Writing in The Spectator, Claire Dimpfl [pictured], owner and head of Tadpoles Nursery School in Chelsea, West London, reveals the upcoming launch of the nursery’s new branch in neighbouring Kensington, which will come in September 2022.
It is our belief, at Tadpoles Nursery School, that if we want the world to change, we must begin with the teaching in the very young.
Our early years is the moment where our minds are the most open and the most receptive; where we see the world around us with wonder and without judgement and where we are able to ask questions without fear or embarrassment.
Equal thinking, ecology and climate change, care and kindness within our communities - the list goes on -will only be positively affected if we educate our children from the very beginning, giving them the imagination, tools and skills at an early age. Allowing them to explore paths not yet taken and ideas without judgement.
Neil Postman wrote: "Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see," and it is this exact sentiment that we need to keep in our minds when looking at how we approach every area of our children’s early education.
If we give them the skills to question, to problem solve, to recognise and celebrate their differences, to listen to and to respect their different opinions, to understand and value their different emotions and realise that all emotions are equally valid – rather than pushing the emphasis on constant happiness – we will be giving them the skills that will help them to prepare for the future with resilience.
We believe that the most inspiring way of teaching these invaluable lessons is not through ‘forced learning’ but through the art of play. This was also recognised in ancient times. The philosopher Plato said: "Do not keep children to their studies by compulsion but by play".
Children’s play has an imaginative and creative flow which leads to discovery and problem solving. The forced learning of phonics and numbers can kill the joy of literature and numeracy. The use of stories, songs, rhymes, drama all the time, even for daily requests, will enthuse a child with a love of words – and the exciting environment around us with all its rich mathematical content, can stimulate a love of and show the child the necessity of number.
With our wonderful ecology garden and forest school area, we focus much of our curriculum base on the natural world around us and everything thing that it has to offer, our extended curriculum is ever unfolding and as changing as the seasons, using the natural world to inspire and educate. Ellen McArthur said: "In nature, there is no concept of waste. Everything is food for something else," and we use this approach, not only in the literal sense, when it comes to inspiring and encouraging the development of the children in our care but when approaching and extending their learning experiences with us. No opportunity to use the world around us, is ever wasted.
It is the children who will mould the future of our world but it is for us to inspire them with the skills to create that future.
Tadpoles Nursery is a unique, boutique nursery school set within the heart of Chelsea and we have been in existence as an early years’ educational setting, offering our forward thinking and unique approach to the families of Chelsea for over 50 years. We do not believe in ‘static’ learning methods but in ever evolving and forward-thinking teaching practices, which adapt to each child and their individual needs. We aim to give our children an inspiring, happy, settled and structured environment in which to work and play.
We are now bringing our ever-evolving teaching practices to the children and families of Kensington with a new branch opening in September 2022.
The new Kensington Tadpoles will replicate as closely as possible the values and philosophy of our existing Tadpoles in Chelsea, while maintaining its own unique selling point.
The new setting will be within a wonderful building with spacious rooms and a huge amount of natural light, looking over the beautiful trees of St Mary Abbots Gardens within the Royal Borough. This green and tranquil place comes with an outside space leading onto the gardens which the children will be able to use for their sports and play.
We are very excited about this new venture and for this next natural step in the evolution of Tadpoles, and look forward to sharing further updates in the near future.
