This website is designed to show how practitioners provide learning environments which are stimulating and well matched to the needs of their children. Their sterling work is captured through films and photographs organised into themed folders and accompanied with brief, explanatory sound tracks. This large catalogue of excellence is designed so that practitioners using it can be inspired to extend the effectiveness of their own provision.
In addition, there is a section which supports schools in evaluating the effectiveness of their provision. It focuses on different aspects of attainment and on identifying and summarising rates of progress for all children and groups.
Key things to notice in the photographs are:
- the use of real resources and artefacts
- the choice of books, signage and resources which have been filtered by considering what the children already know, understand and can do and are interested in
- the organisation of resources which confronts children with thought provoking choices and fosters their independence
- the possibilities for children to use and apply key skills in role play
- the richness of things for children to do and think about.
In other words, everything to the tiniest detail looks carefully chosen!
Here is a sample folder taken from the Literacy section dealing with a Range of Opportunities in Reading.
To access the sound file click on the ‘play’ symbol in the bar below:
(If it does not play make sure you have an updated browser such as Chrome, Firefox or IE 11 or above.)
Photographs are presented as thumbnails shown below and as a carousel which matches the sound track. To activate a carousel click on any image.
This is only a sample page. To access the whole site you will need a username and password supplied by Brenda Spencer.
A audio-visual tour of the site can be accessed without logging in by watching the video below:
Please email info@brendaspencer.uk for further information. Full access for schools is on an annual membership basis. The cost is £300 for non-contributory members and £200 for schools that have contributed to the site*. If you are a Teacher Training College please ask about whole site licencing.
*Contributing schools:
William Hogarth Primary School, Chiswick
East Oxford Primary School, Oxford
Godolphin Infant School, Slough
Sparrow Farm Infant and Nursery School, Feltham
Chatsworth Primary, Hounslow
Cardinal Road Infant and Nursery School, Feltham, Middlesex
Edward Pauling Primary School, Feltham, Middlesex
Feltham Hill Infant and Nursery School, Feltham, Middlesex
Hampton Wick Infant and Nursery School, Teddington, Middlesex
Lionel Primary School, Brentford, Middlesex
Marlborough Primary School, Isleworth
Norwood Green Infant School, Southall
Green Dragon Primary School, Brentford
Our Lady and St John’s Primary School, Brentford
Hounslow Town Primary School, Hounslow
Bedfont Primary School, Bedfont
The Queen’s C.E. School, Richmond upon Thames
Heston Primary School, Hounslow
Fairholme School, Feltham
Crane Park Primary School, Feltham
Worple Primary School, Isleworth
Bearwood Primary School, Wokingham
Our Lady and St Joseph, Poplar
Strand on the Green Infants, Chiswick
Grove Road Primary School, Heston
The Orchard Primary School, Hounslow
Liberty Primary School, Mitcham
St Mary’s RC Primary School, Chiswick
St Michael and St Martin’s RC Primary School, Hounslow
Nishkam School, Isleworth
St Paul’s Primary School, Brentford
St Richard’s C of E, Feltham