ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses an example of practice, an extended project where children explored their nursery's garden to find a 'gift' which evolved into a dance based on children's observations and reflections about leaves on the trees and on the ground. It chapter examines a project undertaken at the beginning of an academic year, with a group of three-year-old nursery school children. The chapter presents an example of the philosophy and approach, and explores the manner in which the practitioners have to address and deal with the ongoing balance between child-led exploration and adult direction in everyday practice. It chapter provides an outline of how the team at Histon Early Years Centre (HEYC) encourage children to develop their creativity and support their independent learning through observation, documentation, dance, music, movement and their creative exploration. The chapter highlights how practitioners respond sensitively to children, to balance child-led exploration and adult direction in play situations.
