What is Pedagogy?

What is Pedagogy?

Most simply, pedagogy is about how we educate children and help their development. It is the techniques and strategies we use to provide opportunities for development and how relationships and interactions with children affect them.

Early years pedagogy can be many things, but it may touch on things like:

Behaviour – How a child’s experiences shape their behaviour.

Culture – How family life and culture impact learning and relationships.

Critique – Inviting you to challenge assumptions and issues around power, equality, and curriculum expectations.

Development – Focusing on how and why children change in terms of their learning and development over time.

Relationships – How children change and learn in relation to those around them.

The Kids Planet Approach

At Kids Planet, we have our unique approach which is a blend of the many theorists out there. For us that works effectively, and we do not ever want to limit this to just one theory or approach. This can be seen both in practice and throughout our environments and continuous provision across our nurseries.

Here are some of the theorists that have influenced early years education today and how we are using these approaches to support our pedagogy:

1. Montessori

Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator who developed the Montessori method based on thousands of scientific observations. It focuses on each child’s individuality, encouraging curiosity through a carefully designed environment and supports a sense of belonging and preparing our children for life.

The Kids Planet approach:

• Enable children to do things for themselves
• An environment that promotes freedom of choice
• Respect for the child
• Promoting independence

2. Steiner – The Waldorf approach

The Waldorf approach supports connections with nature, outdoor play and bringing nature in. It takes account of the whole child and believes that children’s learning flourishes in a calm, peaceful, predictable, familiar, and unhurried environment that recognises the child’s sensory sensitivities.

The Kids Planet approach:

• Bringing nature in through nature play
• Providing nature in the environment both indoors and outdoors
• Rhythm of life- flexible routines to fit in with the children

3. Louis Malaguzzi – The Reggio Approach

Malaguzzi looks at the environment as the 3rd teacher. At the core of the Reggio Emilia philosophy is its emphasis on building and sustaining relationships.

The Kids Planet approach:

• Continuous provision
• Environment as the 3rd teacher
• Child led play
• In the moment planning
• Documenting your child’s thoughts

4. Tai Whariki – The Woven Mat

Whāriki means ‘a woven mat’ and refers to the way in which its principles and strands are interwoven to develop curriculum. It takes a holistic approach looking at the whole child.

The Kids Planet approach:

• Empowering children to learn and play
• Child centred approach
• In the moment planning
• Family and community are part of the learning experience
• Children learn through positive relationships

5. The Scandinavian Approach – inspired by Froebel

This approach supports exploration outdoors, embracing all weathers and seeing the indoors and outdoors as one whole environment for children. Here it is encouraged to make the natural world – including fear and risk – a part of children’s daily learning experiences.

The Kids Planet approach:

• Regular access to natural spaces
• Skills based learning
• Exploration outdoors
• Learning through experiences and sensory play

6. Elizabeth Jarmen -Communication friendly spaces

Jarmen’s approach encourages creating calm and homely spaces for children, providing a sense of security.   She believes it is important to try not to overstimulate children with the environment and remove visual noise.

The Kids Planet approach:

• Supporting spaces for children that promotes speaking and listening skills
• Having natural light, soft lighting, fairy lights
• Providing cosy, homely spaces
• Having clear and consistent routines
• Neutral environments
• Providing children with free choice

For more information, please contact our Quality team.

If you are looking to find a nursery then why not use our simple tool to locate the nearest Kids Planet Day Nursery to your postcode?

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