Pre-school Quality Circle Time – is the Bees Nees

(Many thanks to Lifestyle Photography www.lifestyle-photography.info for very professional photographs and an excellent service.)

A few weeks ago I was invited to be the only key speaker for a full day at a fabulous conference in a very posh hotel in Belfast.  It was attended by a crowd of wonderful childcare workers, early years specialists and consultants, nursery managers, nursery teachers… in fact the full range of early years enthusiasts.

How refreshing that the organisers, Catherine Russell and Janice Mawhinney from Bees Nees Early Years Centre, know that to get the very best care for children you need to nurture and care for the staff first.

I was bowled over by the luxury of the hotel, the swimming pool, the hot scones… and these lovely people were staying overnight as well!!!  I think the hotel management gives them a lot of support due to the acclaimed work they do in the community with young children.

In our prior planning I wondered aloud if it was possible for them to bring in a large group of nursery age children so I could actually demonstrate how beneficial Circle Time could be for the very young.  No sooner had I said this and the organisers went off to the nearest nursery and persuaded them to send in a large minibus of 3 and 4 year olds.  So no going back!!  In they all tumbled in the afternoon, some curious, some attention needing, some painfully shy, some adventurous, some hyperactive, some socially skilled… in other words a normal group of children.  Soon the circle games and the attention they were given from two emotionally needy little puppets soon won them all over… they were feeding them, stroking them and even sharing some of their games with them.  When I became Mrs Magic Kindness in a golden cape they helped me to make a magic potion by “finding” gold rings, slugs, flowers, crispy leaves, even a little dinosaur and we put it all into our big gold pot and stirred up magic dust which, when I dipped my wand into it, it turned us all into fluffy little kittens all drinking milk from one big saucer.  A little lad was chosen to wear my magic cloak and he turned us all into jumping frogs.  Such delicious giggling and sweet fun.

They all went home happy and I spent the afternoon with the adults looking at how we can create our own personal care plan.  The best practitioners and teachers have a life outside their job… it ensures that they don’t over react to things or get over upset by stuff that’s not so important… so having your own wellbeing looked after keeps everything in balance.

So thank you Bees Nees for a lovely, lovely day.

Website Editor’s Notes

1. Jenny Mosley delivers keynote speeches, seminars and workshops at conferences and training events including headteachers’ conferences. For further information about Jenny’s work and availability please phone 01225 767157, email circletime@jennymosley.co.uk or see our training section on the website.

2. Grateful thanks to Lifestyle Photography for the use of the photographs (www.lifestyle-photography.info)

3. Jenny Mosley delivers keynote speeches, seminars and workshops at conferences and training events including headteachers’ conferences. For further information about Jenny’s work and availability please phone 01225 767157, email circletime@jennymosley.co.uk or see our training section on the website.

4. For all enquiries about Conferences, Closure (INSET) Days and Working in School Days for positive behaviour, social and emotional skills develoment, staff well-being, circle time and lunchtimes and playtimes in Early Years settings and in mainstream and special schools – click here.

5. Jenny Mosley’s training, consultancy and conferences are for teachers, teaching assistants, headteachers, midday supervisors and everyone who works with children in primary schools and early years settings.

6. Jenny Mosley’s Golden Model and training helps to promote positive behaviour, pupil voice, calmer lunchtimes and playtimes, SMSC, PSHE and British Values.

7. To see details of one of Jenny Mosley’s latest books ‘How to Create Calm Dining Halls‘.

8. To see all resources for schools, dining halls and playgrounds – click here.