logo Northumberland College
  • For Visitors
  • Information for parents
  • Open events
  • Term dates
  • Vacancies
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • Courses
    • Course search
    • Courses by campus
    • School Leaver
      • Vocational Courses
      • T Levels
      • Apprenticeships
      • Future Ready
      • Which route is right for you?
      • SEN Local Offer
      • Information for parents
    • Adult learning
      • Access to Higher Education
        • How to fund your study
          • How to apply
          • Repaying the loan
          • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Professional qualifications
      • Skills & qualifications
      • Essential Skills
      • Skills for employment
      • Distance learning
    • Higher Education
    • ESOL
  • Apprenticeships
    • Apprenticeship vacancies
    • Information for employers
  • Experience
    • Meet our students
    • Our facilities
    • Expert & friendly support
      • Student Finance
    • Skills competitions
  • Employers
  • The college
    • Our people
    • Our Campuses
    • Our partners
    • School Engagement
    • Student Union
    • News
    • Events
   
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Adult learner puts studies into practice during lockdown
  • Home
  • Courses
    • Course search
    • Courses by campus
    • School Leaver
      • Vocational Courses
      • T Levels
      • Apprenticeships
      • Future Ready
      • Which route is right for you?
      • SEN Local Offer
      • Information for parents
    • Adult learning
      • Access to Higher Education
        • How to fund your study
          • How to apply
          • Repaying the loan
          • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Professional qualifications
      • Skills & qualifications
      • Essential Skills
      • Skills for employment
      • Distance learning
    • Higher Education
    • ESOL
  • Apprenticeships
    • Apprenticeship vacancies
    • Information for employers
  • Experience
    • Meet our students
    • Our facilities
    • Expert & friendly support
      • Student Finance
    • Skills competitions
  • Employers
  • The college
    • Our people
    • Our Campuses
    • Our partners
    • School Engagement
    • Student Union
    • News
    • Events
  • For Visitors
  • Information for parents
  • Open events
  • Term dates
  • Vacancies
  • Contact us
Northumberland College Logo

Adult learner puts studies into practice during lockdown

Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator)

The course will prepare you to work as a level 3 educator in line with the national curriculum (Early Years Foundation Stage) with children between birth and 5 years.

Read more

Adult learner Naomi Charlton is using the knowledge she has learned at Northumberland College on the Early Years Educator programme to create activities for her children during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Following the government’s announcement to suspend face to face learning at colleges and schools, Naomi has been home-schooling her two young sons while also trying to continue her studies. However, she has found it easy to combine the two.

Linking fun and engaging activities to the Early Years Foundation Stage taught on the college’s early years educator diploma, Naomi is developing their numeracy, literacy and creativity while practising her own planning skills.

Naomi said: “I have always done activities with my own children at home but since starting the course and attending my placement I have a greater understanding of the benefits of doing them.

“I have learned that allowing children to participate in a variety of activities has much more of an impact on their learning and development than just sitting them down with a pen and paper. It allows the children to have fun and get creative which relates to their expressive skills whilst also prompting mathematics and extends their vocabulary by describing how things feel or smell.

“My children aged have both loved each activity and I will continue to do different ones to help with their home-schooling.”

Below Naomi shares some of the activities her children have been enjoying over the past weeks:

  • Salt dough keepsake

“The children measured out how many cups of water, salt and flour they needed which used their mathematical skills. They then used spoons to mix it all up and a rolling pin to create the shape which supported their gross motor skills.

Once the dough had been formed, we all placed our hands in the mixture to make a print, we cooked it until it became hard. The children then got creative and chose what colour hands they wanted and painted our creation with some assistance.”

  • Ice block car rescue

“This activity helped my children develop their creative skills by finding different ways to use the tools provided to break the ice. This sensory play activity gave the boys an opportunity to describe how the ice felt, how cold it was and how hard it was to break their cars free.

“This task kept them engaged until they had managed to break all of their cars free; they then continued free flow play with the melted ice and their cars for quite some time afterwards.”

  • Under the sea

“For this sensory-led activity we made jelly and put some toys in that we might find under the sea. We also read the story relating to the activity which prompted literacy skills and an opportunity to express their thoughts and ask questions relating to the book/sea.

“The boys explored different textures and then took the opportunity to eat the tasty jelly! Followed by my youngest putting his feet in the mixture and explaining how cold and slippery it felt.”

Investing in your future with outstanding new facilities.

 

Why choose Northumberland College?

We are the largest further education provider in Northumberland with campuses throughout the county.

Our student transport scheme is available for eligible students to make getting to and from college as easy as possible.

Our extensive re-development programme will create outstanding new facilities.

Our courses Experience the vibe

College updates

View all updates
  • Higher Education students celebrate achievements

    The Chief Constable of Northumbria Police was guest of honour at a memorable graduation ceremony at Northumberland College

    December 2, 2022

    Read more
  • Apprentice Lucy reaches Young Horticulturist of the Year Grand Final

    Northumberland College student Lucy Whitehead has reached the Grand Final of the Young Horticulturist of the Year competition.

    May 11, 2022

    Read more
  • College chair welcomes ‘transformational’ new campus

    One of Northumberland’s most prominent businessmen has welcomed the news that Northumberland College is relocating its award-winning provision.

    April 28, 2022

    Read more
Northumberland College Sunderland College Logo Sunderland College Logo Dark

Ashington Campus, Berwick Campus, Kirkley Hall Campus

Got a question? Click here

  • 0300 770 6000
  • Courses
  • Experience
  • The college
  • Apprenticeships
  • Employers
  • Governance
  • Northumberland College Zoo
  • Vacancies
  • Staff Email
  • Student Email
  • Cookie Information
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy and legal information
  • Complaints Procedure

© 2023 Northumberland College

Facebook Twitter