Developing independence at an early age through managed risk taking

Information about the setting

Open Door Family Centre is registered to care for 19 children aged from two to four years old at any one time.  Flying Start sessions for two-year-old children run from 9.00 am to11.30am five mornings a week during the term time and for two weeks during the summer holidays.  Foundation phase sessions for three-year-old children run from 12.30pm to 3.00pm from Monday to Thursday each week.

The setting is based on the Oldford site of Welshpool Church in Wales School in Powys.  The area has significant levels of deprivation.  A minority of children have English as an Additional Language. A group of volunteers established Open Door Family Centre as a parent and toddler group in 1993 and it has developed from this.  It has a loving and nurturing ethos and aims to provide effective opportunities for children to play and learn in a happy and secure environment.   

Context and background to the effective or innovative practice

Children at Open Door Family Centre develop their independent learning skills extremely well.  They learn to make their own decisions, to try out different experiences and to take risks increasingly confidently.  Practitioners understand when to intervene and when to stand back and give children time to consider their risk taking decisions.  This supports them extremely effectively.

Description of nature of strategy or activity

All practitioners understand how important it is to encourage children to become independent learners, and to develop their resilience and confidence through making their own decisions and taking risks.  This ensures a highly consistent approach that develops children’s skills effectively.  Leaders carry out careful risk assessment that identifies potential hazards and how to overcome them.  This creates a safe environment and gives practitioners confidence to allow children to try things out independently.  Practitioners talk to children about the equipment in the setting and explore how to use it safely with them.  This helps children learn to take responsibility for their own actions and to take measured risks.  Leaders consider what resources to provide carefully in order to challenge children effectively.  Examples in the outdoor area include stepping logs that increase in height, large blocks, ramps, tyres and balancing equipment.  Practitioners support children skilfully as they encourage them to use these.  They are careful to give children plenty of time and space to have a go, and not to intervene unless it is important to do so.  When it is appropriate, they use encouraging language to build children’s confidence.  As a result, children learn to overcome their fears and experience a strong sense of achievement.  This develops their confidence and sense of self-worth extremely effectively, as well as developing important physical skills such as their sense of balance.

What impact has this work had on provision and children’s standards?

Nearly all children move around the setting freely and make strong choices about what they want to do.  Their confidence grows when they take risks and succeed.  They develop their self-esteem, ability to solve problems and resilience effectively and, as a result, they learn to persevere when they find tasks difficult.

How have you shared your good practice?

Open Doors Family Centre uses social media to share its good practice. The local authority shares this information with others through networking events.