nursery at Handsworth in Birmingham, to concentrate on observation and assessment. This predominantly Muslim setting takes children with around ten home languages. The topic is 'Mary, Mary', a garden theme. Teacher Jane tells a story about planting seeds, with bilingual support. The programme follows Amani, a four year old girl, during the fre-flow play session. She is a bubbly child and has a determination to access all the activities. She writes her name independently and plants a seed at the soil tray but in doing so snatches a spade, creates a hedgehog from clay and takes in the role play corner. Fatima, four, is a quiet, considered learner. She takes the story starter book to 'read' to the class puppet. The programme dwells on a construction activity which is the starting point for an extended assessment. In 'Nursery 2', the assessment opportunities are analysed, so there is little commentary in this programme.

Video Series: Early Years Workshop
Release Date 2005