Spotlight on Miss Muddiman, Foundation teacher, Forest School Lead

What made you want to work in Early Years?

I love how varied and creative the EYFS curriculum is and how much emphasis there is on the many different areas of a child’s development – yes, there’s the reading and writing and maths, but there are also social skills, relationship building, physical development, self-confidence, independence, problem-solving skills, exploration, and ultimately the joy of being at school with friends. You see so much progress in Foundation, and it’s really exciting to be a part of it.

What is the best part of your job and why?

It’s definitely my relationship with my class. I get to spend a year with a group of wonderful tiny beings and see who they grow into. It’s wonderful to see them blossom through the year, and to get to know them. They make me smile every single day.

What does a typical day look like?

First I set up the classroom with lots of exciting new activities related to our current topic. A huge amount of learning happens through play, and it’s my job to make sure that the opportunities within the classroom are fun and that they reflect the skills and knowledge I want the children to be exploring. Then it’s time to welcome the children. We have a lovely morning routine that combines lots of singing, dancing and maths. We cover the day’s learning, then the children lead their own learning through continuous provision while I complete a focus activity either one-to-one or in small groups. Through the day we stop for snacks and lunch, enjoy specialist lessons, have our phonics session (we currently love making ‘silly soup’ to practice our initial sounds), and get ready for home time at 3:30. After the children leave, it’s time for club, planning and preparation.