Exploring the Wider World Project

The Exploring the Wider World Project was funded by the Stoke-on-Trent Opportunity Area and was delivered by Early Education between April 2019 and March 2020. It offered fully funded training and support to all private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings in Stoke-on-Trent to give children wider experiences of the world around them.

The aim of the project was to enable participants to make the most of what is on their doorstep in terms of heritage, culture and community. They were offered bespoke support to enable practitioners to explore, with the children, the rich learning opportunities their locality provides. It was very grounded in the “people and communities” and “the world” elements of the “Knowledge and understanding of the world” (KUW) area of learning from the EYFS.

All participating settings received:

  • Bespoke training on making the most of something/somewhere that is local
  • Skill development to enable staff to support improved outcomes for children in relation to Knowledge and Understanding of the World
  • Support to organise trips out or inward visits to the setting, including opportunities to work with local partners
  • Support to follow up a trip/visit and embed the learning in further activities in the setting
  • Support with associated resources such as books and small world play linked to the trip/visit
  • Ideas for supporting families to use the local environment more

In the right hand menu you will find links to sections of the main project handbook for free access to enable anyone in Stoke-on-Trent or beyond share the project’s guidance, to help improve practitioners’ knowledge and confidence about taking children out and about in their local area to support their learning.

Further reading

Overcoming barriers

An early task for the Exploring the Wider World project was to identify the barriers to taking children out and about beyond the setting. Only

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Taking risks

Risk is a natural part of our existence, as we look to explore and make sense of the world around us. What is key is

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Planning trips out

This page brings together all the key project elements of thinking through a trip or a visit in one handy place, with downloadable resources for

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Your resources

Meaningful learning opportunities relating to understanding the world rely on rich and stimulating resources. Consider what you have Rich and well thought out resources make

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Taking 4-year-olds out

Most 4-year-olds can walk faster and further than their younger counterparts. This means that they can venture further afield than the three year olds in

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Using social media

Social media is a powerful tool for sharing examples of good practice and celebrating achievements – but there potential pitfalls, particularly relating to consent. We

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Cultural capital

This article by Early Education Associate Anni McTavish explores the term “cultural capital”, and what it might mean for early years practitioners and their settings.

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Transition

Transition is part of the maturation process. Most children and their families find moving from one stage to the next seamless. Transitions need careful planning and will

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