AN innovative approach to teaching which has attracted interest locally and internationally will be showcased at a special open day at a Tavistock school next week. Since last September, staff at Tavistock Primary School and Nursery have been implementing a different and hugely successful approach to the foundation stage curriculum. It involves the complete re-organisation and resourcing of six classrooms, in order to maximise youngsters? learning potential. Now, youngsters in the nursery, reception and year 1 classes have access to a variety of different ?bases?, all colour themed. There is a creative area large enough to include woodwork, play dough, junk modelling, painting, sticking, glueing and collage, areas for science, maths, music and literacy, a puppet theatre, role play areas and a quiet book corner, plus the ?rain forest area? with special sand and water ?play in a tray? activities. The children meet their class teacher in the morning for traditional lessons ? but then plan the rest of the day themselves, working in groups of around five, with an adult. Headteacher Joe Flynn said: ?They have the freedom to choose what they do, but we make sure that over the week, they use the maths area or literacy area etc a certain amount of times. It encourages independent learning and being part of the learning process, rather than having the process done to them. ?It?s working extremely well ? the children are much more positive and involved in their learning, that?s the main thing ? some parents have said they can?t believe the difference in them. They are going home and really talking with their parents about what they are learning.? Mr Flynn said staff at the school had spent a ?huge? amount of time during the summer holidays re-arranging the classrooms. Mr Flynn said the school had received many visitors from other schools, advisers and representatives from across Europe via the British Council to see the new teaching approaches. ?All have been impressed by the calm, focussed atmosphere and the sense of purpose they observe in the children,? he said. As a result of recent changes in admission arrangements by Devon Local Education Authority, the school is holding a special information evening on Tuesday January 17 at 5pm, to help any parents of children aged up to five to see what is available at Tavistock Primary School. A creche and refreshments will be available ? call the school on 01822 616044 for more information or just turn up on the day.
