Here we are after the turn of the year – feet still on the ground? Heads still looking at the stars?

To say the least, it is not always easy to be this way, but it is needful for all those who are working to create enabling educational spaces. Here are words from two who may be good for us in these times – Mabel Barker, who as an English educator in the 1930s wove together her passions for nature, mountaineering and education, and Shehzad Roy, contemporary campaigner for educational reform in Pakistan: 

Read on and share .. 

Girotondo Preschool, in Chiswick (W. London) is looking for a passionate and dedicated educator, to join their established team of educators. 

'Girotondo is a 20-place, Reggio-inspired preschool. Our aim is to provide a space for children, educators and families working together in a stimulating environment through multidisciplinary enquiry projects. We are dedicated to the ongoing development of all staff, and the person we are looking for will be a reflective, responsive individual who constantly seeks challenge and innovation.

Our preschool has quickly become embedded in the community around. Parents and children attending Girotondo all live in the area and are of diverse culture and nationality, which makes our school a rich and diverse environment.

As a Reggio-inspired preschool, we are committed to innovation and creativity, to explore resources and the outside world, and to expose children to different learning and developmental experiences. We explore the surroundings and green areas around the school every day; walking or taking public transport and are not afraid to get wet or muddy!

We have had a sudden increase of children, all starting this month, and more are coming to visit the school every week, so we really need to find another educator to join us asap. Hopefully there will be nice people interested in the position who are either subscribed to Sightlines Initiative or have the same mindset as we all have anyway. We are looking for an educator able to think outside the box, to bring innovation and to be open to continuous learning and development.'

exploring a computer at Lotties's WoodenHouse Preschool

​Network member Lottie Child recently participated in a seminar in the House of Commons, hosted by  ex-teacher Emma Hardy MP and TED Prize winner Professor Sugata Mitra,  to consider 'Rethinking Education.' 

Here is her reflection, in which she considers the themes:

• Should schooling be for 'pouring information in'?; 
• Children are competent and resourceful learners;
• Rethinking Education;
• Where to with children's agency? 

There is an important and recurring thread which seems to run through all: the call for democracy and children's agency in schools. It is so encouraging that the hosting MP also makes this call - read on: