ABSTRACT
Visitors to Coombes County Infant and Nursery School at Arborfield, near Reading, encounter a very distinctive atmosphere. It is to do with the activities that are taking place, some of them quite unusual; with the large numbers of involved adults; with the disposition of children and adults, the relationships among them and how they react together; with contexts, décor, illustrations, teaching aids; and with how you are greeted and welcomed. As you go through the day, moving from one intriguing event or situation to another, the charismatic climate seems to be ‘coming out of the walls’ (parent). An ethos is something that is felt rather than thought. The most prominent features of this ethos, therefore, carry a strong emotional theme. They are dynamism, appreciation, captivation and care.
