Growth Mindset
“In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment.”
-Carole Dweck 2015
Our practice at Clowns is influenced by Dr Carol Dweck’s ‘Growth Mindset’ theory. Through implementation of this theory we encourage children to:
- enjoy challenge
- value the importance of having a go
- accept mistakes as a natural part of the learning process
- respond positively to feedback
- take inspiration from one another and those around them
We believe that this will help the children to achieve, not only whilst at Clowns, but also in the future.
We have four puppets who embody elements of the Growth Mindset. They are:
- Tilly the Team Player
- Betty the Believer
- Percy the Problem Solver
- Sally-Ann not there yet
The puppets are used throughout the nursery as a method of teaching children to embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, enjoy effort and keep on learning.
Quality Circle Time (QCT)
Trained by Jenny Moseley, we follow an exciting, democratic and creative approach to the teaching and learning of Personal, Social and Emotional Development. Each class engages with QCT. As ap art of QCT practitioners implement ‘Circle Meetings’ with the intention of children developing a range of key communication skills, through whole group engagement in activities and games.
The Golden Rules
At Clowns we follow 6 Golden rules to protect the safety and wellbeing of the children.
- We are Kind.
- We are Gentle.
- We are Honest.
- We listen.
- We look after Property.
- We work Hard.
We use a collection of engaging stories and puppets, based on the tales of ‘Miss Beanie the Hippo,’ and her class of animals, to teach and explore the moral messages behind the rules.
Mindfulness
At Clowns we value teaching children the tools to support their own wellbeing through mindfulness. In every class, the children engage in ‘mindful moments’ at several times throughout the day. A ‘mindful moment’ is a guided exercise led by the practitioners, where the children are encouraged to focus on their senses, deepen their breathing and listen to the relaxing sound of a chime.
In the rising 4-year-old classes the children follow the MINDUP program, which is designed to foster social and emotional awareness, enhance psychological well-being, and promote academic success. This is implemented through a series of sessions which teach children about the function of the brain as well as sharpening their senses and challenging them to consider their attitudes.
Puppets
We use puppets as a powerful tool to support teaching and learning, as well as Personal, Social and Emotional Development throughout the nursery. At Clowns each class has a special class puppet of their own. The puppets are part of the children’s everyday routines and they provide a range of benefits from providing a sense of security for children to engage in whole group learning experiences.
