Making Materials Matter

The Primary National Strategy and WEAVE Recycle are delivering an exciting creative project encouraging active learning approaches to all Areas of Learning and Development, using open-ended resources in rich learning environments set up to inspire and enable access to high quality creative exploration. The training project is taking as a framework the principles of the EYFS curriculum with an emphasis on creativity at the heart of the learning process.  Provocations and recycled materials are being used within the sessions to enable original and self directed thinking and responses.

 
 
Open-ended materials inspire children to use their imaginations to create and invent new and original ideas.  It's not only about what materials are offered to the children but how they are offered.  The way materials are arranged can strongly influence how we use them.  Materials selected and presented in an imaginative and thoughtful arrangement can trigger exciting ideas in the minds of both children and adults. Some responses to this can be seen below.
 
Walking into the WEAVE resources room was a breathtaking moment. Definitely want to collect organise and use recycle resources. Loved the freedom given to children to explore imagine, create, evaluate and develop

Really opened my eyes to the effective use of open-ended resources. Fantastic way of adapting ideas in the children’s own way, letting them take control of the direction of their learning

I have been re-inspired to start new topics or literature units in an interesting way, new role-play or story areas, use provocations in maths. The day was delivered with enthusiasm which sparked mine thank you!