Inquiry Based Learning with Dr Claire Warden

In our first of two episodes looking at Leadership for change, we focus on creating a shared vision for learning. We discuss the challenges we face as leaders around getting a strategic plan into operation. We then turn our conversation to the things that concern us most and talk about how we can put our energy to most effect in the small moments, day to day that we can control in order to impact...

We've been thinking this week about the place that rituals and routines have in our educational environment. We discuss how it's the little things in these situations that matter. Things like setting a table and gathering round together to eat a meal, gentle lighting, the idea that someone cares about you and welcomes you each day. These small rituals can easily go unnoticed but all add up to give...

We continue to think about childrens environments by looking closer at 'risky environments'. This week we examine the different types of risk and if we we truly understand how children feel when they come into our environment? It's really important to understand that there are different types of risk taking but together we bring all our experiences and learn that we need to push our own boundaries...

In this weeks episode we're exploring the first of many conversations around early childhood environments. This particular conversation was instigated by the statement; Making a room beige is not enough. We dig deeper into the idea of display in a learning environment and how important it is to have an understanding that decor should facilitate, rather than dominate learning. We debate the balance...

In this episode of Conversations with Dr Claire Warden we're going to be exploring the idea of creativity and creative thinking as I'm joined by people from across the world to really think about our own practice and the influence the adult has on creativity. We're going to start off by unpacking a quote from Juliet Desailly, and what it means for us in our day to day practice. "Creativity has alw...

Welcome to Conversations with Dr Claire Warden. In this episode my colleagues and I are going to be exploring ideas around dark and light. We think a lot about children's experiences, both in urban and rural environments; the impact of red, blue and green light on young children and what emotional effect those things might have on their development. We all have really different experiences of ligh...

The first part of our series is going to be looking at the idea of capability, by discussing a particular document that's been produced in Scotland called “Realising the Ambition”. I am in the company of passionate early years practitioners who I meet with on a weekly basis. This document explores the range of interactions, experiences and spaces we need to provide for babies and young children to...