5 Minutes with Sam Mason!

We think that you can only get a true sense of what Little Barn Owls is all about by getting to know our staff and seeing how dedicated they are to the children and their jobs. Below is an interview with Sam Mason, Snowy's Nursery Educator, a winner of the 2014 Rising Star Award and Employee of the Month March 2015!

HELLO SAM. THANK YOU FOR TALKING TO ME!

No problem!

SO, ARE YOU LOCAL TO LITTLE BARN OWLS?

Pretty local. I am born and bred in Worthing. Not too far away.

AND HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO WORK IN CHILDCARE?

Well, my mum has always worked in childcare and when I was younger I was called ‘Mother Hen’. I loved looking after my two younger sisters. So I suppose it was in the blood!

By the time I got to college, I really wanted to train in midwifery. I was passionate about it. However, it is such a competitive course and I was very disappointed not to get a place.

THAT MUST HAVE BEEN TOUGH?

Yes, I was heartbroken and wandered what on earth to do as all my future plans had been around a career as a midwife. Happily though, my mum’s boss offered me an apprenticeship at her nursery and I went on to study my level 2 and 3 under Chichester College and completed it a year ago!

SO THEN HOW DID YOU COME TO WORKING AT LITTLE BARN OWLS?

I decided I wanted to explore new opportunities and saw what LBO was advertising. It all happened very quickly. I applied on the Sunday night, had a call from Craig on the Monday, interviewed on Tuesday and started a trial on the Thursday. By Thursday afternoon, I was offered the job.

WOW, A WHIRLWIND!

Yes, I think it was just clear very quickly that the nursery and I suited each other!

AND YOU LIKE YOUR JOB?

LOVE my job! I had never worked with toddlers before, only pre-school children, and at first I was a little unsure how to communicate with them. But I soon learnt in order to react to their needs you have to take time to get to know them and understand their individual traits and characteristics.

For example, if a child cries, knowing that child well means that more often than not I can meet his or her needs without a fuss. I know what is likely to have been the cause of the tears for that particular child. Each child is different.

WOULD YOU CONSIDER WORKING WITH THE OLDER NURSERY CHILDREN NOW?

Not really. I adore the toddlers. We are with them at such a pivotal time of their lives. They are developing personalities, developing their walking skills, learning independence – and best of all, they still like regular cuddles! I am honoured to be part of this journey with them. Soppy, I know. But that’s honestly how I feel.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE WITH THE INQUIRY BASED LEARNING ASPECT OF THE NURSERY?

Well, I knew a little about the Reggio Emilia approach from reading about it but applying it to my work was a whole different story. Charlotte took the time to clearly explain the theory of it to me and Becca spent many sessions teaching me how to put it into practice.

I look back on how I taught the Early Years Statutory Framework at my first nursery and realise how different my approach is now. Back then, it was all about filling the children’s brains with facts and ticking off milestones on a check list. Whereas here, because each child develops skills through their own curiosity, they reach each EYFS milestone organically, without ever having to be ‘taught’. It’s quite incredible.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ASPECT OF THE NURSERY?

I am loving Farm School and I am seeing first-hand how it helps build the children’s confidence. This then translates into their behaviour inside the nursery.

We have a little girl, Cleo G. She was terrified of Persephany the pig, but after just a few short Farm School sessions where we showed the children how to respect the animals through quiet voices and gentle hands, Cleo started happily stroking her! I was amazed at the transformation.

AND HOW DO THEY MANAGE AROUND THE CHICKENS?

Well the chickens are very unpredictable and this is scary to a child under two, but once again through slowly building their confidence, they learn to handle the chicken and cherish their time with them. Lara H. was particularly unsure of the chickens at first but she now gently reassures her friends around them, and encourages them to stroke the chickens. There is a chicken called Eakey who likes to peck grain out of Lara’s hand. Lara has now named the chicken ‘Cheeky Eakey’!

