Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Totally creative, Reggio Emilia inspired exploratory sessions for the U5’s. We have played with clay with children, staff and parents in Nursery Schools, Children’s Centres and other Pre-School settings all over the West Midlands and beyond.

The Benefits

Reggio Emilia

Our Early Years philosophy is firmly rooted in the Reggio Emilia approach which doesn’t impose ideas on children but provides a creative environment and framework for them to explore and develop their own ideas and skills.

Confidence and independence

We engage each child not only through the creative aspect of pottery but encourage them to develop their own sense of being. This is perhaps the most important element of early year’s education.

Multi-sensory fun

Whether its thick, wet slip whizzing around on a potter’s wheel or a fired vessel struck with a beater to produce a sonic effect, our practice is a multi-sensory, materials-based celebration of infinite possibilities.

Language & Communication

The language and vocabulary children use increases in both length and complexity the more they explore clay. Teachers and early years practitioners often comment on the range of learnt words and expressions the children experiment with after a session. Interactions with staff and peers are even more enriched.

Social interaction

The collaborative nature of the pottery activities encourages the children to interact with each other as well as with us as artists and nursery staff. It’s amazing how quickly new relationships blossom and flourish around the clay table.

Materials & tools

We place considerable emphasis on children working with real materials and authentic tools. Young participants get hands-on with clay in a range of forms and consistency and use proper potter’s wheels and hand tools.

What we offer

Fantastic sensory experience
Clay Play Sessions
Collaborative whole school tile panels and sculpture
Professional fired and glazed results
Air Dried Clay Alternatives
An early appreciation for the visual arts

Fun and accessible sessions
all materials and tools
potter’s wheel assemblies
large mud sculpture
complimentary planning sessions
school outings and workshops at eastnor pottery

Cost and how to book:

Prices from £250 for a half day workshop. To check availability and to make a booking please contact the Pottery

Tel: 01531 633886 or email: admin@eastnorpottery.co.uk

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“Jon has been coming to our school for the past ten years in fact we now claim him as our ‘artist in residence’. During that time he has worked with staff at a training day and with children, their families and our 0-3 group on a regular basis.

Jon has many strengths but perhaps his most valuable one is his ability to work with people of all ages enthusing them through his own love of ceramics and helping even the most tentative to develop their creativity.

Jon is a talented artist who is constantly seeing new directions for the work that he does. His philosophy is firmly rooted in the Reggio Emilia approach which doesn’t impose ideas on the children but provides a creative environment which gives them the opportunity to explore and develop their own ideas and to experience the medium for themselves in their own way.

In a similar way Jon has never imposed his ideas on us, his work with us is always as a result of negotiation based on reflection and evaluation of previous experiences and because the approach is flexible the work can take on a new direction according to the children’s input.

This approach values the process rather than the end product although we do now have a number of beautiful collaborative ceramic pieces including a totem pole, a chair in the garden and a wonderful teapot to name just a few. However, all of these are very individual and Jon has skilfully incorporated the children’s creative ideas.
Jon has supported our forest school sessions outdoors on a number of occasions developing the children’s use of natural materials with their clay-work. This Summer saw the children developing this relationship further as they explored Smoke firing of their pots on the open fire.

Jon is easy to work with, always clears up methodically and we all look forward to his visits”

Testimonial by Evesham Nursery School, Worcestershire