One of my early Autumn highlights is working with staff, parents and children at Washwood Heath Nursery School. Although I’m a regular visitor throughout the academic year, we run a concentrated series of workshops in Sept/Oct designed to ease the ‘settling in’ process for both children and their parents.
So, whilst the children are getting used to their new classroom surroundings, the parents are invited to remain in the hall, just in case they are needed by their youngsters. To occupy minds and sooth the stress of separation, the adults are offered creative activities such as basketmaking and claywork.
I’m always blown away by the talent, skill and stories shared.
A husband and wife, both doctors made some super clay work. Mum made a Snow White figure. (featured photo) Apparently, she’d made one at school when she was 11years old and although the school didn’t have a kiln, she was able to paint her dry clay work and was very proud of her artwork. Really grateful for the opportunity to make it again and was excited at the prospect of it being fired and glazed. Husband helped her construct the figure, they both worked together on the same piece. Mum used to love her clay lessons and used to skip history lessons in order to work in the pottery studio.
“This really takes me back to my childhood – I’m going to take a photo and share it on my facebook page as all my old school friends will comment about it”