We have a funny situation where Hugo S. and Niamh D. have made themselves self-titled Guardians of the Chicken Eggs! They are very protective over them. Each morning the children collect the eggs and Hugo and Niamh like to see that the child designated for picking up the eggs and placing them in the basket use the correct ‘technique’. It’s priceless to watch. They’re not even two and a half!

I do really believe this regular interaction with the animals builds their self-esteem. It also provides a unique environment for the children. I have found in Farm School, the younger children enjoy working together far more than in any other of the nursery settings.

THERE IS ONE THING I HAVE BEEN DYING TO ASK THE SNOWY STAFF!

Go for it!

SLEEP TIME. AS A PARENT, IT IS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT AROUND 12.30, ALL THE SNOWY CHILDREN AND A LARGE PROPORTION OF TAWNY CHILDREN LIE DOWN ON A MATTRESS AND FALL ASLEEP WITHOUT ANY FUSS. DOES THIS REALLY HAPPEN???

Haha! We get asked this all the time, but YES they do just that.

UNBELIEVABLE! TALK US THROUGH IT.

Well, as the children are starting lunch we darken the Snowy room, lay out all the mattresses, place each child’s bed bag and blanket on a mattress along with their comforters. We play instrumental or natural sounds music softly in the background and at 12.15, they start to filter through. Many of the children will find their own bed, lie down and after we've tucked them in - go to sleep!

Sometimes, to help them drift off, we pat their backs or rub their tummies. The other technique used by some of the staff is gently stroking down their foreheads over their eyes.

SOUND LIKE BLISS! DO MANY OF THE CHILDREN HAVE COMFORTERS?

Yes, many of them do. They’re all called different names. I think at the moment we have comforters called Bobo, Didi, Lamby, Muzzie and the most unusual, Yoydi. So cute!

SO WHAT NOW FOR YOU SAM?

Well, I want to continue working in Snowies and develop my understanding of the Reggio approach. The children are currently part of a project, learning all about the ‘secrets of paper’. I have been busy finding ways of incorporating this into Farm School. So far we have created collages, using the paper used in the animals bedding as well as egg shells and feathers. I am sure there is much more that we will come up with though!

THANK YOU SAM FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO ME.

The Dinosaur blog post!

"Why are there NO MORE dinosaurs?"

2, 3 and 4 year olds in the pre-school researching dinosaurs led to a complicated question from one boy: 'Why are there NO MORE Dinosaurs?"

The same group spent time with Abi (Educator) creating a mind map of their ideas for the reason for this phenomenon. One of the most intriguing being:

"A asteroid from space come down onto earth...left lots of gas and dirt and the dinosaurs couldn't breathe. Dinosaurs are not very good at breathing!"

Later they continued their research using clay and recycled materials to express and develop their ideas about dinosaurs further including a creation of 'a building for the dinosaur', a 'Tricerotops' and 'Dinosaur footprints' made by printing found objects and loose parts into clay to create varying impressions that concur with the children's imaginations of dinosaur footprints.

A Dinosaur Skeleton - Mark 1!

As part of ongoing research in the preschool into dinosaurs, a group of excavators discovered and 'dug up' some pre-planted dinosaur bones (sticks) from around the garden.  Maddy H collected her found 'bones' together and proposed that "we could make a whole dinosaur skeleton with these!".

The photograph of the construction is Maddy's first sculpted interpretation of a dinosaur skeleton developed purely from imagination. Interestingly she chose clay as a way to fix the 'bones' together and rather competently her creation stands up - much like a model skeleton would in a museum.

Can Maddy's proposal to develop a "whole" dinosaur skeleton be undertaken with this group? Our plan is to re-launch her idea to the group and facilitate further research through drawing, designing and sculpting to create a more comprehensive structure in order for Maddy's idea to be given time, space and attention to be brought to life. We'll keep you posted...

Interested in Reggio Emilia and the Project Based Approach in early years education?

Attend our Professional Development Event on June 27th 2015 to tour our Reggio Emilia inspired Nursery & Farm School, attend a presentation of an 8 month project and receive a free copy of our newly published book 'Landscapes' which documents the project. 

