A significant project called 'Understanding Schema in Children's Learning' was introduced in the spring term of 2008 by the CASS Early Years Team, following training and liaising with the Pen Green. The whole staff teams from 13 nursery schools and units attended one full staff training day, at which the theory of 'schema' as a way of understanding and observing children's thinking and learning processes, was introduced through a combination of presentation of theory and participation in practical workshops. Staff were then encouraged to reflect on the theory in relation to their own practice back in their school setting and to apply the key ideas from the course to some aspects of their practice, recording a 'case study' of a child, for whom a particular schema had been observed. A follow-up twilight session was facilitated to enable schools involved to share case study evidence, which was then developed into a substantial resource for dissemination to schools in the project and to other interested schools. The course was subsequently repeated to staff of a further 15 nursery settings in the NEELB and also to a wider audience through RTU Summer School in 2009
The aims of the project were:
- To review key theories and research on the topic of 'schema'
- To introduce staff to tools and methods designed to help observe children's learning based on knowledge of schemas.
- To use knowledge of schema as a tool in observing and supporting children's learning.
The attached documents indicate the original schools involved in the project who provided case studies for production of the resource, a paper outlining the background to the concept of schema and a list of suggested reading on the subject.