Hear from the lead educators involved in facilitating the astonishing thinking, strategizing and co-constructed journey of learning by a group of 3 and 4 year old children as they researched depth of field and perspective within digital photography.

Email us here to enquire about booking your place or continue reading to find out more.

(Click on invitation to enlarge)

Founders of the Sightlines South East Network for Creative and Reflective Practice - Little Barn Owls Nursery & Farm School invite you to a professional development event for Nursery Managers/Owners, Headteachers, Teachers, Practitioners and Early Years Professionals.

Little Barn Owls opened in 2010 and since then we have been on a journey of professional development which has attracted interest from Early Years professionals all over the country. In response to the many requests we receive for visits to our nursery we are launching two new services: professional development events and bespoke small group visit days for those wishing to experience a UK Reggio inspired nursery in practise.

‘From Interest to Enquiry’ is designed to be a taster day into what our bespoke visitor days could hold for you, your staff or colleagues when you have the chance to see our educators at work with children.

Little Barn Owls is a 70 place Nursery & Farm School set on a working farm in rural West Sussex. We consider LBO to be a place of relationships, education and professional development. Most importantly we are a group of adults researching with children the important question of how to live well?

Our approach is a bit different. We have been influenced by the philosophies of the Reggio Emilia approach for several years, but also have a strong commitment to outdoor learning. Our nursery has a large free-flow garden with a farm school that homes twenty animals, a large growing area, an outdoor atelier and a dedicated lodge studio where our professional artists (Atelieristas) work every day with children. We also run a forest school programme and employ dedicated Farm School and Outdoor Learning Coordinators to enable children’s emerging interests, fascination and theories to develop – often into long term enquiries which become projects of collaboration between the children and educators. LBO is a place where chickens and pigs meet art, children and the natural inquisitiveness of the human condition.

As part of the events on the 27th June, we’d like to show you a recent project which involved the deep-thinking enquiries of 3 and 4 year old children, over 8 months, with a desire to research depth of field and perspective within digital photography. This project is documented as our second published book and will be available on the day.

Here’s what some recent visitors had to say about their visit day:

“I’m absolutely speechless.. I just can’t believe what I’ve seen today. I’m so inspired” (Nursery Owner and Education MA student from Greenwich University group visit)

“I feel like I’ve just seen what the future of Early Years should look like in the UK” (Lottie Child, Artist and Forest School Leader)

Little Barn Owls received an Ofsted Outstanding grading in all areas in 2013 and has achieved three consecutive outstanding gradings in Learning and Development over the past 5 years. Owner and Director, Hayley Peacock is the founder of the Sightlines South East Network for Creative and Reflective Practise and has written about and presented the work of the nursery for various other organisations and industry publications such as Greenwich University and Nursery World Magazine. Working in conjunction with Sightlines Initiative, the South- East network recently developed a cross setting action-research project with 5 settings and schools from across the South East of England called ‘The Secrets of Materials’.

As well as attending four consecutive international study tours to Reggio Emilia, Little Barn Owls took part in the ‘Developing Environments of Enquiry’ programme run by Sightlines during 2014. Information about joining the South East Network and Sightlines Initiative will also be available on the day.

Booking Information

Please provide the following details by cutting and pasting the following into an email to info@littlebarnowls.co.uk to book your place on this professional development event:

Name (of all participants):

Professional Title/s:

Name of Setting/School or Organisation:

Contact email:

Contact telephone number:

Any dietary requirements we need to know about for any members of your group:

Payment details

‘From Interest to Enquiry’ Development Event is £30 per person, to include lunch and a copy of our recently published project book. Please send bacs transfers to:

Little Barn Owls LTD

Account No’: 83290905 Sort Code: 20-42-58

Or please send a cheque made payable to Little Barn Owls LTD, Little Barn Owls Nursery & Farm School, Moat House Farm, Rusper Road, Horsham, RH12 3HE.